What Are Button Pins: Everything You Need to Know
Button pins are small, but they carry a lot. They have been used for decades to express identity, support causes, promote brands, and mark occasions. Whether you are new to them or building a collection, this guide covers what they are called, why people wear them, how to keep them secure, and where to find the best custom button pins for your next project.
What Are Button Pins Called?
Button pins go by several names depending on context and region. The most common terms are pin back button, badge pin, and pinback. In the U.K they are most often called badge pins or simply badges. In the U.S., button pin and pinback are the standard terms. Other names include campaign buttons, promo pins, collector pins, and flair pins. The word button here does not refer to a clothing fastener; it describes the round shape of the original pressed-tin pins popular in the late 1800s.
Why Do People Use Pin Back Buttons?
People use pin-back buttons for personal, professional, and social reasons. One of the most enduring uses is self-expression. A pin on a bag or jacket communicates interests, values, humour, and identity at a glance, without a single word being spoken. Brands use them because they are among the most cost-effective promotional items available; a well-designed round button pin is kept, worn, and seen repeatedly, giving far more exposure than a flyer. Political campaigns have relied on them since the 1890s for exactly this reason.
What Occasions Are Button Pins Used For?
Customized button pins are particularly suited to specific occasions. Trade shows use them for staff identification and branded giveaways. Music festivals hand them out as collectibles and sponsor promotions. Schools use them for achievement, club membership, and fundraisers. Charities use them to build awareness and reward donors. Weddings and private events use custom pins as keepsakes, a growing trend that has replaced traditional favors at many events.
Corporate teams also use them for internal recognition programmes; a branded heart-shaped button pin awarded for a milestone carries more personal weight than a certificate and is far more likely to be kept and displayed.
How to Wear Button Pins?
For clothing, attach the pin to thicker fabric, jacket lapels, denim, canvas bags, and hats all work well. Push the tip through at a slight upward angle so gravity does not pull the pin downward. For bags, pin through a single layer of fabric near a seam where the material is reinforced rather than through padded areas.
On lanyards, thread the pin through the fabric strap rather than the plastic attachment point for a firmer hold. If you regularly wear pins on event lanyards, our custom lanyards are designed to support accessories exactly like this.
Position pins where they lie flat against the surface. A pin that droops or tilts will loosen faster than one sitting flush against the fabric.
How to Keep Button Pins From Falling Off?
The most common reason button pins fall off is a worn clasp. Replace it with a locking pin back also called a deluxe pin back or locking butterfly clutch which requires a deliberate squeeze to release. Rubber pin backs grip the shaft tightly and are much harder to dislodge than standard metal clasps.
Magnetic pin backs attach without piercing fabric at all, ideal for delicate materials or anyone who prefers not to make holes in their clothing. At events where staff wear pins on uniforms all day, pairing them with custom badge reels gives you an alternative display option that never risks falling off.
How to Fix a Button Pin Back?
If a pin back breaks, replacing it is straightforward. Most clasps slide off the shaft by working the clasp gently back and forth while pulling it free. Replace with a new clasp by sliding it onto the shaft until it sits just behind the pin head. If the shaft has bent, use flat-nosed pliers to straighten it slowly with steady pressure.
If the printed face has lifted at the edge, clear-drying craft glue pressed flat along the edge will reseal it cleanly. For a more durable long-term option, consider ordering a rectangle button pin or oval button pin with a pin-lock backing, these are significantly more resistant to accidental opening than standard clasps.
Are Button Pins Allowed on Planes?
Yes, button pins are allowed on planes. According to the TSA, pins including badge pins and button pins are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage. Their pin shafts are too short to be classified as dangerous.
When travelling with pins, remove them from clothing before walking through the metal detector to avoid triggering an alarm. Store loose pins in a clear pouch or small case so they are easy for officers to inspect. A large collection may prompt a closer look on the X-ray due to the dense metal cluster this is not a problem; just be ready to explain what they are calmly.
How to Store Button Pins?
A dedicated pin display book with foam pages is one of the best storage options, pins press into the foam, the pages protect faces from scratching, and the book packs flat for travel. For home storage, cork boards combine display and storage in one. For travel, a hard-sided case keeps pins from bending. Always cover exposed pin tips with a rubber back before packing to protect bags and avoid injuries during handling. If you are storing pins alongside other event accessories, a divided organiser case keeps everything in order and tangle-free.
Want to learn more about displaying your button pins? Check out our guide on How to Display Button Pins for helpful tips and ideas.
Where to Buy Button Pins?
At FastPrintStar, we offer professionally made personalised button pins with no minimum order. Our range covers all five shapes: round, heart-shaped, rectangle, oval and square button pins — all with sharp, colour-rich printing on durable iron bodies. Choose from glossy, matte, frosted, linen, holographic spot, or holographic glass finish to match your brand or event aesthetic.
Our design team provides a free mock–up within 12 hours, and every order ships via UPS and FedEx with no hidden fees. Look no further, design and order your own button pins today!