Button pins are measured by their diameter, and the numbers are hard to picture. Is 2.25 inches big? Is 1.25 too small to see? The difference between the smallest and largest Kiyo Arts pin is more than double across, and each size does a different job. Here is what the three sizes look like in real life and how to choose.
The three sizes
| Diameter | In millimetres | About the size of |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25 inch | 32 mm | A half-dollar coin, or a bottle cap |
| 2.25 inch | 57 mm | The lid of a jam jar |
| 3 inch | 76 mm | A coaster, or the palm of your hand |
All three are glossy, scratch-resistant metal buttons with a safety-pin back. The price difference between sizes is small, well under a dollar at the time of writing, so choose by where the pin is going, not by cost.
1.25 inch: the classic
This is the size most people picture when they think of a band badge on a denim jacket. It is small enough to wear several at once without looking cluttered.
Best for:
- Jacket lapels and collars.
- Lanyards, where larger pins swing and flip.
- Hats and beanies.
- Backpack straps and small pockets.
- Building a cluster of several pins.
The trade-off: detail. At this size, bold, simple artwork reads well: a skull, a single animal, a strong shape. A detailed scene, like a city street full of signs, turns into a patch of colour. That can still look good, but you won't make out the small parts.
2.25 inch: the all-rounder
This is the standard size for campaign buttons and event badges, and it is the best balance between being visible and being wearable. Artwork is clear from a conversational distance, and one pin is enough to make a statement.
Best for:
- The front of a backpack or tote bag.
- The chest of a jacket.
- A guitar strap or camera strap.
- A gift, when you don't know where the person will wear it.
The trade-off: it is a little large for a lapel or a hat, and two or three of them fill a jacket front quickly.
3 inch: the showpiece
A 3-inch button is closer to a small piece of art than a badge. It shows the most detail, and it is hard to miss.
Best for:
- The flap or front panel of a backpack or messenger bag.
- A pin board, cork board or banner at home.
- A window-pocket display bag.
- Detailed artwork that you want people to be able to see.
The trade-off: weight and size. On thin fabric such as a T-shirt, a 3-inch pin pulls and droops. It needs a sturdy surface like canvas, denim or a bag panel.
Which artwork suits which size
- Bold single subjects (a skull, an owl, a hand, an angel): work at all three sizes, including 1.25.
- Abstract colour (liquid metal, fractals, nebulae): work at any size, because there is no small detail to lose.
- Detailed scenes (city streets, landscapes with small figures): go for 2.25 or 3 inches.
- Artwork with text: 2.25 inches at minimum, or the words will be unreadable.
Keep in mind that the artwork was made as a rectangle and a pin is a circle, so each design is cropped to fit. Check the product photo to see which part of the image lands in the round.
Where the pin is going
Denim and canvas jackets
Use 1.25 inch for a cluster on the chest or collar, or one 2.25 inch as a centrepiece. Heavy fabric holds a pin flat and hides the small hole.
Backpacks and totes
Any size works. A common arrangement is one large pin in the middle with smaller ones around it. Pin through a single layer of fabric, away from seams, so the pin lies flat.
Lanyards
Stick to 1.25 inch. Larger pins are heavy enough to twist the lanyard and end up facing backward.
Hats
1.25 inch on the side of a beanie or the front panel of a cap. Anything bigger looks out of scale.
Delicate fabrics
Avoid pinning through silk, fine knits or thin jersey. The pin leaves a visible hole and the weight drags the fabric. Put it on a bag or jacket instead.
Buying as a gift
If you don't know how the person will use it, 2.25 inch is the safe choice. If you know they collect pins and wear lots of them, 1.25 inch fits in with what they already have. If it is going on display at home, go for 3 inch.
Looking after button pins
- Take pins off clothing before it goes in the washing machine.
- Keep them dry. The metal back can rust if it stays damp.
- Wipe the front with a soft dry cloth. The glossy surface resists scratches but is not immune to keys in the same pocket.
- Close the clasp fully. A safety-pin back holds well, but only when it is latched.
Pins, keychains and the rest
Pins are the least expensive way to own a piece of Kiyo Arts artwork, and they make an easy add-on to a larger order. Most designs that come as a pin are also available as an acrylic keychain, which clips to keys, bags and zip pulls. Browse every design in the pins and buttons collection.