The word pin comes from the English and means pin. In our online shop you can order buttons, which are used for advertising purposes in the same way as pins. The two terms buttons and pins are very often used synonymously.

The word pin comes from English and means pin. In our online shop you can order buttons, which are used for advertising purposes in the same way as pins. The two terms buttons and pins are very often used synonymously. There isn't really that much of a difference between the two terms. The only difference is in the use of the respective term in the different languages. The term button is widely known in Germany, but the word pin is used in the United States of America. In the USA, a further distinction is made between pinback button, button badge, pin button or simply the short form pin-back.

Shapes of buttons and pins

The shapes of buttons are usually round, oval or square. The molds are offered in various standard sizes. Pins, on the other hand, are die-cut according to customer requirements. Customer can choose any size and shape. The disadvantage of buttons compared to pins is that the choice of different shapes is somewhat reduced.

Material of buttons and pins

Buttons are usually made of two different materials. Both plastic buttons and metal buttons can be found on the market. When choosing between these two variants, the use and, above all, the production of the button should be taken into account. A big advantage of the plastic buttons are the few work steps and the few accessories required.

In contrast to the metal buttons, the plastic buttons can be used several times and variations are possible in just a few steps. A metal button, on the other hand, requires button blanks made of tinplate and a button machine for its production. In contrast to the plastic button, button blanks that have already been processed cannot be recycled into metal buttons. Pins are mainly made of metal (brass, aluminum, steel or iron). In contrast to the buttons, they only consist of a single part.

Button blanks for making buttons and pins

Buttons can be machined from metal button blanks in large batches, but they can also be produced in small batches using simple hand tools. Making buttons yourself is basically very easy and does not take too much time. When making a button, the upper and lower part, the paper insert with the motif and a foil are pressed together in a few steps with a button machine. However, the individual components of the plastic buttons can be assembled easily and without a button press.

Making pins, on the other hand, is more complicated. Unlike buttons, pins cannot be self-produced. The pins are die-cut as desired and decorated with the selected motif using various processes.