Custom Pin Types Explained: Find the Best Style for Your Design

If you’re thinking about starting a pin business or just want to understand the world of custom pins better, you’ve come to the right place. This guide breaks down the various types of pins, explaining their unique features, ideal use cases, and typical pricing to help you make informed decisions.

Understanding Different Pin Types

When selecting or designing custom pins, knowing the different types available can help you choose the best style for your needs. Let’s dive into the most popular pin types and their characteristics:

Soft Enamel Pins

Look & Feel: Soft enamel pins have raised metal lines and recessed enamel colors. This gives them a nice textured look and a slightly 3D feel.

Best For: Designs with clean lines, bold areas of color, and strong contrast—like cartoon art, logos, and badges.

Common Uses: Promotional giveaways, merchandise for artists, fan collectibles.

Price Range: Approx. $0.80–$2.00 per piece (bulk orders)

👉 Most popular choice for first-time customers.

Hard Enamel Pins

• Look & Feel: Hard enamel pins are polished flat after coloring, so the surface is smooth and shiny. They often feel more premium and durable.
• Best For: Corporate logos, commemorative pins, minimalist designs with solid color fills.
• Common Uses: Employee recognition, company branding, high-end collectibles.
• Price Range: Approx. $1.00–$2.50 per piece (bulk orders)

👉 Great if you want a more refined finish.

Die-Struck Pins

• Look & Feel: No enamel color is used. The design is stamped into metal and finished with polish or antique plating, so it relies on depth and texture.
• Best For: Classic, elegant, or vintage-style designs—logos, seals, or military insignia.
• Common Uses: Service awards, historical commemorations, official emblems.
• Price Range: Approx. $0.80–$2.00 per piece

👉 Simple, timeless, and cost-effective.

Printed Pins

• Look & Feel: These pins are made by directly printing your design onto a metal base, often with a protective epoxy coating.
• Best For: Complex artwork, gradients, photos, or small text that can’t be done with enamel.
• Common Uses: Event passes, full-color portraits, detailed illustrations.
• Price Range: Approx. $0.70–$2.00 per piece

👉 Ideal for designs with tiny details or full-color images.

3D Mold Pins

• Look & Feel: Sculpted from metal with real 3D depth—great for capturing lifelike shapes, textures, or curved surfaces.
• Best For: Products, mascots, mini statues, or coins with raised relief.
• Common Uses: Premium collectibles, commemorative coins, specialty gifts.
• Price Range: Approx. $1.50–$3.00 per piece

👉 When you want to add serious dimension.

Custom Accessories & Upgrades

Here’s a quick checklist of popular custom options to consider when ordering your pins:

How to Choose the Right Pin Style

If you’re still not sure what fits your idea, consider these three questions:

1. Is your design detailed, colorful, or simple?
   Soft enamel works great for bold and clean artwork, while printed pins are better for intricate graphics.
2. What’s the purpose—gifting, selling, collecting, or promotion?
   Hard enamel gives a refined finish for gifts or employee awards, while die struck pins feel classic and formal.
3. Do you have a specific budget?
   No worries—we’ll help you balance cost and quality. Most designs can be adapted to match your goals without breaking the bank.

Why Choose Factorypin for Your Custom Pins?

We’ve helped thousands of customers turn sketches and ideas into beautiful, high-quality pins. Whether you’re designing for fun, for business, or to support a cause, we’re here to make it easy.

👋 Ready to start? Contact our team and tell us about your project—we’ll recommend the best style and send you a free quote.