Best Practices for Designing a Successful Tap Handle
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At Atomic Taps, we’ve seen it time and again — the tap handles that sell the most beer aren’t always the most elaborate. They’re the ones that make the brand instantly recognizable from across the bar. You’ve already invested in creating meaningful artwork for your brewery. Your tap handle’s job is to put that artwork front and center, not reinvent it.
1. Prioritize Readability
A customer deciding what to drink only has a few seconds to scan the tap lineup. Large, clean lettering and bold logos make it easy for them — and the bartender — to identify your beer instantly, even in a dimly lit bar.
2. Showcase the Brand You’ve Built
Your artwork already tells your story. Instead of translating it into a complex 3D novelty shape, use your tap handle as a canvas to display that branding clearly and confidently. At BYO, we design large, uninterrupted artwork areas so your existing brand work shines exactly as intended.
3. Use High Contrast for Maximum Impact
Color contrast is one of the simplest ways to make your tap handle pop. A light logo on a dark background — or vice versa — makes your brand legible from across the room, even in a busy lineup.
4. Give Artwork Room to Breathe
Cramming too much onto a small surface makes even great branding hard to read. Large, uncluttered panels let your colors, typography, and artwork stand out without visual noise.
5. Design for 360° Visibility
A bar is a dynamic environment — customers view tap handles from every angle. If your branding is only visible from the front, you’re missing chances to be noticed. Effective tap handles carry key design elements on all sides so your beer stands out no matter where someone is standing.
6. Keep It Simple, Keep It Effective
Irregular shapes can work for certain brands but are often hit or miss. A clean, functional silhouette paired with bold branding is often the most effective. It ensures your beer is easy to find, easy to remember, and easy to order.
7. Build for Durability
Your tap handle needs to look just as good on day 500 as it did on day one. Wood and metal tap handles — like the ones we make at Atomic — are naturally strong, impact-resistant, and built to withstand years of daily use. Resin handles, while sometimes highly detailed, are fragile and prone to breaking easily. Choosing durable, well-balanced materials protects your investment and keeps your branding in perfect shape.
The takeaway:
Your brand is already working hard for you — your tap handle should make it work harder. By focusing on readability, strong contrast, generous artwork space, 360° visibility, and long-lasting materials, you turn your tap handle into a powerful sales tool. At Atomic Taps, our Built-ready designs are made to highlight the brand you’ve already created, not reinvent the wheel.