How to Choose a Button Size

So how do you decide which button size is best for you? For starters you need to consider your budget, your target audience and what kind of buttons you want to make. Are you making photo buttons or fabric buttons? Are you only interested in making pinback buttons? Or do you want to branch out and make jewelry or magnets? How about bottle openers? Answering these questions will help you to choose a button size.  

ABM offers a huge variety of button sizes and shapes: 

Click here to view printable size chart.

 

SHOP FOR BUTTON MAKERS:

Most Popular Button Sizes

• Round – 1” to 6”

• Rectangle – 1.75x2.75 and 2x3 

• Oval – 1.75x2.75

• Square – 1x1, 2x2 and 3x3

 

Each size has its own merits. For now let’s focus on popularity. Overall, a 2.25” button maker is the most popular size. Not too big, not too small. It is also the size that has the most options. Schools & universities throughout the country use this size for rewarding their students, advertising events, making name tags and lots of other things. If you can think of it, a 2.25” button has been used for it. For a visual reference, a 2.25" button is the size of the top of a soda can.

Do you like small buttons? A 1” button is the smallest button we offer – the finished product is about the size of a quarter. It has the most options of all the smaller buttons. Something to keep in mind is after the button is made, you must insert the springpin into the collet back by hand. With practice, it is not difficult to do but it does add another step to the process. So if you do not mind adding a spring pin, it is nice to know you have the smallest button available with the most options. On the other hand, a 1.25” button is only fractionally larger and comes with the pin already inserted into the back. Students, artists and musicians all love the mini buttons.

 

Fabric Covered Buttons

 

Fabric Ponytail Holders Looking to make fabric buttons? A 1.5” button is the most popular size (unless you want to make pocket mirrors, then look to our 2.25, 3", or 3.5" fabric covered button makers).

Popular with teachers, who add them to school IDs. And nurses, who wear them on stethoscopes. Fabric buttons can be made in any size but there are stipulations. Read “All You Ever Wanted to Know about Fabric Buttons”. Here, you’ll find information about the most popular size for fabric as well as a stimulating conversation about embroidery.

Another nice option is the 1.75” button. While not as many options as others, the main products you can make are pinbacks, magnets, necklaces and keychains.

 

Photo Buttons

Looking to make photo buttons? Larger 3” and 3.5” buttons are the go to sizes for photographers. These photo buttons offer a larger canvas to work with so you can include a photo, text in a circle and even an accent ring to make the whole thing pop. Our photo button making kits are popular among the sports crowd who want big buttons to show off their football and soccer players. Also the sizes most often used for political campaign buttons. These larger sizes effortlessly accommodate both printer paper and photo paper. Thicker photo paper can also be used in 2.25” machines but only when you cut the graphic to a slightly smaller size. We have made this super easy by using a Photo Punch made specifically for the 2.25" button maker.

 

Specialty Buttons

 

Let’s talk specific products. If you want to make jewelry such as earrings and necklaces, a 1” button is the best size. ABM offers interchangeable magnetic jewelry in the form of pendants and bracelets. You’ll also find earrings, bracelets and rings (not magnetic) in this size. Standard necklaces are available in 1.5”, 1.75” and 2.25”. 

 

 

Keychains? Hold your hat. Key chains are available in 1”, 1.25”, 1.5”, 1.75” and 2.25” buttons. And, if that’s not enough, the three smaller sizes are available in several different styles in the form of versaback buttons. The 1.5” is a crossover size and offers the most variety found in our key chain options. No matter the size, keychains are a hot item.

Are you interested in making specialty products such as bottle openers or coasters? How about purse hangers or badge reels? Flashing buttons anyone? Zipper pulls? This is what I mean when I tell you ABM has a huge variety of buttons styles to choose from.

Bottle openers & rosettes are exclusive to 2.25” buttons. Coasters are exclusive to 3.5” buttons. Purse hangers and badge reels are a bit more flexible, working well with both 1.25” and 1.5”. Flashing buttons are super flexible. You can make them with 1.5”, 2.25”, 3” and 3.5”.

Zipper pulls are available in the smaller sizes of 1”, 1.25” and 1.5”. Oval, rectangle and square buttons can be made into pinback and magnet buttons.

If you’re more of a chart type person check this one out. It lists each item available by size. One more way to choose a button size. Button making need not be complicated. You need only obtain the best button maker from ABM and you can make any style button with ease! Follow the chart below to learn what you can make with our button making machines.

 

Button Size Chart - What can I make?

Model Size	Model 100 1 Inch	Model 125 1.25 Inch	Model 150 1.5 Inch	Model 175 1.75 Inch	Model 225 2.25 Inch	Model 300 3 Inch	Model 350 3.5 Inch	Model 600 6 Inch	Model 1727 1.75" x 2.75"	Model 2020 2 x 2 Inch	Model 2030 2 x 3 Inch
Pin Back Buttons	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Magnets	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
Key Chains	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔				✔	✔	✔
Mirrors					✔	✔	✔
Ponytail Holders	✔	✔	✔		✔
Badge Reels	✔	✔	✔
Earrings	✔
Tie Tacks	✔
Medallions	✔
Metal Flat Backs	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
Bracelets & Rings	✔
Magnetic Jewelry	✔
Zipper Pulls	✔	✔	✔
Flashing Buttons					✔	✔	✔
Bulldog Clips				✔	✔	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔
Bottle Openers					✔
Necklaces			✔	✔	✔
Coasters							✔
Ornaments					✔	✔	✔
Purse Hangers		✔	✔
Rosettes					✔
Clocks								✔
Fabric Buttons*	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

 

* Red-n-Black Fabric Button MachineSave