It’s already halfway through 2025, how is the enamel pins market doing, is the enamel pin business still worth starting in 2026?
The short answer? Yes. But only if you understand the market, your audience, and the path from idea to product.
Here’s a realistic breakdown to help you decide if enamel pins are still a good business for you in the coming year.
1. Market Trends: Are Enamel Pins Still Popular?
Let’s start with the data. According to Google Trends, the search volume for “enamel pins” has remained relatively stable over the past five years, with peaks during holidays, gift-giving seasons, and comic conventions. These spikes show that pins are still in demand — especially as collectibles, fashion statements, and brand merch.
Industry sites like TrendHunter and platforms like Etsy have consistently featured enamel pins as a trending item in the world of independent art, niche fandoms, and DIY accessories.
In short, the popularity hasn’t faded, it’s simply become more focused and community-driven.
Is There Still Profit in Enamel Pins?
If you search for enamel pins on Etsy or Amazon, you’ll see lots of listings priced between $8 to $15 each. Many creators sell limited edition pins or bundles at even higher prices.
Etsy Example
On Etsy, enamel pins typically sell for US$8 to US$15 per piece, depending on size, detail, and uniqueness. Specialty designs like glow-in-the-dark, glitter enamel, limited edition can fetch US$20 or more.
If you check the wholesale price for custom soft enamel pins with your design, for 100 pins (1 inch size), you’ll see the total is just US$169 plus shipping. That means the cost per pin is only $1.69.
If you’re not sure whether your design will sell well and want to minimize risk, you can opt for a smaller batch.
Instead of committing to 100 pins, you can order 50 pins at a reduced cost, which brings the total to $150, which means $3.00 per pin. This allows you to test the market, gauge customer interest, and refine your designs without a large upfront investment.
Besides, once you’ve got a feel for the demand, you can always order in bulk later on for a better price. You can save a lot because you don’t need to pay the mold fee anymore for the same design.
If your total production cost is around $3, that’s a 70%+ gross margin.
Amazon Example
On Amazon, pins are often sold in bundles or as part of themed sets. For example, a 5 pin set might sell for $15 to $25, and many sellers use Amazon FBA to streamline logistics.
Bottom line: if you can design something people love, there is money to be made, especially with strong branding and niche appeal.
Who Should Start an Enamel Pin Business?
Not everyone is suited to this business, but for the right person, it’s a great fit. Here are a few ideal profiles:
- Pin Enthusiasts who are passionate about collecting and want to design their own
- Creative Designers with original ideas and a clear brand voice
- Part-time entrepreneurs/freelancers looking for a low-risk, creative product to test online sales, pins are easy to manage in small batches with limited time.
If you enjoy art, fandoms, or product design, enamel pins are a fun and low-barrier way to build your own small brand.
Where (and How) to Sell Enamel Pins
You might be worried about where or how to sell enamel pins, but don’t worry, there are plenty of channels available for you to choose from.
Wherever your target audience gathers, your pins can go with them.
Online Platforms
Etsy(etsy.com)
Ideal for selling handmade, artistic, or fandom-related pins. If you’re already on Etsy, consider building an email list or Instagram following to grow your audience. Or, if you’re just getting started, you can easily create a new Etsy account to begin selling on the platform.
Amazon Handmade(sell.amazon.com/programs/handmade)
Perfect for scaling your business, especially with repeatable designs. You can tap into Amazon’s vast customer base and, with FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon), easily ship your pins in bulk to their warehouses. This significantly reduces shipping time and operational costs.
Your own Shopify or WooCommerce site
Offers full control and is better suited for long-term brand building. Setting up a Shopify or WooCommerce store with your own domain is straightforward and gives you the flexibility to grow your brand on your terms.
TikTok(tiktok.com)
Great for viral marketing through behind-the-scenes clips, packing videos, and creative pin showcases. You can also explore Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts for similar short-form, high-engagement content.
Niche Forums & Communities
Platforms like Reddit, Discord, and Facebook groups are great for connecting with collectors and niche communities who share a passion for your designs.
From our experience running stores on both Amazon and Etsy, we’ve learned a lot about the differences in selling enamel pins on each platform.
On Amazon, the target audience is much larger, and the traffic is higher, meaning your potential reach is massive. However, the competition is fierce, which drives down profit margins. With so many sellers offering similar products, you often have to lower your prices just to stay competitive. As a result, while the volume is there, the profits per sale can be slimmer.
On the other hand, Etsy has proven to be a more profitable platform for us. While the audience size is smaller, the competition is less intense, especially for enamel pins. One reason for this could be that Etsy has not yet officially opened up to Chinese sellers, which limits the number of sellers offering enamel pins compared to Amazon. Because of this, there’s less price undercutting, and we’re able to maintain higher profit margins. Etsy also tends to attract more niche customers looking for unique, handmade, or custom products, which works in your favor if you have a distinctive design.
Want to hear what other sellers think about Amazon Handmade vs. Etsy?
This Reddit thread has some useful insights and real experiences: Amazon Handmade – better than Etsy?
For an even deeper perspective, here’s another great post from a seller who’s made over 20,000 sales and explains why they’re now focusing on Amazon:
After 20k sales, why I’m focusing on Amazon Handmade instead of Etsy
Offline Options
- Art fairs, comic cons, craft markets
- Boutique shops or concept stores
- Specialty toy or anime shops
- Gift shops near tourist attractions
How to Start Designing Your Own Enamel Pins
You don’t need to be a professional designer to create your first pin. The process can be simple and fun. Here’s how to start:
- Sketch Your Idea — Start on paper or digitally.
- Create a Vector File — Use Adobe Illustrator (ideal), or hire a designer.
- Need Help? Platforms like Fiverr or Upwork have pin designers who can bring your idea to life. Just explain your vision clearly.
Pro tip: If you’re new to pin design, check out our full design guide here.
The design process is part creativity, part communication, and fully rewarding when you see your vision turned into a real, wearable product.
Once your design is ready, it’s time to find a manufacturer.
Choosing the Right Manufacturer
This is crucial. A good manufacturer affects your product quality, timeline, and overall experience.
Many enamel pin factories have minimum order quantities (MOQs), usually 50, 100, or 200 pieces.
If you’re testing a new design, start small to reduce risk. Keep in mind that pricing for very small batches (like under 50 pieces) may not be much cheaper due to mold fees.
Look for a factory with:
- Clear communication(very important)
- Transparent pricing
- Sample photos and reviews
- Fast turnaround time
Conclusion: Enamel Pins Are Still a Smart Niche in 2026
Yes, enamel pins are still a great business in 2026, as long as you:
- Have a true passion for pins and small creative products
- Focus on quality, creativity, original design, and branding
- Understand your niche and target audience
- Choose the right marketing channels that suit your style
- Work with a reliable and experienced manufacturer
- Start small, test designs, and improve based on feedback
- Listen to customer feedback and adapt
At enamelpincustom.com, we offer factory-direct lowest pricing, no MOQ, free revisions, and expert support for first-time pin creators, helping you turn your concept into a quality enamel pin without stress.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us directly via email: sales@enamelpincustom.com
