Custom Magnets FAQ for Your Top Printing Questions
Business card magnets for the fridge, car magnets for the road, and 3D lenticular magnets that turn heads. Here is how to pick the right one, set up the file, and order print that lasts.
To make custom magnets, match the style to the job: business card magnets for indoor leave-behinds, UV-coated car magnets for vehicles, and 3D lenticular magnets for giveaways that stand out. Design in CMYK at 300 DPI with 0.0625 inches of bleed, keep text inside the safe zone, then choose your size and quantity. Store magnets flat and the print stays sharp for years.
Quick tips
Quick tips for ordering custom magnets
Choose the magnet that fits the environment and design at 300 DPI in CMYK for a clean print. Use business card magnets and standard magnets indoors, and UV-coated car magnets outdoors. Add 0.0625 inches of bleed, keep important text inside the safe zone, and store finished magnets flat. 4OVER4.COM customers who follow these basics get sharp, long-lasting magnets on the first run.
The custom magnet types and what each one does best
Custom magnets come in a few distinct styles, and each one is built for a different job. Business card magnets turn your contact details into something people actually keep. Stick one on a fridge and your phone number stays in view for months, which is far more staying power than a paper card buried in a drawer.
Car magnets turn any vehicle into a moving billboard. They peel off cleanly, so you can switch between personal and work use without harming the paint. Contractors, delivery drivers, and real estate agents lean on them for visibility without committing to a full vehicle wrap.
3D lenticular magnets are the head-turners. A lenticular lens creates motion or depth that makes someone stop and look instead of tossing the magnet aside, which is exactly what you want from a giveaway that has to stand out in a pile of ordinary swag. Compare the full lineup in marketing materials printing when you are ready to choose.
What sizes custom magnets come in
Size follows the magnet type you pick. Business card magnets keep to standard business card dimensions, 3.5 by 2 inches, because they are made to slot into the same spaces a card would. Car magnets run much larger, often 12 by 18 inches or 12 by 24 inches, which gives you room for a logo, a phone number, and a tagline a driver can read from a lane away.
3D lenticular magnets have their own promotional sizes. The one rule that holds across every style is simple: do not guess. Check the product page for exact dimensions and bleed before you upload art, because a file that is even slightly off can let the trim cut into your design. When you want a general-purpose option, standard magnets cover most fridge and cabinet jobs.
How to set up your custom magnet design file
This is where most orders go wrong, so it is worth slowing down. Your file needs to be in CMYK color mode, not RGB. RGB is built for screens and CMYK is built for print, so an RGB upload shifts on press. That bright red you chose can land muddy.
Resolution counts too. Work at 300 DPI minimum. Anything lower and your text goes soft, your logo pixelates, and the whole magnet reads cheap. Set the document to the correct trim size and add bleed, usually 0.0625 inches per side, so nothing important falls off the edge. Keep critical text and logos at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line, because a small shift during cutting is normal and a phone number sitting on the edge can lose a digit.
You do not have to build this from scratch. Grab a ready-made layout from our design templates, or start from a blank layout for business card magnets or 3D lenticular magnets that already has the bleed lines, safe zones, and dimensions built in. Adding a scannable link? Build one with our free QR code generator and keep it at least 0.75 inches square. For file questions, the help center and the wider guide hub walk through setup step by step.
What custom magnets are made from
Most custom magnets use a flexible magnetic sheet with a printed vinyl or cardstock face laminated on top. That backing grips metal surfaces, whether it is a fridge, a filing cabinet, or a car door, without sliding or dropping off.
Car magnets use a thicker, tougher magnetic layer because they have to survive wind, rain, and highway speeds. The printed face is usually UV coated or laminated to fight fading in the sun. If your car magnet is going to live on a vehicle in Arizona, that UV protection is the difference between a magnet that stays sharp for two years and one that fades in three months.
Business card magnets are thinner and lighter, tuned for indoor use, and they hold well on fridges and whiteboards. 3D lenticular magnets add a lens layer on the face for that motion effect, and premium options like metal magnets bring a heavier, high-end feel that works well as a client gift.
How long printing and shipping take
Turnaround depends on the product and the quantity. Standard production for most custom magnets runs a few business days, and 4OVER4.COM holds a 99.8% on-time delivery rate with a large share of orders shipping early. That is tracked performance, not a marketing line.
Rush options are there when a deadline is tight. Check the product page for the current estimate, because it shifts by magnet type. Car magnets with a custom die-cut shape can take a little longer than a standard rectangular business card magnet.
Shipping speed is separate from production time. You pick the method at checkout, from ground to expedited to overnight, so plan for both production and transit if you need magnets in hand for a trade show or event.
Using custom magnets outdoors
Car magnets are built for the outdoors. The magnetic material shrugs off weather and the printed face is protected against UV and moisture. Clean both the magnet and the vehicle before you apply it, because grit trapped underneath can scratch paint over time.
Business card magnets and 3D lenticular magnets are indoor products. They will hold up fine on a fridge or an office whiteboard, but they are not made to survive a winter on a mailbox. For outdoor visibility beyond vehicles, look at signs, banners, and canvas printing. And if you are lining up a full print kit, our guides on how to make envelopes and how to make flyers cover file setup the same way this one does.
How to care for and store custom magnets
Store them flat. That is the first rule. Stacked face-to-face, magnets can cling together and tear the printed surface when you pull them apart, so slip a sheet of paper between each one if you are keeping a batch.
For car magnets, lift them off the vehicle every couple of weeks and wipe the surface underneath with a damp cloth. A magnet left in place for months can trap moisture, which leads to rust spots and a faded outline where it sat. Keep the car magnet and the panel clean and both last far longer.
Keep magnets away from harsh heat too. A stack left in a car trunk through summer can lose magnetic pull and warp, so a cool, dry shelf is all you need.
Mistakes that ruin custom magnet orders
Even seasoned designers slip on magnets. Dodge these and your order lands right the first time.
Uploading RGB instead of CMYK. Your screen colors will not match the printed magnet, so convert to CMYK before you export the final file.
Ignoring bleed and safe zones. Text too close to the edge gets trimmed, and art without bleed leaves a white border. The provided templates exist for exactly this reason.
Using low-resolution images. Anything under 300 DPI looks blurry in print. That logo pulled from a website at 72 DPI will not hold up on a magnet, so start from a high-resolution source.
Picking the wrong magnet for the job. Business card magnets are not waterproof, so keep them indoors, and car magnets are not made for sharply curved panels. Match the product to the use.
Skipping the surface prep on car magnets. Dirt trapped under a magnet scratches paint and weakens the grip. A 30-second wipe-down saves the headache.
Specs and pricing
Custom magnet specs and live pricing
Here are two configurable magnet products with live specs and per-unit pricing pulled straight from the 4OVER4.COM configurator, so you can see exactly what you are ordering before you upload art.
| Quantity | Price Per Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $2.63 | $1,316.96 |
| 1,000 | $1.57 | $1,569.59 |
| 2,000 | $1.43 | $2,854.69 |
| 3,000 | $1.02 | $3,074.35 |
| 5,000 | 87.8¢ | $4,392.40 |
| 10,000 | 76.9¢ | $7,687.54 |
| Quantity | Price Per Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $3.73 | $93.37 |
| 50 | $2.53 | $126.32 |
| 100 | $1.92 | $192.22 |
| 150 | $1.72 | $258.12 |
| 200 | $1.65 | $329.52 |
| 250 | $1.58 | $395.42 |
| 300 | $1.54 | $461.32 |
| 400 | $1.48 | $593.13 |
Print it
Order custom magnets at 4OVER4
Wally explains custom magnets
Pick the right magnet and the print does the marketing for you
Wally treats a magnet like a tiny billboard that never leaves. Match the style to the job, set the file up in CMYK at 300 DPI with real bleed, and the print stays sharp for years on a fridge, a filing cabinet, or a car door. When you are ready, drop your logo onto a magnet built to your exact size at 4OVER4.
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Common Questions
Common questions about ordering custom magnets
What file format should I use for custom magnets?
Submit a print-ready PDF in CMYK at 300 DPI. 4OVER4.COM also accepts AI, PSD, and EPS files. Include proper bleed and safe margins, and check the product page for the exact specs before you upload.
Can I add a QR code to my custom magnets?
Yes. QR codes print well on magnets as long as they are at least 0.75 by 0.75 inches with strong contrast, meaning a dark code on a light background. Test the code at print size before you submit, and point it at your website, menu, or contact page.
Are car magnets safe for vehicle paint?
Yes, when you use them correctly. Take the magnet off every couple of weeks and clean both surfaces with a damp cloth. Trapped dirt or standing moisture can cause minor paint issues over time, and you should never apply a car magnet over fresh paint that has not fully cured.
What is the minimum order quantity for custom magnets?
Minimums vary by magnet type, and each product page lists its own. 4OVER4.COM prices in quantity tiers where the per-unit cost drops as you order more, so larger runs give you better value.
How strong is the magnetic hold on these magnets?
Strong enough to stay put on a fridge, filing cabinet, or vehicle door without sliding. Car magnets use a thicker substrate rated for highway speeds, and business card magnets are thinner but hold firmly on any standard metal surface. None of them damage the surface they grip.
Do custom magnets come with a proof before printing?
Yes. 4OVER4.COM provides a digital proof so you can review the design before it goes to press. Use it to catch typos, color issues, or layout problems, because once production starts, changes mean restarting the order.
Get Started
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Pick your size, drop in your logo or artwork, and we print magnets that stick around and keep working for years.
Legal Disclaimer
Gold Standard guarantees apply to all standard orders placed through 4over4.com. Price match requires verifiable proof of a competitor's published price for an equivalent product with matching specifications and turnaround time. Satisfaction guarantee covers manufacturing defects and print quality issues. Contact support with order number and documentation. On-time delivery rate based on tracked orders 1999 to 2026. Individual results may vary based on shipping carrier performance.
