Button Maker
American Button Machines offers professional button makers in sizes, from 1" lapel pins to 6" display buttons. Each machine is a hand-operated steel press that produces finished pinback buttons, magnets, mirrors, and key chains.
Every machine ships with 25 free complete pinback button sets and full instructions, so you can press your first buttons the day it arrives. Step up to a Button Maker Kit and the same press comes bundled with your choice of paper cutter, 250 to 1,000 pinback button sets, 3 months of Build-a-Button design software access, and free UPS Ground shipping in the lower 48 states. Schools, libraries, and government agencies: purchase orders are accepted.
Compare Button Maker Machines by Size
All round machines use the same press design — the difference is the die size and the finished button it produces. The chart compares finished button sizes against everyday objects, from a quarter (1") to a taco tortilla (6"); each kit button below it bundles the machine, your choice of paper cutter, 250 to 1,000 pinback button sets, and 3 months of Build-a-Button design software. Prices in the table are for the machine alone with its included starter supplies.
| Machine | Best For — price |
|---|---|
| 1" Button Maker | Lapel pins, band merch, vintage-style campaign buttons — $294.95 |
| 1.25" Button Maker | The most popular small size: art buttons, flair, conventions — $294.95 |
| 1.5" Button Maker | A step up in canvas without losing the pin-size feel — $294.95 |
| 1.75" Button Maker | Text-friendly promotional buttons and name badges — $294.95 |
| 2.25" Button Maker | The classic campaign and school size; the industry standard — $294.95 |
| 3" Photo Button Maker | Makes paper and photo buttons on one machine — $404.95 |
| 3.5" Photo Button Maker | Large-format photo buttons for events and memorials — $404.95 |
| 6" Button Making Machine | Display-size buttons for retail signage and trade shows — $1,295.95 |
| 1.75"x2.75" Rectangle Button Maker | Rectangle name badges and bag tags — $1,795.95 |
| 2"x3" Rectangle Button Maker (Paper) | Rectangle buttons and magnets from printer paper — $1,795.95 |
| 2"x3" Rectangle PHOTO Button Maker | Photo magnets and photo buttons in the wallet sized rectangle — $1,795.95 |
| 1.75"x2.75" Oval Button Maker | Oval badges and specialty promotional pieces — $1,795.95 |
How to Choose Your Button Maker
Three questions settle the choice for nearly every buyer: what you are making, whether you will press regular paper or photo prints, and whether the size is large enough for your design. Wearable pins favor 1" through 1.75", school and campaign buttons live at 2.25", and photo work calls for the 3" or 3.5" photo machines. For a size-by-size walkthrough with visual comparisons, see our guide to choosing the right button size.
Who Uses These Machines
Schools & Libraries
Button making is a fixture of makerspaces, summer reading programs, and student activities because it works for every age and skill level. The 2.25" machine is the standard institutional pick. Purchase orders are accepted, and school-configured kits bundle the machine with supplies sized for a semester of programming.
Political Campaigns & Advocacy Groups
The campaign button is American politics' oldest promotional item, and 2.25" and 3" remain the standard sizes. A single volunteer with one machine can press hundreds of buttons in an afternoon at a fraction of the per-unit cost of ordering pre-made.
Crafters & Small Businesses
Artists sell buttons at conventions and on Etsy at margins that are hard to match with any other product — material cost per button is measured in cents. The 1.25" machine is the craft-market favorite for art buttons and flair.
Photographers & Event Planners
The photo machines turn lab prints into wearable keepsakes and photo magnets on site — sports team photo day, weddings, reunions, and memorial services all press well at 3" and 3.5".
Churches, Nonprofits & Community Programs
Vacation Bible School crafts, volunteer recognition, donor appreciation, and rec-league team buttons are steady uses. One machine serves years of programming with only supply reorders.
What Can You Make With a Button Maker?
Every ABM press produces more than pinback buttons. Swap the back component and the same machine makes magnets, mirrors, keychains, and more. Hover to pause.
Pinback Buttons
Magnets
Badge Reels
Mirrors
Zipper Pulls
Keychains
Bottle Openers
Keyrings
Pinback Buttons
Magnets
Badge Reels
Mirrors
Zipper Pulls
Keychains
Bottle Openers
Keyrings
How Button Making Works
Every machine presses a finished button in one simple cycle.
- Print your design using our free templates, then cut it to size with the graphic punch.
- Load the die with a shell, your printed design, and clear mylar.
- Press once, rotate, and press again — the machine crimps everything around the pinback, and the finished button drops out ready to wear.
Pro Tips for Choosing a Button Maker
- When in doubt, choose 2.25". It is the size people picture when they hear "button," supplies are stocked deep, and it suits schools, campaigns, and fundraisers alike.
- Buy supplies with the machine. Each size uses its own matched parts. Ordering pinback sets in the same cart means you never stall a project waiting on components.
- Think beyond buttons. Matching magnet, mirror, and key chain parts turn one machine into a full product line for craft-fair sellers.
Supplies & Related Products
Every machine size has a full matching supply line — pinback sets, magnet sets, mirror parts, and key chain parts — designed and tested with American Button Machines presses for a consistent crimp every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size button maker should I buy?
For schools, campaigns, and general promotional use, 2.25" is the standard. For craft fairs and art buttons, 1.25" is the favorite. For photo buttons and magnets from lab prints, choose the 3" or 3.5" photo machine. If you expect to serve several of these uses, start with 2.25" — it covers the widest range.
Are these button makers made in the USA?
Yes. American Button Machines presses are American-made steel machines, and orders ship from our Texas warehouse.
Do you accept purchase orders from schools and libraries?
Yes. Schools, libraries, and government agencies can order by purchase order. Contact us with your PO and we will process the order and provide any documentation your business office requires.
What comes with a button maker machine?
Each machine includes 25 free complete pinback button sets and full instructions, so you can begin pressing buttons immediately. Button Maker Kits bundle the press with your choice of paper cutter (the Adjustable Circle Cutter or the Professional Graphic Punch), your choice of 250, 500, or 1,000 pinback button sets, 3 months of Build-a-Button design software access, and free UPS Ground shipping in the lower 48 states.
Can one machine make magnets, mirrors, and key chains too?
Yes. Each round machine presses magnets, mirrors, and key chains in its size using the matching parts — no additional dies or changeover required for most products.
What is the difference between a paper and a photo button maker?
Standard machines press designs printed on regular paper. Photo machines are built to also press thicker photo-lab prints, which makes them the choice for photographers and photo-gift work. The 3" and 3.5" photo machines handle both materials on one machine.
Do the machines come with a warranty?
Yes. Every American Button Machines press carries a Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects. The machines are all-steel construction with no compression rings to wear out or misalign.
