How to make your own custom buttons

Are you looking to make a statement with your own custom-printed buttons? Whether for a special event, political campaign, or just as a way to express yourself, creating and wearing your own personalized buttons is easier than ever. With the right materials and tools, anyone can make professional-looking custom buttons in no time. Read on to find out how!

What you need

Your design, printable materials, a printer, scissors or a sharp knife, plastic casings or a button machine

Create a design

Creating the perfect design for your custom button is the first step in making a statement with your personalized buttons. With plenty of free online resources and design elements available, it’s easy to create something unique that reflects you or your cause. Whether you’re using an image, text, or both, there are countless options to choose from. You can even combine multiple photos and text into one cohesive layout. No matter what type of custom button you want, the right design will help your message stand out!

Choose your material

Once you’ve finalized your design, it’s time to choose the materials that will bring it to life. Most custom buttons are made using paper or cardstock, but you can also use colored vinyl or other thicker materials depending on your button machine or casings. Buttons usually come in standard round sizes, so you can also find pre-cut printable sheets that match those dimensions. For extra convenience, try using materials with adhesive backing to help you align your printed design more easily.

Make your design print-ready

Preparing your design for printing is a key step in creating custom buttons. This means making sure your file matches your printer and button machine’s requirements so that it looks just right. Use CMYK color format, convert fonts to outlines, and export your design as vector artwork. These steps ensure a clean, professional print finish.

Print your design

Printing is critical to getting a great final product. Use high-quality printable materials and set your printer correctly to avoid distortion. Thicker materials like vinyl can give your button a more polished, professional feel. With good prep, you can create beautiful personalized buttons that represent your identity or cause.

Making buttons without a machine

You don’t need a machine to make custom buttons. You can use empty plastic casings with pins and assemble them yourself. Here's how:

Get plastic casings

If you don’t have access to a button machine, pre-made plastic casings with pins are an easy alternative. These are available at craft stores, online retailers, and specialty websites. The casings are usually round or square and come with a metal pin. They make great custom buttons for clothes. To use them, cut your design to fit the casing, place it inside, and clip it shut.

Cut your artwork

Cutting is a crucial step for accuracy. If you're using pre-cut sheets, you can simply peel and stick. If not, use scissors or an X-Acto knife to cut your design to size. Make sure it fits properly inside the plastic casing for a neat, professional look.

Insert your design

Now place your cut design into the plastic casing. Once it’s in position, clip the casing shut. That’s it! You now have a custom button ready to pin to any outfit or accessory. The best part? You can easily switch out the design any time you want.

Making custom buttons with a machine

You can also go full pro and use a custom button-making machine. Here’s what to expect:

Order your equipment

Start by ordering a button machine and the necessary components. With your equipment ready, you’ll be set to create sharp, high-quality buttons that reflect your style or mission.

Cut your artwork

After designing your button, cut out your artwork to match the size of the button. Pre-cut materials make this fast, but if you're using full sheets, use scissors or an X-Acto knife to cut it precisely.

Add the backing, design, and top layer

Once you have all the components, it’s time to assemble them in the machine. Follow the instructions that come with your button maker to load the backing, design, and clear top layer properly.

Press down

Now press the machine handle firmly. You’ll hear a click that means everything has been securely pressed together. Congrats - your custom button is done!

Making custom buttons with a professional printer

If you'd prefer to skip the DIY route, you can order from a professional printer. This is ideal if you need a large batch of high-quality buttons. Just submit your design, select your specs, and let the experts handle the rest. You'll get perfectly printed buttons without having to lift a finger. You can start by browsing the custom standard buttons.