Custom Enamel Pin Cost: What Actually Drives the Price

Custom enamel pin pricing is not a single "price per piece". The same 1,000-pin order can vary by two or three times, and the difference usually comes down to these factors.

1. Size and material

Size, brass versus zinc alloy and thickness all affect material and tooling cost. Most pins are 20–40mm; custom shapes and oversized pins need separate tooling.

2. Plating

Gold, silver, antique bronze, black nickel and rose gold have different costs and finishes. Antique effects and two-tone plating add process steps and cost.

3. Color-fill process

Soft enamel gives vibrant colors with a textured surface. Hard enamel is polished flat and requires more process. Offset print and screen print suit clean logo lines. The process changes both unit price and MOQ.

4. Tooling fee

Tooling is a one-time cost based on size and structure. Confirm whether it is included in the unit price and whether a repeat order requires a new tooling fee.

5. Quantity

1,000 pcs and 5,000 pcs have different unit prices because tooling is amortized and plating/packaging gain economies of scale. Ask for pricing at 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 pcs.

6. Packaging and backing

OPP bags, backing cards, boxes, gift boxes, butterfly clutches, safety pins, magnets and key rings all affect the total. Confirm packaging and backing before comparing quotes.

7. When comparing quotes

• Comparing unit price without tooling and packaging often hides a higher total.
• Not confirming plating and color-fill process leads to sample-to-bulk color differences.
• If a quote is far below the market, ask about metal thickness and plating layers.

Send us your logo or character art, size, quantity and packaging requirements for a cost breakdown by process. Hengyi Culture runs its own metal factory in Dongguan, with MOQ from 1,000 pcs per design, soft/hard enamel, offset print, tinplate badges and export support.

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