Best badge making kits and machines to buy in 2022
Fancy trying your hand at badge making? Read our guide to the best badge making kits and get started on your new hobby.
Discover everything you need to know about the art of badge making, find the best badge making machines on the market and all the top badge making supplies in our guide.
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What is badge making?
Badge making is the art of creating wearable button badges from metal discs, plastic sheets and designs of your choosing. Badges have been around since the medieval era but button badges (the most common type you find today) were created in 1893 by Benjamin S. Whitehead. Since his creation badges have been used around the world to promote events, fundraise, spread important messages and by people simply wanting to get creative!
Badge making was made popular by the introduction of badge making kits that you could buy and use at home. Previously you'd have to send your design to a manufacturer but now you can buy everything you need online. The more simple type of badge making (often used for kids) involves a plastic cover, a piece of paper for your design and a clip-on back which has the pin attached. For a more professional style, you can buy badge making machines which use metal discs and industrial clamps to attach the pieces together.
We've rounded up the top badge making machines, for a range of ages, so the whole family can start badge making! We've also got a list of badge making suppliers at the bottom of this post so you can stock up on the essentials.
For more craft ideas, take a look at the best Black Friday arts and crafts deals for 2022.
Best badge making kits and machines to buy
Costway badge maker
One of the more affordable badge making kits on the market is this fab badge making machine by Costway, available to buy from Amazon. It includes a 25 mm badge maker and the extra-thick spring bearing should allow for an efficient, and comfortable badge making session. You get 1000 button pieces in this set, so you'll be badge making for years to come! Whether you're making badges for your children's school event, or simply fancy an afternoon of crafts, this badge maker is sure to come in handy.
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25mm 'Micro' Badge Maker
Created by Ebadges, this badge making kit comes with everything you need to get started. It comes with a circle cutter, cutting board and 250 badge sets. The machine price goes up depending on the size of the badge you want with the cheapest being this 25mm aluminium machine.
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Slowmoose Button Badge Making Machine
- Buy now from Fruugo (£399.00)
Create 32mm button badges with this swanky piece of kit from Slowmoose. This model comes with an extra long handle so it should be nice and easy to use!
Blank Badge badge making kit
- Buy now from BlankBadge (£355.86)
The 38mm G Series badge making kit is one of the more expensive options in our round-up but it comes with extra benefits. It can create both pin badges and fridge magnets as well as coming with pre-drilled holes in the base so you can attach it to your workbench. It also has a lifetime guarantee and can make 300 badges per hour!
E-Badges badge making starter kit
- Buy now from e-badges (£162.97)
This badge making kit is the ultimate one for crafters. It comes with absolutely everything you'd need including 50 mirrors, 50 key rings, 50 mirror keyrings and 100 magnet badges meaning you can branch out from the simple pin badge. It also includes simple instructions and templates to ensure you're doing everything correctly.
Baker Ross badge making kits
If you want to take a more straightforward approach to badge making then Baker Ross' kit is the one for you. This pack contains 10 see-through badges and comes with 2 blank inserts for each badge so kids can get creative! This simple craft will keep them entertained for ages and is perfect for birthday parties. This is also a great kit if you're looking to create a number badge as a special treat for your little one's big day - a nice surprise they can wear all day long to go along with a homemade birthday card.
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If you're looking for more kids crafts then check out craft ideas for kids round-up and our paper crafts for kids blog post.
Where to buy badge making supplies
Once you've bought your badge making kit or badge maker machine you'll be wanting to buy refills for your kit! There's multiple online stored which sell badge making supplies so we've rounded up the top five to get you the best possible deal.
Why not check out our other craft round-ups too? We've collected the best die cut machines, the top punch needle kits and written everything there is to know about rug making kits for beginners.
eBay
- Buy now from Ebay (£17.05)
If you're looking for simple refills for your badge making kit then eBay is the place to look! They do great deals on blank badges so you can get buy a bunch and get creative. This set comes with 100 blank badges at 25mm in size but they have a range of sizes going up to 58mm. It also worth checking for second hand badge makers if you're looking for a bargain!
Amazon
Amazon also has a huge range of badge making supplies including specialist styles like this one. Now you're a badge making pro why not try making magnetic badges? This 20 pack is super affordable and easy to attach to the back of your badges. Now you can wear them on your clothes without pinning a hole through your shirt.
Etsy
- Buy now from Etsy (£9.76)
If you prefer the small biz route then Etsy is the one for you. With hundreds of independent stores, Etsy has a range of badge making supplies. This set from Key Factors comes with polyurethane resin clear domes so your badges can have a more 3D effect. Simply print your design onto self-adhesive paper, stick the design in the lapel and place the dome on top!
Blank Badge
- Buy now from Blank Badge (£44.94)
Blank Badge is the home of all badge making kits, components and supplies. As they're specialists in the field they have a wide range of unique badge types you wouldn't find anywhere else. These magnetic bottle opener badge components mean you can take your badge making to the next level! They also sell badge making machines too so you can get everything you need in one handy place.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about badge making and that you'll buy your very own badge making kit! If you fancy taking up a new hobby alongside badge making why not check out our guides to the best sewing machines for beginners and the best overlockers?
Authors
Phoebe has worked for Gathered, and our sister magazine Mollie Makes, for 3 years. She manages our Arts & Crafts section and specialises in social media and content strategy. She has a background in all things marketing, a flair for Pinterest and a knack for finding the next big craft trend. Previously she worked as Digital Campaign Executive for Fat Media. You may recognise her name from Mollie Makes Social Media magazine, where she shared her expertise and top tips on becoming social media savvy.
