Best Button Maker For Schools
The Best Button Maker for Schools
For over 20 years, teachers, student councils, and PTAs have used American Button Machines to make school-spirit buttons, name badges, fundraiser buttons, and classroom projects. Our machines are made in the USA, we're family-run in Plano, Texas, and we make it easy for schools to buy: online, by purchase order, or tax-exempt.
Shop School Button Kits See How Schools OrderMade in the USA · We accept school purchase orders · Tax-exempt orders welcome · Family-run in Plano, TX
What Is the Best Button Maker for Schools?
The best button maker for a school is one students can run safely and the school can count on for years. American Button Machines presses take so little force that students press their own buttons, and the Graphic Punch included in our School Series kits cuts artwork with no exposed blade.
Every press is all steel, made in the USA, and covered by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. It makes a button in under five seconds, several hundred buttons an hour, so one machine keeps up with a whole class. Curious how that compares with a cheaper import? See our button maker comparison.
Why Buttons Belong in Schools
A button maker is one of those rare tools that pays for itself across the whole building: the front office, the art room, the gym, the library, and every club and classroom in between. Once a school owns a machine, the only ongoing cost is inexpensive button supplies, so a single kit can serve students for years. Here are the ways schools put them to work:
Class Elections & Student Government
Campaign buttons for candidates and spirit buttons for the whole student body.
School Spirit & Mascot Buttons
Pep rallies, homecoming, game day: rally the school around your colors and mascot.
Name Badges
Reusable badges for staff, substitutes, open house, and parent-teacher nights.
Rewards & Recognition
Reading milestones, multiplication tables, good citizenship: a button kids are proud to wear.
Art Room & STEM Lessons
A hands-on arts & crafts activity and a perfect demonstration of simple machines at work.
Sports & Club Photo Buttons
Keepsake photo buttons for athletes, band, and clubs that families love to collect.
PTA & Club Fundraisers
Custom buttons and magnets are a low-cost, high-margin fundraiser for any group.
Real-World Business Lessons
Let students design, make, price, and sell their own buttons as a small-business exercise.
What Your School Can Make
The same machine makes far more than pinback buttons. With a quick change of parts you can turn out magnets, photo keepsakes, and more, all from the same simple two-step process.
Pinback Buttons
The classic. Spirit buttons, election buttons, name badges, and reward buttons in every size.
Shop pinback supplies
Photo Buttons
Sharp, full-color keepsake buttons for athletes, band, and club photos that families collect.
Shop photo kits
Fridge Magnets
Open-house giveaways and fundraiser favorites: school calendars, schedules, and team magnets.
Shop magnet supplies
Campaign & Election Buttons
Everything student council needs for a real election season, with ready-made design sets.
Shop campaign kitsMost Popular With Schools: The School Series Kits
Our Professional School Series kits are complete button-making systems in a box, with everything a school needs to start making buttons on day one. They come ready for classroom and program use, and every kit ships with free UPS Ground shipping in the lower 48 states.
2.25" School Series Kit
The all-around favorite for schools. The 2.25" size is ideal for spirit buttons, name badges, election buttons, and reward buttons.
From $603.95 · Free shipping
View the 2.25" Kit
3" School Series Kit
A bigger canvas for photo buttons, fundraiser buttons, and bold designs that stand out from across the gym.
From $745.95 · Free shipping
View the 3" Kit
3.5" School Series Kit
Our largest popular size: the showstopper for photo keepsakes, fundraisers, and statement spirit buttons.
From $773.95 · Free shipping
View the 3.5" KitEvery School Series Kit Includes
- A professional, all-metal button machine
- A matching Graphic Punch with no exposed blade
- Your choice of 250, 500, or 1,000 button sets
- Free UPS Ground shipping (lower 48)
- School, Sports & Fun digital download and the Artistic Creations design set
- 3 months of free Build-A-Button design software
Browse all School Button Kits and sizes →
Designs Made Easy, No Design Skills Needed
You don't need to be a graphic designer to make great-looking school buttons. We give you several ways to design in minutes:
School Sports & Fun Designs
A ready-to-use digital download of school-themed button graphics. Just add your text and print.
Get the design set
Build-A-Button Design Software
Design buttons right in your browser, with no software to install. Kits include 3 months free.
Try Build-A-Button
Free Templates
Download free button-making templates and start your design in the software you already use.
Get free templates3 Easy Ways for Schools to Order
However your school handles purchasing, we've made it simple. Pick whichever works for your district.
Order Online
The fastest option. Add a kit or supplies to your cart and check out with any major credit card or PayPal. Most orders placed by 1 PM Central on a weekday ship the same day.
Shop School KitsPay by Purchase Order
We gladly accept POs from schools, districts, libraries, universities, and government buyers. Upload your PO and we'll confirm it within one business day. Net 30 terms are available for approved institutional accounts.
Submit a Purchase OrderOrder Tax-Exempt
If your organization is tax-exempt, submit your certificate once and we'll set your account to exempt. Sales tax comes off your current and future orders automatically, so you only have to do it one time.
Set Up Tax ExemptionNeed a quote for your purchase order?
Get one instantly: add what you need to your cart and choose "Download a quote." You'll get a PDF quote right away, with real shipping and any applicable tax, good for 15 days. Prefer to talk it through? Email a list of what you need to sales@americanbuttonmachines.com and we'll prepare a formal quote, usually the same business day.
School Button Maker FAQ
What is the best button maker for schools?
One students can run safely and the school can count on for years. American Button Machines presses take very little force, so students press their own buttons, and the Graphic Punch in our School Series kits has no exposed blade. Every press is all steel, made in the USA, and covered by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Is a button maker safe for students?
Yes. Our presses use a cam-on-roller design that takes very little force, so students can press their own buttons. A low center of gravity keeps the machine from tipping, and mounting holes in the base let you secure it to a table for a busy line. The Graphic Punch included in our School Series kits cuts artwork with no exposed blade.
How many buttons can a class make?
Plenty. An ABM press makes a button in under five seconds, and several hundred buttons an hour once students find their rhythm, so one machine keeps up with a whole class.
Does our public library already have a button maker?
It may. Many public libraries have a button maker in their makerspace that is open to the public, so if you only need buttons for a single event, it is worth calling your local library to ask whether you can use it. If your school will make buttons all year, a School Series kit puts a press in your own building.
Do you accept purchase orders from schools?
Yes. We welcome purchase orders from schools, districts, libraries, universities, and government agencies. Upload your PO on our Purchase Orders page and we'll confirm it within one business day. Net 30 terms are available for approved institutional accounts.
Is American Button Machines tax-exempt friendly?
Absolutely. Submit your exemption certificate once on our Sales Tax Exemption page and we'll set your account to tax-exempt. Sales tax then comes off your current and future orders automatically.
What button size is best for a school?
The 2.25" size is our most popular for schools. It's perfect for spirit buttons, name badges, and election buttons. Step up to the 3" or 3.5" size when you want more impact for photo buttons and fundraisers.
Do school kits include free shipping?
Yes. Every complete School Series button maker kit ships with free UPS Ground shipping to addresses within the lower 48 states.
Can we get bulk pricing or a written quote?
Yes. Add what you need to your cart and choose "Download a quote" for an instant PDF quote, good for 15 days. Or email what you need to sales@americanbuttonmachines.com or call (972) 985-5074 and we'll put together a formal quote, usually the same business day.
How quickly do orders ship?
Most orders placed by 1 PM Central on a weekday ship the same day. Larger orders can take 1 to 2 business days before they ship. If your program has a hard deadline, such as an election, a game, or an event, let us know and we'll confirm timing.
Questions Before You Order?
Our team is happy to recommend the right machine and size for your program, or build a quote for your purchase order. We're here Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central.
(972) 985-5074
sales@americanbuttonmachines.com
Shop School Button KitsLast reviewed: November 2026