{"id":504,"date":"2026-10-08T19:03:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T19:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinbadges.com.au\/blog\/?p=504"},"modified":"2026-10-08T19:03:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T19:03:10","slug":"soft-enamel-vs-hard-enamel-pins-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinbadges.com.au\/blog\/soft-enamel-vs-hard-enamel-pins-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Soft Enamel Vs Hard Enamel Pins: What\u2019s The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Custom enamel pins are not just accessories, but they are a powerful art form for expressing your identity, showcasing your creativity, and building community. When you pick up tw different pins that look almost identical in a photo, you may notice something surprising when you touch them. Both look beautiful and professional, but one feels perfectly smooth under your thumb, while the other has a subtle ridge you can trace with your fingernail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be unsure which to choose between hard and soft enamel pins<\/a> if you are designing custom enamel pins for your brand, event, or team. This can affect the cost, durability, production time and colours. In this blog, you will walk through the main differences between soft and hard enamel pins to choose the right one for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>What Are Enamel Pins?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enamel pins are made with a metal base, stamped with a design and filled with coloured enamel paint to bring the design to life. People can display them on their apparel, hats, bags and backpacks to personalise their accessories and represent their identity. They are used for everything, including corporate branding, employee recognition, fundraisers, event merchandise and collector series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>1.     Soft Enamel Pins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Soft enamel pins have a textured, three-dimensional appearance, and their areas are filled just below the raised metal line, which allows the recessed areas to define soft pin emblems clearly. Manufacturers bake them at high temperatures after the enamel filling and plating process, which can solidify the texture and vibrant surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>2.     Hard Enamel Pins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hard pins have a smooth, sleek, refined surface with a soft and glossy appearance because the enamel sits flush with the metal lines. These badges are known for their high-quality, shiny and durable finish that creates a glass-like look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>How To Make Enamel Pins?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making both types of pins begins with creating a mould for the artwork. After creating the mould, the design is die-struck onto the metal base, forming a recessed area separated by raised metal edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\u25cf       Soft Enamel Pins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The starting process is the same, but the finishing differs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Enamel filling is hand-poured into the recessed areas, but they are left partially filled to sit below the raised metal edges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The pin is then baked at a high temperature to cure and harden the filling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. There is no polishing step, and the metal lines remain recessed below the enamel to create visible dimensional texture across the surface of the pin.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Soft enamel pins are faster and more cost-effective to produce because they skip the polishing stage. This is a big part of why they are the most popular choice for large bulk orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/a>\u25cf       Hard Enamel Pins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The difference in hard enamel pins starts here, after the same beginning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Enamel filling is poured into each recessed area and overfills it instead of partially filling it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The pin is then baked at a high temperature to harden the enamel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Then the entire surface of the pin is mechanically polished until the enamel and metal lines are flush, creating a flat and glass-smooth finish.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Finally, a layer of metal plating (gold, nickel, silver or another finish is applied to the outer layer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      This extra polishing step gives hard enamel badges a signature glossy finish and smooth surface. It is why it takes a bit longer to produce and costs slightly more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>Differences Between Soft And Hard Enamel Pins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Soft and hard enamel are designed for different purposes and looks. Below are the main differences between both types of enamel pins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>1.     Texture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The first difference people notice is the surface feel and texture. Soft enamel pins have raised edges around each colour, giving them a slightly bumpy and dimensional texture. Hard enamel pins have a flat surface where the enamel and metal sit at the same level, giving a smooth feel and a glass-like finish. This often feels closer to shiny metals used in fine jewellery than a typical printed pin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>2.     Design Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Soft enamel badges often offer more design flexibility for pins with fine details, more colours or gradients, as the recessed and unpolished format handles intricate work well. Hard enamel can also manage detailed designs, but its surface gets polished. This is why extremely fine details or very close colour separations can blend slightly during finishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>3.     Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You can choose either of them for normal wear, but hard enamel has a slight edge. The polished, sealed surface of hard enamel resists scratches and fades better over years of handling, which is why people often consider it the superior choice for award pins, premium collector pins, and anything you want to wear for a long time. You can choose soft enamel for most promotional and event use, and it’s more likely to show light wear on the enamel surface after extended use than hard enamel\u2019s smoother, more resistant finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>4.     Cost And Production Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Hard enamel pins contain an additional polishing stage, so they usually cost more and take a bit longer to produce than soft enamel. The making process of soft enamel pins does not have any finishing and plating process, so it is more cost-effective and takes less time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/a>How To Choose The Right One?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      No one option is superior, and it generally depends on your personal preference, budget, and how you will use your pins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You should use soft enamel pins if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n