Fridge Magnet Materials: PVC, Acrylic or Enamel

PVC magnets are soft and rubbery with raised detail. Acrylic magnets carry full-colour printed artwork. Enamel magnets have coloured enamel inside metal outlines. Compare the three and choose the material that suits your design.

PVCRaised and flexible

AcrylicFull-colour print

EnamelEnamel in metal

Three materials, three finishes. All three can be cut to the shape of your design. The difference is the face: raised rubber, printed artwork or enamel in metal.

When to choose PVC

Choose PVC when you want a colourful magnet with depth you can feel.

Raised logos, recessed backgrounds and layered details turn flat artwork into something more tactile. PVC is soft and rubber-like rather than rigid.

Strong shapes, clear lettering and defined areas of colour work best. If something is too small, we’ll suggest ways to simplify it.

Explore PVC magnets →

Custom steam-train PVC fridge magnet — A steam train magnet with layered PVC detail.

Collection of colourful fruit-shaped PVC fridge magnets — Fruit-shaped PVC magnets in bright colours.

Custom character-shaped PVC fridge magnets featuring a dog and bear — A dog-shaped PVC magnet shown from the front and back.

When to choose acrylic

Choose acrylic when the detail and colour in your artwork matter most.

Acrylic magnets use full-colour printed artwork, so gradients, shading, fine lines and photographs can be reproduced.

The magnet can still be cut to the outline of your artwork. Very small lettering can be lost at magnet size, and we’ll flag anything that needs adjusting.

Explore acrylic magnets →

Custom butterfly-shaped acrylic fridge magnet — A butterfly-shaped acrylic magnet.

Custom cat-shaped acrylic fridge magnet — A square acrylic magnet with a cat illustration.

Custom pizza-shaped acrylic fridge magnet shown from the front and back — A pizza-shaped acrylic magnet shown from the front and back.

When to choose enamel

Choose enamel for a metal magnet with a badge-like finish.

Coloured enamel sits within metal outlines, and the plating you choose changes the look of the exposed metal.

Each colour needs its own defined area, usually separated by metal lines. Tiny lettering and fine details can disappear at magnet size.

Explore enamel magnets →

Round custom enamel fridge magnet with an ocean swimmer illustration — A round enamel magnet with an ocean illustration.

Duck-shaped enamel fridge magnet — A duck-shaped enamel magnet.

Mountain adventure enamel fridge magnet shown with its magnetic backing — A mountain enamel magnet shown with its magnetic backing.

At a glance

	PVC	Acrylic	Enamel
Material	Soft, flexible PVC	Acrylic with printed artwork	Metal with coloured enamel
Artwork	Solid areas of colour	Full colour, gradients and photographs	Solid enamel colours
Finish	Raised and recessed levels you can feel	A clean, flat face	Metal outlines in your choice of plating
Choose it for	Bold, graphic designs with depth	Detailed illustrations and photos	A badge-like metal finish
	Explore PVC magnets →	Explore acrylic magnets →	Explore enamel magnets →

What is the difference?

PVC

A PVC magnet is moulded from soft, flexible PVC. Colours sit in raised and recessed areas, so the face has texture.

Acrylic

An acrylic magnet has printed artwork, giving a clean, flat face that can show gradients, shading and photographs.

Enamel

An enamel magnet is metal, with coloured enamel separated by metal outlines. The plating finishes the look.

Printed detail or physical depth?

Acrylic reproduces artwork closest to the original file. PVC and enamel recreate it in separate areas of colour, which adds depth and a more physical finish, but very fine detail may need simplifying.

All three can be cut around the outline of your design.

How to choose a fridge magnet

Look at your artwork

Photographs, gradients and fine detail point to acrylic. Bold shapes and solid colours suit PVC or enamel.

Decide on the feel

PVC is soft and tactile. Enamel is metal with plated outlines. Acrylic has a smooth, flat face.

Check the detail at magnet size

A fridge magnet is much smaller than your screen. We check the artwork at the size you are ordering and suggest changes where needed.

Ask if you are not sure

Send your artwork and we’ll recommend the material that suits it.

Not sure which magnet suits your design?

Send us your artwork and the quantity you need. We’ll recommend a material that suits it.

Ask about your design Explore fridge magnets