Is soft enamel cheaper than hard enamel?

Usually yes, because hard enamel needs extra filling and polishing; the exact difference depends on the design.

Why does adding designs raise the price per pin?

Each design needs its own mold, so the setup cost is spread over fewer pieces per design.

Do more colours cost more?

Generally yes, because each colour is filled separately and small areas slow production.

Can I get a price without final artwork?

A rough estimate is possible from size, colours and quantity, but an accurate quote needs the artwork.

Custom Enamel Pin Pricing Factors Explained

The price of a custom enamel pin is the sum of many small choices: size, metal, enamel type, colour count, plating, backing, extras, packaging and quantity. This guide explains each factor qualitatively so that you can read quotes with confidence and decide where to spend and where to save. It does not list prices, because these change with materials, exchange rates and order details; any supplier should quote your exact design.

Why pins are quoted per design

Every custom pin starts with a mold or die made from your artwork. That one-off setup is shared across the pieces in the order, which is why unit prices fall as quantities rise. Beyond the mold, each pin passes through cutting, polishing, plating, colour filling, baking, quality checks and packing, and each of those steps is affected by the design.

Factor 1: Size

Larger pins use more metal, need larger molds and take longer to fill and polish. Size also changes how much detail is possible; very small pins may need simplified artwork. When budget is tight, reducing size slightly is often the least visible saving.

Factor 2: Base metal and forming method

Iron, stamped: generally the most economical for simple flat designs.
Brass or copper, stamped: crisper lines and a better base for hard enamel.
Zinc alloy, die-cast: used for cut-outs, multi-level relief and complex outlines that stamping cannot form.

The right choice depends on the shape. A design with holes or 3D relief may require die-casting even if a stamped metal would otherwise be cheaper.

Factor 3: Enamel type

Soft enamel fills colour below the raised metal lines and is usually the more economical option, with a textured surface. Hard enamel (imitation hard enamel) is filled higher and polished flat, which adds labour and gives a smooth, jewellery-like finish. Printed pins with an epoxy coating are another route for gradients or photographs.

Factor 4: Number of colours

Each colour is filled separately, often by hand, so more colours mean more labour and more chance of small defects. Very small colour areas also slow production. Reviewing artwork to merge similar shades can reduce cost without changing the overall look.

Factor 5: Plating

Gold, silver, nickel, black nickel, copper and antique finishes all have different costs. Dual plating, where two colours of metal appear on one pin, requires extra masking. Some specialty finishes such as rainbow anodising add steps too.

Factor 6: Backing and attachments

The standard butterfly clutch is the baseline. Rubber clutches, locking backs, magnets, safety pins and two-post fixings for larger pins each change the cost slightly. Hinged, sliding or spinning parts are effectively extra components and add both tooling and assembly time.

Factor 7: Special effects

Common extras include:

Glitter enamel
Glow-in-the-dark enamel
Translucent enamel over textured metal
Printed details on enamel
Epoxy dome
Gemstones or inserts
Cut-out windows
Back-stamped logos or numbering

Each is a deliberate design choice. One well-chosen effect usually adds more appeal than several stacked together.

Factor 8: Packaging

Pins can ship in individual poly bags, on printed backing cards, in small gift boxes or as blind-box series with display packaging. Backing cards are inexpensive relative to their selling power in a museum or attraction shop, but custom boxes add noticeably to the unit cost. See our packaging guide for the trade-offs.

Factor 9: Quantity and number of designs

Because molds are a fixed cost per design, ordering ten designs of a small quantity each costs more per pin than one design in the same total quantity. If a series is important, consider launching fewer designs first and adding others when sales confirm demand.

Factor 10: Timeline

Rush schedules may require overtime or reshuffling of production, which some suppliers price in. Planning ahead avoids this. Our lead-time planning guide explains how to work backwards from a deadline.

Factor 11: Sample and mold fees

Some suppliers charge a separate sample or mold fee, others fold it into unit prices. Neither is wrong, but make sure you compare like with like. Ask whether molds are kept for reorders, which can save setup on repeat orders.

Reading a pin quote

When comparing quotes, line them up by:

Size and metal
Enamel type and colour count
Plating
Backing
Effects
Packaging
Quantity per design
Sample/mold fee
Lead time
Trade term

A noticeably lower quote often reflects a different specification, such as iron instead of brass, soft instead of hard enamel, or packaging excluded.

Where to save, where to spend

Usually safe to save on:

Slight size reductions
Merging close colours
Standard plating instead of specialty finishes
Simple poly bag plus a printed card instead of a box

Usually worth spending on:

Accurate artwork and a careful proof
A physical sample
Secure backings for pins that will be worn daily
Good backing cards for retail sales

A worked approach for museum shops

Start with the retail price you want and the margin you need, then work back to the target unit cost. Share that target with the supplier along with the artwork, and ask for two options: one that meets the target and one that the supplier considers the ideal specification. The gap between them shows exactly what each upgrade costs.

How artwork quality affects price

Clean artwork saves time. Vector files with defined colours let the supplier move straight to a proof, while rough sketches need more design work before a mold can be made. Neither is a problem, but if design time is charged separately, it is worth knowing. More importantly, artwork with very fine lines or tiny text may need adjusting to suit the process; agreeing these changes early avoids a second mold.

Hidden costs to ask about

Freight from the supplier to you, and who pays duties
Bank charges on international payments
Extra charges for individual bagging or barcode labels
Additional costs for splitting shipments to several addresses
Charges for a second sample if the first is rejected because of a change on your side

Asking these questions at quote stage makes the final cost predictable.

Reorders

Once molds exist, reorders of the same pin usually avoid the setup cost and move straight to production. Keep the approved sample and specification on record, and reorder before stock runs out so that you are not forced into a rush schedule.

Pins in a wider merchandise range

Pins rarely sell alone in a museum or attraction shop. Developing them alongside magnets, keychains or medals from the same artwork can share design work, and sometimes molds or plating runs, across products. When you ask for quotes, mention the other items you are considering; the supplier may suggest combinations that keep the whole range within budget.

Quality signals worth paying for

When you review a sample, look for even plating with no dull patches, enamel filled to a consistent level without bubbles, clean edges without burrs, posts soldered straight and firmly, and backing cards cut neatly. These details separate a pin that sells at a premium from one that looks cheap, and they cost little extra when specified from the start.

In short, a clear brief with a target cost, a realistic quantity per design and a willingness to simplify where it does not show will usually produce a better pin for the same budget than adding extras.

Ordering with Longtian

Longtian makes badges and enamel pins alongside medals, commemorative coins and keychains. Our MOQ starts from 50 pcs; sample and mold fees are quoted per design. Sampling usually takes 5–7 days after proof approval, and mass production about 15–25 days after sample approval.