Soft Enamel vs Hard Enamel vs Die Struck Pins (2026 Manufacturing Guide for Custom Pins)

Choosing the right type of enamel pin is one of the most important decisions before production. Soft enamel pins, hard enamel pins, and die struck pins all have different looks, costs, textures, and best-use cases.

This guide explains the key differences so creators, brands, Etsy sellers, Kickstarter projects, and small businesses can choose the best custom pin option for their design.

Quick Comparison: Soft Enamel, Hard Enamel, and Die Struck Pins

1. Soft Enamel Pins

Soft enamel pins have recessed enamel areas and raised metal lines. This creates a textured surface that you can feel when touching the pin.

Soft enamel is one of the most popular choices for custom enamel pins because it offers bright colors, strong contrast, and a more affordable production cost.

• Most popular and affordable option
• Bright colors and strong contrast
• Textured finish with raised metal lines
• Great for artists, Etsy sellers, events, and creator merchandise

2. Hard Enamel Pins

Hard enamel pins are filled with enamel and polished flat, creating a smooth and premium surface. The final result feels more refined and jewelry-like compared with soft enamel.

Hard enamel is a strong choice when you want your pins to feel more durable, professional, and suitable for retail or premium branding.

• Smooth and polished surface
• Premium jewelry-like finish
• More durable and scratch-resistant
• Ideal for collector pins, brand merchandise, and retail products

3. Die Struck Pins

Die struck pins do not use enamel colors. Instead, the design is created through raised and recessed metal areas, often combined with plating finishes such as gold, silver, antique bronze, or antique silver.

This style is best for designs that need a clean, elegant, classic, or official look without bright color filling.

• Classic metallic appearance
• No enamel color filling
• Works well with antique or polished plating
• Great for corporate pins, medals, awards, crests, and commemorative designs

Key Differences Summary

The best choice depends on your artwork style, budget, target audience, and the final feeling you want your pin to create.

• Soft enamel: best for colorful, budget-friendly designs.
• Hard enamel: best for premium, smooth, polished designs.
• Die struck: best for elegant, metallic, and minimal designs.

Which Pin Type Should You Choose?

If you are a beginner, artist, Etsy seller, or Kickstarter creator, soft enamel is usually the safest starting point because it balances cost, color, and visual impact.

If you want a more premium product for branding, retail packaging, or collector merchandise, hard enamel is often the better choice.

If your artwork relies on metal texture instead of color, or if you want a formal and classic look, die struck pins are a strong option.

Production Considerations

• Soft enamel usually has a lower cost and strong color contrast.
• Hard enamel usually costs more because of polishing and finishing steps.
• Die struck pins rely heavily on plating quality and metal detail.
• Simple artwork usually works better across all three production methods.

Related Enamel Pin Guides

If you are still comparing options, you may also want to read our Hard Enamel vs Soft Enamel Pins Guide and our Custom Enamel Pin Plating Options Guide.

You can also explore our soft enamel pins and hard enamel pins collection pages for more production details.

Final Recommendation

For most colorful custom pin projects, soft enamel is the best starting choice. For premium retail or collector pins, hard enamel is recommended. For elegant metal-only designs, die struck pins are the best fit.

The final decision should be based on your artwork, budget, brand style, and how you want your customers or fans to feel when they receive the finished pin.