Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel Badges: Which One Should You Choose in 2026?

Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel Badges: What’s the Difference?

When ordering custom enamel badges or lapel pins for a business, event, organisation, merchandise range or awards programme, one of the main choices is whether to use soft enamel or hard enamel.

Both production methods allow you to combine coloured areas with metal detailing, but the way the enamel and metal interact gives each type of badge its own distinctive appearance.

The biggest visible difference is the surface. Soft enamel badges normally have raised metal lines with slightly recessed coloured areas, creating a textured finish. Hard enamel badges are polished so the enamel and surrounding metal sit much closer to the same level, producing a smooth surface.

What Are Soft Enamel Badges?

Soft enamel badges are created with recessed areas that are filled with coloured enamel while the surrounding metal lines remain raised. Because the enamel sits below the metal edges, the finished badge has a noticeable tactile texture.

This raised-and-recessed appearance is one of the defining characteristics of soft enamel and can help individual sections of a design stand out clearly.

Soft enamel is particularly popular when the raised metal is intended to become a noticeable part of the artwork. The contrast between coloured recesses and metal lines can produce a strong, traditional enamel badge appearance.

For soft enamel with raised metal lines you can feel, see our non-epoxy badges.

What Are Hard Enamel Badges?

Hard enamel badges use a different finishing process. The coloured areas are filled before the surface is polished so that the enamel sits flush, or almost flush, with the surrounding metal.

The result is a smooth, glossy surface with a more polished and jewellery-like appearance. You may also see this manufacturing style described using terms such as imitation hard enamel or new enamel, depending on the production method being used.

Hard enamel can be particularly effective when the aim is to create a badge that feels substantial, refined and suitable for long-term use.

Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel: Quick Comparison

Neither option is automatically better than the other. The right choice depends on how you want the badge to look, how it will be used and the budget available for the project.

Tip: Not sure? Ask for free product samples so you can see both finishes before you order.

Which Type of Enamel Badge Should You Choose?

The easiest way to decide is to think about what matters most for your particular project. Price, texture, appearance, durability and the complexity of your artwork can all influence the final choice.

Things to Consider Before Ordering Enamel Badges

Choosing between soft and hard enamel is only one part of creating a custom badge. Several other decisions can have just as much influence on the final result.

The shape and size of the badge affect how much detail can be reproduced clearly. Very small text, thin lines and intricate areas may need simplifying so that they remain clear once the artwork is reduced to badge size.

The metal finish also makes a significant visual difference. Bright polished metal can create a very different appearance from darker, antique or coloured finishes, even when the enamel colours and artwork remain identical.

Enamel colours are matched to Pantone references. See our guide to the essential Pantone colours for enamel badges.

It’s also worth considering how the badge will actually be worn or presented. The most appropriate fitting for a promotional pin may be different from one designed for staff uniforms, awards or retail merchandise.

Which Finish Looks More Premium?

This comes down largely to the appearance you want to achieve.

Hard enamel is commonly chosen when a smooth, polished and refined finish is the priority. The flat surface gives it a clean appearance that can work particularly well for corporate branding, recognition badges and premium merchandise.

Soft enamel, however, shouldn’t simply be thought of as the cheaper version. Its raised metal lines and recessed colour create a completely different visual style that many designs deliberately take advantage of.

For artwork inspired by traditional pins, collectables, club badges or highly defined illustrated designs, the additional texture of soft enamel may actually be the preferred aesthetic.

Is Hard Enamel More Durable Than Soft Enamel?

Hard enamel generally provides the more durable surface because the colours and metal are polished into a smooth finish. This makes it particularly suitable for badges that may experience regular handling or long-term wear.

Soft enamel is still suitable for many everyday applications, but because the coloured sections sit below the raised metal edges, its surface behaves differently when repeatedly handled.

An epoxy coating can sometimes be added to a soft enamel badge to provide an additional glossy protective layer, although this also changes the feel and appearance of the traditional recessed surface.

Is Soft Enamel Cheaper Than Hard Enamel?

Soft enamel is generally the more economical manufacturing option because hard enamel requires additional finishing and polishing stages.

However, the enamel type is only one factor affecting the final cost of a custom badge. Pricing can also depend on the badge dimensions, quantity, number of colours, complexity of the artwork, metal finish, fitting and packaging.

For that reason, it’s best to compare the two options using your actual artwork and required quantity rather than choosing purely on a general price difference.

Soft or Hard Enamel: Making the Final Choice

Both soft enamel and hard enamel can produce excellent custom badges when the manufacturing method is matched to the artwork and intended use.

If you want a traditional badge with noticeable texture, strong raised metal detail and an economical production method, soft enamel may be the most suitable option.

If your priority is a smooth surface, additional durability and a more polished appearance, hard enamel may be worth the additional cost.

Most importantly, consider the finished appearance rather than simply deciding that one process is better than the other. The right choice is the one that best complements your design, audience, budget and how the finished badge will be used.

Ordering keyrings as well? Read our custom keyrings guide.