How to Choose the Right Enamel Pin Manufacturer (and Avoid Getting Screwed on Your Custom Pins)

Let’s be blunt: not all enamel pin manufacturers are created equal.

Some will take your dreamy custom enamel pin design and turn it into metallic garbage. Others will ghost you the moment you send payment. And a rare, magical few will deliver high-quality enamel pins on time, exactly as promised, without giving you a migraine.

If you want to avoid expensive mistakes and endless headaches, here’s your brutally honest guide to finding a reliable enamel pin maker who won’t screw you over.

1. Review Their Enamel Pin Portfolio — Beyond the Pretty Website

Anyone can slap glossy product photos on a homepage. Ask to see recent work.
Better yet, request real client examples from the past 6 months.

Pro tip: Transparency is sexy. A truly great pin manufacturer will even show you less-than-perfect projects and explain what went wrong. That’s honesty you can trust.

2. Understand Pin Manufacturer Pricing and Hidden Fees

Is the quote all-inclusive? Or will they slap on extra charges for molds, setup, color counts, and shipping after you’ve committed?

Red flag: If you feel like you need a calculator and a lawyer to understand the invoice, run.

When in doubt, get a detailed breakdown. At Dream Maker Pins, we clearly outline your costs from day one — no surprises, no shady add-ons. Start your custom pin quote here.

3. Check Communication Speed and Honesty

If it takes four days to get a reply to a simple question now, imagine how they’ll treat you after they have your deposit.

Fast, clear, and honest communication is worth its weight in gold plating. You should feel confident they’re as excited about your project as you are.

4. Make Sure They Offer Design Feedback

A good custom pin manufacturer will warn you if your text is too small, your colors will bleed, or your design needs slight tweaks to look great in enamel.

Translation: If they say yes to everything without hesitation, run.

At Dream Maker Pins, we’ll give you professional design advice before production starts — because we want you to love the finished product.

5. Read the Reviews (and Between the Lines)

Five-star ratings look great, but dig deeper. Do customers mention delays? Broken pins? Ghosting?
Vague feedback can be a sign of bigger problems being swept under the rug.

Look for reviews that talk about consistent quality, great communication, and smooth timelines — those are the hallmarks of a trustworthy pin maker.

6. Ask About Quality Checks and Guarantees

Do they inspect pins before shipping? Will they replace defective ones?

You don’t want to be the one explaining why your customer’s pin looks like it went through a garbage disposal.

A reliable enamel pin manufacturer will have a clear quality control process and will stand behind their product.

7. Know Where They’re Based (and Where the Pins Are Made)

Some manufacturers claim to be local but secretly outsource production overseas without telling you. That’s not necessarily bad — but you deserve transparency.

Green flag: They’re upfront about where production happens and what to expect for shipping times.

Why Dream Maker Pins Is Worth Your Time

We’ve been in this game long enough to know how messy it can get. That’s why we:

• Actually care about your design

• Don’t hide fees behind confusing quotes

• Communicate like real humans

• Deliver pins you’re proud to sell

Need a quote? Or just want to vent about the last manufacturer who ghosted you? Get in touch with us here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Pin Manufacturer

Q: What’s the best enamel pin manufacturer?
A: The best one for you will have transparent pricing, great reviews, and strong design support. Bonus points if they specialize in your pin style (soft enamel, hard enamel, die struck).

Q: How much does it cost to make enamel pins?
A: Prices vary based on size, finish, and quantity, but most range from $2.50–$4.00 per pin. Get your custom quote here.

Q: How long does it take to get custom pins made?
A: Average turnaround is 2–4 weeks depending on production and shipping time. Plan ahead if you need them for a specific event.

Q: Should I choose a local pin maker or overseas production?
A: 

Both can produce beautiful, high-quality enamel pins — but there are differences you should know.

• U.S.-based production is typically 3–5 times more expensive than overseas manufacturing. This is due to higher labor costs and different production processes.

• Overseas production (like the partners we use) allows for the same professional quality at a more affordable price point, making custom pins accessible to small businesses, nonprofits, and artists.

We’re transparent about the fact that our pins are made overseas. We’ve worked with our trusted production partners for years, and we inspect every batch for quality before shipping them to you.