- Awards & Recognition
Custom Lapel Pins, From People Who Make Them
The lapel pin is a badge in the oldest sense — a small, wearable signal that says you belong, you achieved, you’re part of this. From service awards to fan culture to trade-show swag, pins carry outsized meaning for their size, and the enamel-pin boom turned them into genuinely collectible objects people trade and display on jackets, bags, and boards.
Enamel types and production
Most quality pins are die-struck, then filled with enamel. Soft enamel fills recessed areas with color while the metal lines stay raised, giving a textured, dimensional feel — affordable and popular. Hard (cloisonné-style) enamel is filled and polished flat for a smooth, premium, jewelry-like finish. For photographic or complex art, printed (offset) pins reproduce full detail under a clear dome. Plating — gold, silver, black nickel, antique — sets the tone.
Attachments
The back matters: a butterfly clutch is standard and secure; rubber clutches grip well and are trade-show favorites; magnetic and locking backs prevent loss on premium pins. Lapel pins sit alongside challenge coins and medals in recognition, and the enamel process mirrors that of coins.
$2.00–$3.50 per piece · MOQ 50
Typical bulk customer pricing incl. basic decoration; varies by product, decoration, and quantity. Request a live quote.
Frequently asked
How much do custom lapel pins cost?
Custom lapel pins typically run $1–$4 each depending on enamel type, size, plating, and quantity, plus a one-time die fee. Soft enamel is most economical; hard enamel and printed pins cost more. Prices drop significantly with volume as the die fee spreads. They're one of the most affordable recognition and giveaway items.
What's the difference between soft and hard enamel pins?
Soft enamel fills recessed areas with color but leaves the metal lines raised, giving a textured feel — affordable and common. Hard enamel is filled and polished flat for a smooth, premium finish flush with the metal. Soft enamel is more economical and tactile; hard enamel looks and feels more like fine jewelry.
How are lapel pins attached to clothing?
Lapel pins use a post-and-clutch back. Butterfly (military) clutches are the standard secure option; rubber clutches grip firmly and are trade-show favorites; magnetic and locking backs prevent loss on premium pins. Most pins come with one or two posts depending on size, and the attachment is included with the pin.