Enamel Pins vs Button Badges: Which Is Right for Your Project?

The first thing to check when ordering badges is whether you need an enamel pin or a button badge. The terms are often confused, but they are different products. If you are comparing options for custom button badges, checking the construction first helps you avoid ordering a badge that doesn’t match your brief.

You may already have a design in mind, but the right choice also depends on how you’ll use the badges and what you expect them to look like. This guide centres on our custom button badges, with a concise comparison to enamel pins, and outlines the size, artwork and ordering details to confirm before you buy.

We make button badges, which feature printed artwork. Our badges are available in 25 mm, 38 mm, 59 mm and 77 mm diameters, with full-colour printing done on site in the UK. The sections ahead will help you match your artwork and intended use to the right size.

Enamel pins vs button badges: which is right for your project?

Enamel pins and button badges are different products. An enamel pin has a metal base with coloured enamel infill, while a button badge features printed artwork. The fastening alone doesn’t determine the type, so confirm the construction rather than relying on the word “bespoke” or a product photograph.

At Imagin Products, we specialise in custom button badges, printed in the UK, with full-colour printing and bulk discounts available.

How are enamel pins different from button badges?

Soft enamel pins typically have recessed colour beneath raised metal lines, which may be smoothed with a clear coating. Hard enamel is polished completely level with the metal. A button badge instead has a printed design, so full-colour artwork can be reproduced across the face.

When could a pin-back button badge suit your project?

A button badge may suit an event handout, a club design or organisational branding. Consider what the artwork needs to show and how large it must appear. A short name or simple graphic has different space needs from a design with several details.

You can view our custom button badges to see the full range.

Before you settle on a badge, make a short checklist: the type you want, the size and your artwork.

Which badge details should you compare?

Compare the written specifications, not just the product name or appearance.

How should you choose a badge size?

Start with the content: will the badge show a short message, a logo or more detailed artwork? A larger diameter gives the design more space, but the artwork still needs to be clear at its final size. You can compare the 38 mm and 59 mm badges against your artwork and intended use.

How to prepare artwork and order custom button badges

A clear order starts with the right product. Follow these steps to keep your design and the badge size aligned:

1. Choose your size. Pick the diameter that gives your design enough room to remain legible.
2. Request the template. Ask for the appropriate artwork template for your chosen badge size.
3. Prepare your artwork. Gather the final logo or design and any wording that must appear.
4. Review before approval. Check your design at its actual printed size, along with spelling, layout and quantity, before approving production.

What artwork information should you prepare?

Have one final version of the design ready, with the exact wording you want printed. Check it at its actual printed size, and request the appropriate artwork template for your chosen badge.

If your artwork includes small text or fine details, check that the text remains legible at the selected badge diameter.

What should you check before submitting an order?

Before you place the order, compare the basket with your brief. Confirm:

• Badge diameter
• Quantity and the correct artwork version
• Spelling, design placement and colour references

The basket shows product charges, bulk discounts and additional options, while shipping is calculated at checkout. Check delivery charges, VAT and the total payable before ordering. Badge orders are generally dispatched within three working days, subject to artwork approval and production timescales. Allow additional time for delivery. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed deadline.

Are button badges the right choice for your purpose?

The right badge depends on what you want it to look like, who will wear or receive it, and how it will be used. A printed button badge suits full-colour artwork.

Which questions help match a badge to its use?

Start with the people and setting. Will the badges be handed out at an event, worn by club members, or used by staff? What should the design communicate, and will people see it close up or from further away? These answers help you judge how prominent the badge needs to be and what details the artwork must show.

Then compare those needs with the size options available.

When might our button badges be a suitable choice?

Our button badges may suit you if you want full-colour printed artwork. Think about how much space your design needs and how clearly its wording or logo should appear.

Bulk discounts apply, so check the options for your chosen size before placing an order.

Ordering custom button badges from Imagin Products

The artwork on our badges is printed in the UK, on site. We don’t state that every component is made in the UK.

You can compare the options in our button badges collection and consider which size works with your design.

What can you expect from our button badges?

• Artwork: full-colour printed design.
• Diameters: 25 mm, 38 mm, 59 mm and 77 mm.
• Production: printed on site in the UK.
• Bulk pricing: discounts apply.

Check all product charges and options in the basket. Shipping is calculated at checkout, so review delivery charges, VAT and the total payable before placing your order.

Choose the badge that fits your brief

Before ordering, confirm the badge type and size. “Bespoke” doesn’t tell you whether a product is an enamel pin or a printed button badge.

Check your order total before purchase, and contact our team if you need help with a button badge order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are enamel pin badges the same as pin-back button badges?

No. Enamel pins have a metal base with coloured enamel infill, while button badges feature printed artwork. “Pin-back” describes the fastening, not the badge type.

What sizes are Imagin’s Button Badges available in?

Choose a diameter by considering what the design needs to show and how prominently it should appear.

What artwork should I provide for custom button badges?

Prepare the final logo or design and the exact wording you want. Check it at its actual printed size, make sure small text stays legible, and request the appropriate artwork template.

Can I order bulk custom button badges?

Yes. Bulk discounts apply to our button badges. The basket shows product charges, discounts and any additional options, and you can check delivery charges, VAT and the total payable at checkout.

How quickly are custom button badge orders dispatched?

Badge orders are generally dispatched within three working days, subject to artwork approval and production timescales. Allow additional time for delivery. This is an estimate rather than a guaranteed deadline.

Ready to order? Browse our button badge collection or contact our team for help with a button badge order.

Article by

Team Imagin :)

Team Imagin helps businesses look their best with quality name badges, photo ID cards, lanyards and branded workwear. Based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, we combine friendly, personal service with professional printing and embroidery to bring your branding to life. From small teams to large organisations across Scotland, the UK, Europe and America, we help you boost your brand and build connections.