Where to get a dog tag engraved in the UK, and what it costs

• Key cutters and shoe repairers. Timpson, for example, engraves pet tags in selected shops, some of them the same day, and sells its own tags online with the engraving included.
• Pet shops. Some sell blank tags and engrave them for you, so ring your local one before you go.
• Online. Etsy, Amazon, eBay and specialist tag makers post engraved tags to you. Read the reviews for how deep and clear the engraving is.

Timpson's own engraved pet tags cost £11.95 to £13.95 online, with the engraving included (checked on its website on 24 September 2026), and it offers next-day delivery on pet tags ordered before 12pm. In its shops, the price depends on the tag and the engraving, and staff tell you before they start.

Simple tags from online sellers can cost less. Harder metals cost more but stay readable for longer, and a tag you have to replace every year soon costs more than one that lasts.

In a public place, a dog must wear its owner's name and address, on its collar or on a tag attached to it (the Control of Dogs Order 1992). Your surname, house number or name, and postcode is the usual short version. A phone number isn't required, but it's the quickest way for a finder to reach you.

Our dog tag wording maker lays it out and checks it against the law, and our guide to UK dog tag law covers the details and who's exempt.

• Choose a harder metal. Stainless steel keeps its lettering far longer than aluminium or brass on an active dog.
• Ask for deep engraving rather than a light surface mark.
• Fewer, bigger letters are easier to read than a crowded tag.
• Check it every month or so: engraving wears smooth against the buckle, and split rings work open. Our guide to why dog tags wear out has a thirty-second check.

An engraved tag only holds a few words and can't be changed. A QR code dog tag goes next to it and holds the rest: your dog's photo, medical notes, a way for a finder to message you without seeing your number, and lost mode, which emails you when the tag is scanned. You can change it any time without a new tag. There's more in QR tag or engraved tag?