If you're ordering name badges for your team, the first decision isn't the logo or the font — it's the material. Metal, plastic, and engraved badges each look different, wear differently, and sit at different price points. We've been manufacturing all three in our Calgary facility since 1984, so here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
Quick Comparison
| Type | Look | Durability | Price (per badge) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Premium brushed silver, gold, or white | Excellent | $12.50 down to $8.00 in volume | Client-facing professionals |
| Duotone Metal | Two-tone metal, most upscale finish | Excellent | $13.50 down to $9.00 | Management, front desk, luxury brands |
| Full Color Plastic | Vivid full-colour logo reproduction | Very good | $11.50 down to $7.00 | Colourful logos, retail, events |
| Engraved | Clean, high-contrast lettering | Outstanding — text cannot rub off | $9.50 down to $6.50 | Big teams, tough environments, budgets |
Metal Name Badges: The Professional Standard
Metal badges are what most people picture on a bank manager or hotel front desk. The badge face is brushed aluminum in silver, gold, or white, printed with your logo and the wearer's name. They feel substantial, resist bending, and the finish reads as "established business" from across a room.
If you want an extra step up, duotone metal badges combine two metal tones on one badge — the most premium look we make.
Choose metal if: your team meets clients face-to-face and the badge is part of a professional uniform. See metal badge pricing.
Full Color Plastic Name Badges: Your Logo, Exactly
Plastic badges are printed in full colour, so a multi-colour logo reproduces exactly as your brand guide intends — no compromises to fit a metal finish. They're lighter than metal, which some staff prefer for thinner fabrics, and they cost less at every quantity tier.
Choose full colour plastic if: brand colours matter, or you're outfitting retail and event staff. See plastic badge pricing.
Engraved Name Badges: The Workhorse
Engraved badges are made by laser-cutting the text into a two-layer plastic, exposing the contrast layer underneath. Because the lettering is cut into the material rather than printed on it, it physically cannot rub, scratch, or fade off — which is why engraved badges survive kitchens, warehouses, and daily wear that would eventually mark up a printed face.
They're also the most economical option, and the only one we price down to $6.50 per badge at volume.
Choose engraved if: badges take a beating in your workplace, or you're ordering for a large team. See engraved badge pricing.
What About Durability?
All three types are made to be worn daily for years. The practical differences: metal resists bending best, engraved text is the most permanent (it can't wear off because it isn't on the surface), and plastic is the lightest. For most office and retail settings, any of the three will outlast the uniform it's pinned to.
Price: What You'll Actually Pay
Every badge we make includes a standard pin-back and full personalization, with a one-time $40 production setup. Magnetic backings — which attach through fabric without leaving pin holes — are available on any badge for $2.50 extra, and they're our most popular upgrade for professional attire.
Volume pricing kicks in from just 11 badges, and there's no minimum order — you can order a single badge for a new hire and it will match your team's existing badges exactly, because we keep your artwork on file.
The Bottom Line
Pick metal for premium client-facing roles, full colour plastic when your logo's colours need to be exact, and engraved for large teams and hard-wearing environments. Still not sure? Every order includes a free digital proof before production — request a quote and we'll show you your badge in each material, made in Calgary and shipped anywhere in Canada or the USA in 1–3 business days after approval.