If you’ve ever requested a quote for custom enamel pins, you might be shocked by prices exceeding $100, especially for small orders.
In this article, we break down the factors that contribute to the overall cost of custom enamel pins and offer practical tips to help you save money without compromising quality.
What Drives the Cost of Custom Enamel Pins?
1. Mold Charge
Each enamel pin design requires a custom-made mold. Creating this mold involves precision labor and quality materials(typically solid steel). The solid steel ensures that every detail of your design is captured.
For a 30mm custom pin, the mold should measure either 80 x 60 x 15mm or 120 x 60 x 15mm, depending on design requirements.
For a simple 2D pin, 1 inch or 30mm size, the mold cost can be around US$60.
For a 3D design pin that requires extra thickness and additional mold creation time, the costs will naturally be higher.
Moreover, when your order is small (e.g., fewer than 50 pins), the mold charge represents a significant portion of the overall cost, resulting in a high cost per individual pin.
Pro Tip: Molds are stored for 2 years—reorder the same design later without paying mold fees again.
2. Materials & Labor
- High-quality metals (brass/zinc alloy) and enamel paints add material costs.
- Labor-intensive steps: stamping, casting, hand-filling enamel, electroplating, oven firing, polishing, attaching clasps, and packaging.
- Hard enamel (polished flat surface) costs 20-30% more than soft enamel (textured finish).
- Premium clasps (magnetic, deluxe clutch) or double-layer electroplating increase prices.
3. Design Complexity
Color Count: Standard pricing includes up to 5 colors; each additional color raises costs due to manual application.
Gradients/UV Printing: Designs with gradient colors require UV printing process, resulting in extra cost.
Cutouts: Custom cutouts may demand die-casting molds, increasing mold fees than stamping molds.
4. Order Quantity
Small orders naturally result in a higher per-unit cost because the fixed costs—such as mold creation and setup fees. Manufacturers often recommend ordering more than 100 to maximize the cost-performance ratio.
For instance, ordering 100 pins can bring the unit price down to approximately US$1.7. If you order 1000, the unit price can be US$0.5, buy more save more.
5. Supplier Profit
Middlemen add 20-50% to factory prices. Partnering directly with a factory ensures transparency and savings.
Therefore, finding a real factory to make your custom enamel pins is particularly important. Buying directly from a reliable manufacturer not only helps keep costs down but also offers better control over quality and lead times.
How to save cost for custom enamel pins
Though it’s expensive to order custom enamel pins, there are some tips you can consider to save the cost.
1. Order Over 100
Typically, the more enamel pins you order, the lower the cost per unit. Manufacturers often provide price breaks at higher quantities. If you don’t want to order in bulk, 100 pieces comes with the most cost-effective price.
2. Choose Soft Enamel
There are two types of enamel pins: hard enamel and soft enamel. Soft enamel is generally cheaper and still offers high quality. If you don’t care about soft enamel or hard enamel, then you can just choose soft enamel pins. For the cheapest solution, printed pins with metal edge is your best choice.
3. Simplify Your Design
Simplifying your design can reduce production costs. Complex designs with many colors or complicated details like 3D effect can be more expensive, as it takes more labor time. Stick with standard shapes like round or square can also keep costs down. If there are cutouts with your design, custom enamel pins with your design needs to use die casting process with higher mold cost.
Check out Enamel Pin Design Tips to learn more.
4. Less Colors
Each additional color can add to the cost. Each color has to be filled one by one, so it takes more labor time for more colors. If possible, you can try to use fewer colors in your design.
Our Expert Advice as a Manufacturer
If you’re thinking about ordering custom enamel pins, take a moment to look at the price factors listed above. They’ll help you figure out how to save on costs, understand why prices can be high, and even inspire smarter design choices.
The fastest way is to contact the manufacturer directly — they can recommend the most cost-effective solution based on your design and order requirements.
If you’re not quite sure about the design details, plating options, or how size affects the price, don’t worry — just ask us! We will be more than happy to walk you through everything and help you figure out the best choice for your needs.
Hi, we would like our logo (more than 5 colors) made to custom lapel pins and delivered within 15 days. Is this possible? and can you give me a quote for the more than 5 colors?
Yes, that’s possible, but please order asap. Please send us your design, pin size and order quantity, so we can send you a quote.