Brass vs Stainless Steel Dog Tags: Which One Should You Buy?

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Side by side

Spec	GoTags Steel 8-Line Tag	GoTags Brass Round Tag	GoTags Brass Bone Tag
HQ Score	59	57	56
Engraving room	8 lines (4 front, 4 back)	6 lines (3 front, 3 back)	6 lines (3 front, 3 back)
Stated material	Stainless steel	Solid brass	Solid brass
Shapes	Bone, round, heart, bowtie	Bone, heart, round	Bone, heart, round
Sizes	Regular 1.3 in; small 1 in	Large approx. 1.4 x 1.2 in	Large approx. 1.5 in; small approx. 1 in
Finish	Mirror finish	Brass	Polished brass
Weight claim	Not stated	Twice as heavy as standard tags	Twice as heavy as standard tags

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 23 October 2026.

Brass vs stainless steel dog tags: the key differences

The split in this comparison is simple. The two brass listings sell metal feel: solid brass, stated heavier and thicker than a standard aluminum tag, with a jewelry-quality look. The stainless steel listing sells stated capacity and choice: more lines of text, more shapes, more colors, and a mirror finish the listing says keeps the engraved information easy to read.

One oddity to clear up first: both brass listings carry a spec-table field that reads “Material”: “Silicone”, even though the bullets and the Material Type field say brass. The listings otherwise read as solid brass, so treat the spec-table field as a listing error and check the listing before you buy.

Engraving room

The brass tags state up to 6 lines of text, 3 on the front of the tag and 3 on the back. The steel tag states up to 8 lines, 4 on the front and 4 on the back. Neither listing states a per-line character limit. The steel listing’s engraving is stated as permanent and scratch and rub-resistant; the brass listings state the engraving is clear, permanent and attractive. Neither listing states an engraving depth or a warranty term.

Shapes, sizes and finish

The steel tag states shapes in bone, round, heart and bowtie, a regular size of 1.3 inches and a small size of 1 inch, and seven colors: black, blue, gold, purple, rainbow, rose gold and silver. The brass listings state shapes in bone, heart and round in a brass finish: the round variant states a large size of approx. 1.4 inches x 1.2 inches, while the bone variant states a large size of approx. 1.5 inches and a small size of approx. 1 inch. The brass listings state no color options and no small size for the round variant.

Weight and durability

The brass listings state the tags are twice as heavy as standard tags and up to three times as thick as a standard aluminum tag, and that the brass tags are made to last. The steel listing states the tag withstands even the most active pet adventures, with no weight or thickness figure stated. On stated build alone, the brass listings are the only ones to state a weight claim, while the steel listing is the only one to claim a scratch and rub-resistant engraving surface.

Project Match

• Selling engraved ID tags to buyers who want a heavy, jewelry-quality tag: the brass variants, stated twice as heavy as standard tags.
• A tag line carrying name, phone, address and vet details on one tag: the stainless steel tag, 8 stated lines of text.
• Matching a tag to collar colors: the stainless steel tag, with seven stated colors.
• A stated small tag for cats and small breeds: the steel tag’s small 1 inch size or the brass bone variant’s small approx. 1 inch size.
• Not stated: metal gauge, engraving depth and warranty terms on all three listings.

Choose a brass tag if

• You want the stated solid-brass look and feel, twice as heavy as standard tags.
• Six lines of engraving room is enough for the information you carry.
• You sell round or bone tags in one metal finish.

Choose the stainless steel tag if

• You want 8 stated lines of engraving room instead of 6.
• You want a mirror finish with four stated shapes and seven stated colors.
• You want the small 1 inch size stated for cats and small breeds.

FAQ: lasers and CNC

Which tag fits more engraved text, brass or stainless steel?

The stainless steel listing states up to 8 lines, 4 on the front and 4 on the back. The brass listings state up to 6 lines, 3 on the front and 3 on the back.

Are brass dog tags heavier than standard tags?

The brass listings state their tags are twice as heavy as standard tags and up to three times as thick as a standard aluminum tag. The steel listing states no weight or thickness.

What sizes do these tags come in?

The steel tag states a regular size of 1.3 inches and a small size of 1 inch. The brass bone variant states a large size of approx. 1.5 inches and a small size of approx. 1 inch. The brass round variant states a large size of approx. 1.4 inches x 1.2 inches.

Do these tags hold up on active dogs?

The steel listing states the tag withstands even the most active pet adventures and that its laser engraving is scratch and rub-resistant. The brass listings state the tags are made to last and that the engraving is clear, permanent and attractive. None of the three listings states a warranty term.

Can both sides of the tag be engraved?

Yes. All three listings state engraving on both sides: 3 lines per side on the brass tags, 4 per side on the steel tag.

Related: aluminum vs brass dog tags and leather vs canvas for laser engraving.