Button maker for selling: which size actually sells, and real cost per button (2026)
The job: Make and sell pin-back buttons at craft fairs and online, starting with one machine.
Short answer: start with 2.25 inch. It's the most common size, parts are cheapest per piece, and the same machine makes magnets, keyrings and bottle openers by swapping the back. Add 1.25 inch second if you sell small art pins. Sellers on r/EtsySellers report it often outsells 1 inch.
The thing nobody tells you: parts aren't universal. American Standard 2.25" (57.15 mm), Badge-A-Minit and imported "58 mm" parts usually don't fit each other's machines, so buy a machine whose parts you can reorder for years.
At a glance
| Product | Best for | Size standard | Supplies per button | Price (checked) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 225 2.25" button maker (American Standard, made in USA) | Selling regularly for years | American Standard 2.25" (57.15 mm) | 13.6¢ (500 sets) to 9.2¢ (5,000) | $280.25-$294.95 machine; kits $469.99-$525 |
| Badge-A-Minit 2¼" Starter Hand Press Kit | Trying buttons before investing | Badge-A-Minit 2¼" | Check current BAM part prices | $49.95 incl. 10 button sets |
| Imported "58 mm" button presses (various brands) | Very tight budgets with one supplier | "58 mm" (varies by seller) | About 8-11¢ (500-pack) | About $45-85 single size; $70-165 3-in-1 |
How we chose
- Parts you can reliably reorder in the same sizing standard
- Cost per button in supplies
- Build (steel vs plastic dies) and warranty as published
- Total starting cost including a circle cutter
The picks
Model 225 2.25" button maker (American Standard, made in USA)
An all-steel, cam-on-roller press sold by several US dealers (American Button Machines, Snap Magnets, ButtonsOnline, Brick City). Dealers quote under five seconds per button and a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. Parts are American Standard, so they're easy to reorder.
- Steel dies and a full-stroke stop, so no half-crimped buttons (per ABM)
- Lifetime warranty against defects (dealer pages)
- One machine makes pins, magnets, mirrors, keyrings and bottle openers
- Supplies get cheaper in bulk: 9.2¢ per set at 5,000
- About 4-6× the price of an import machine
- Needs a 2.625" circle cutter (included in kits, otherwise extra)
- Won't take imported "58 mm" or Badge-A-Minit parts
Skip it if: You only want to make a few dozen buttons for one event.
Check price at American Button Machines
Sources: ABM 2.25" Button Maker · ABM 2.25" kit · Snap Magnets Model 225 (Tecre) · Brick City Tecre kit
Badge-A-Minit 2¼" Starter Hand Press Kit
A small hand press with assembly rings, 10 pin-back sets and 10 designs. It's enough to make your first buttons and see whether people buy them before you spend $300.
- $49.95 all-in to start
- Established brand with its own supply line
- Hand press is slower than a cam-lever machine
- Uses Badge-A-Minit-specific parts (ABM says its 2.25" parts don't fit)
Skip it if: You already know you'll make hundreds of buttons a month.
Sources: Badge-A-Minit starter kit page
Imported "58 mm" button presses (various brands)
Widely sold on marketplaces under many brand names. They work, but sizing varies from seller to seller, so you may have to keep buying parts from the seller you started with. Note: these figures come from American Button Machines' comparison page, and ABM is a competitor.
- Lowest machine price
- Cheapest parts per button
- Mostly plastic dies; usually no full-stroke stop (per ABM)
- "58 mm" parts from different sellers may not crimp
- Short marketplace return windows instead of a long warranty
Skip it if: You want to scale up or rely on the machine for event orders.
Sources: ABM import vs professional comparison (competitor source)
What it really costs per item
Buttons are cheap to make. What matters is where you sell them: a $0.25 per-order payment fee is nothing on a $25 order but painful on one $3 button. That's why sellers bundle buttons into packs or sell at events.
One 2.25" button at a craft fair (no platform fees)
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| Blank / material per item ($) | 0.136 |
| Consumables per item ($) | 0.05 |
| Machine price ($) | 294.95 |
| Items over machine life | 10000 |
| Labour minutes per item | 0.5 |
| Your pay ($/hour) | 15 |
| Percentage fees (% of price) | 0 |
| Target margin (% of price) | 50 |
| Materials + consumables | $0.19 |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $0.00 |
| Machine wear (price / lifetime items) | $0.03 |
| Your labour | $0.12 |
| Shipping absorbed + fixed fees | $0.00 |
| Total cost per item | $0.34 |
| Price needed for a 50% margin after 0% fees | $0.68 |
- Supplies: 13.6¢ per set at 500 (ABM). Paper and ink assumed 5¢.
- Machine wear assumes 10,000 buttons over its life. Labour assumes 30 seconds per button including cutting.
- Booth fees not included; add them per event.
Open this example in the calculator and change any number
A 5-pack of 2.25" buttons on Etsy
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| Blank / material per item ($) | 0.68 |
| Consumables per item ($) | 0.25 |
| Machine price ($) | 294.95 |
| Items over machine life | 2000 |
| Labour minutes per item | 4 |
| Your pay ($/hour) | 15 |
| Packaging/shipping you absorb ($) | 1.2 |
| Fixed fee per order ($) | 0.25 |
| Percentage fees (% of price) | 9.5 |
| Target margin (% of price) | 30 |
| Materials + consumables | $0.93 |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $0.00 |
| Machine wear (price / lifetime items) | $0.15 |
| Your labour | $1.00 |
| Shipping absorbed + fixed fees | $1.45 |
| Total cost per item | $3.53 |
| Price needed for a 30% margin after 9.5% fees | $5.83 |
- 5 × 13.6¢ supplies, 5 × 5¢ print. Machine wear: 2,000 packs over its life.
- Shipping assumes you absorb $1.20 for a stamped envelope; check current postage.
- Fees modelled on Etsy US: 6.5% transaction + 3% payment processing (9.5% of price) + $0.25 per order (Etsy fees page, checked 2026-10-18). Offsite Ads (15%) not included.
Open this example in the calculator and change any number
Which size sells?
- 2.25": the classic campaign, school and photo size, readable from a few feet away. ABM calls it its most popular size, and parts are cheapest per piece.
- 1.25": small art and band pins for lanyards and jackets. Sellers in r/EtsySellers report it outsells 1".
- 1": the classic punk and band size. Niche but loyal.
- 3"+ photo sizes: room for a face and text, good for events and memorial buttons, but parts cost more.
Sources: ABM size guide · r/EtsySellers thread · Busy Beaver size chart
FAQ
Can I sell buttons of characters or band logos?
Not without a licence. Fan art of trademarked or copyrighted characters can get listings removed and lead to legal claims. Sell your own designs.
Do I need special paper?
Regular 20-32 lb printer paper works in most machines. Photo paper or fabric needs the machine adjusted (ABM notes its Model 225 can be).
Sources
ABM pinback set pricing · Etsy fees & payments policy
Specs and prices from linked dealer pages, checked 2026-10-18. We have not used these machines ourselves. Prices and availability change; the retailer's price at checkout applies.