Best badge making kits and machines to buy in 2020

Discover everything you need to know about the art of badge making and all the supplies you’ll need in our guide.

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 eight of the top badge making machines and two options for kids 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.

Best badge making kits and machines to buy

Amazon, £149

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.

Amazon, £85.99

This professional badge making kit by VEVOR is a sturdy machine that will stand the test of time. It comes with 100 sets that will make 5.8cm badges. Its rotatable base means it’s easy to swap out the moulds in order to make bigger or smaller sized badges.

For more crafty kits to make at home check out our guide to the top craft subscription boxes and modern cross stitch kits. You’ll never be bored again.

Ali Express, $129.00

Ali Express’ badge making kit will create 1000 32mm badges so there’s plenty of room for trial and error. It also comes with an acrylic paper cutter meaning you’ll cut a perfect circle every time.

Amazon, £78.09

Estink have designed this nifty little machine at a super affordable price. It’s one of the cheapest professional machines we’ve found and includes everything you need to make 1000 25mm badges. 

Fruugo, £190

Choose between 58mm or 37mm badges with Pixmax’s badge making bundle. The kit comes with this separate cutting machine that works like a hole punch meaning you can quickly and effectively cut perfect circles from your chosen designs.

Blank Badge, £298.94

The 38mm G Series badge making kit is the most expensive option 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, from £169.80

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.

Badge making kits for kids

Amazon, £45.00

Badge it made badge making famous for hundreds of kids and we think it would make the perfect Christmas present for your tweens. It comes with step by step instructions and 15 x 3cm badges so they can start creating straight away. For more crafty projects for your tweens check out the 42 best crafts for teens post.

Amazon, £5.99

If you want to take a more simple approach to badge making then Baker Ross’ kit is the one for you. This pack contains 10 see-through badges 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. 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 and have mastered the technique 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

25mm blank badges, £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.

Amazon

Magnet badges, £14.99

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 from Magreen 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

Keyfactors, 50 Blank Lapel Pin Badge with 25mm round clear domes, £19.20

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!

If you want to see more of what Etsy has to offer, check out our guide to the Esty Black Friday Sale 2020 and grab yourself a bargain.

Blank Badge

G Series 59mm Bottle Opener Components, £40.85

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!

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 guide to the best sewing machines for beginners and best overlockers?