ENAMEL BADGES

Usually 3–5 weeks from artwork approval.

Very large orders may take longer, and we’ll confirm when we quote.

NOTE: A complex design or bigger badge can also add to the timescales.

Everything, that’s why they’re called Personalised Badges! You can modify:

– Size
– Shape
– Enamel colours
– Metal colour (Plating)
– Fitting
– Packaging

We offer a full, custom enamel badge service!

With the wide variety of production methods and manufacturers in the custom badge industry, terminology can often be confusing. Many products share similar names or overlapping descriptions for essentially the same item. To make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a clear guide to the most common alternative terms used for this product.

– SOFT ENAMEL BADGES
– COLD ENAMEL BADGES
– EPOXY BADGES
– RECESSED ENAMEL BADGES

Soft enamel badges (also known as soft enamel pins or badges) are a popular and affordable type of custom enamel product widely used for lapel pins, promotional items, and collectibles. They feature a distinctive textured, “bumpy” surface created by raised metal edges that outline the design, with coloured enamel filling the recessed areas below the level of those metal borders.

The production process starts with stamping a metal base (usually brass or iron) to create raised and recessed sections. The recesses are then filled with enamel paint or epoxy-based colour, which is baked at a moderate temperature to cure and harden. The enamel sits slightly recessed, so when you run your finger over the badge, you can feel the dimensional texture from the metal ridges separating each colour section—this prevents colours from bleeding and allows for sharp, detailed designs.

Key advantages of soft enamel badges include:

Greater design flexibility and finer line detail, making them ideal for intricate or complex artwork (like faces, patterns, or small text) where hard enamel might lose sharpness.

More affordable pricing and faster production times compared to polished hard enamel options.

Additional customisation options, such as painted metal finishes (e.g. true black metal, rainbow plating/anodising), which are often exclusive to soft enamel.

The option to add an epoxy dome coating for a smoother, glossy, protected finish while retaining the core textured feel underneath (though many prefer the natural bumpy texture for its unique character).

In short, soft enamel offers a fun, dimensional, and tactile look with excellent detail reproduction at a budget-friendly price point. It’s a go-to choice for custom badges when you want vibrant colours, creative freedom, and that classic “enamel pin” texture without needing an ultra-smooth, jewellery-grade polish.

Epoxy is a clear, protective resin coating applied over badges to enhance durability and add a smooth, glossy finish. It protects the print from scratches and fading, while making the surface feel smoother and less textured. This results in a polished, professional look.

On soft enamel badges, the colour sits slightly below the raised metal lines, giving a textured feel you can run your finger over. Hard-style enamel is polished flat, so the colour sits level with the metal for a smooth, jewellery-like finish. If you’d like the smooth look, see our Premium Enamel Badges.

Yes. Our enamel colours are matched to the Pantone solid coated range, so send us your Pantone references with your artwork. If you don’t have them, we’ll suggest the closest matches on your design proof.

Not on their own. Each enamel colour is a solid fill, separated by a raised metal line. If your design has shading, gradients or photographic detail, Printed Enamel or Printed Metal badges are a better choice.

Very fine lines and tiny lettering can be hard to fill cleanly with enamel. We’ll check your artwork and point out any areas that are too small on your free design proof, along with a suggested fix.

Most lapel badges sit between 20mm and 35mm, the sizes in the guide price table on this page. Small badges suit simple logos, while more detailed designs benefit from a bigger size. Your badges can be made in any size from 8mm, so just tell us the size you have in mind when you ask for a quote.