Sourcing

Sourcing Custom Fridge Magnets: RFQ to Bulk Delivery

Step 1: Start the RFQ with the surface, not the magnet

The most common fridge magnet sourcing mistake is asking for a price from a picture only. A factory can quote something, but the quote may assume a cheaper print film, a thinner magnet sheet, or a lighter zinc alloy body than your buyer expected. For a promotional campaign, that usually shows up later as weak holding force, curled corners, color shift, or retail packaging that does not fit the finished part.

Begin the RFQ by defining the visible front structure first: PVC rubber, printed epoxy, acrylic, tinplate, resin dome, wood, or die-cast metal with enamel. Then specify the magnetic back separately. At ZheCraft, we normally ask buyers to separate these two layers because a 70 mm soft PVC souvenir magnet and a 70 mm die-cast enamel magnet can have the same outline but completely different tooling cost, unit weight, carton plan, and lead time.

• Artwork file in AI, PDF, EPS, or high-resolution PNG at 300 dpi if print is needed
• Finished size in millimeters, with width, height, and maximum thickness
• Front material and decoration method, such as soft PVC 2D, offset print with epoxy, or zinc alloy enamel
• Magnet type, such as flexible rubber sheet, ferrite disc, or neodymium disc
• Target use, such as tourist souvenir, retail gift, event giveaway, or mailer insert
• Order quantity by design, not only total quantity across designs
• Packing method, export carton limits, and destination port or delivery term

Step 2: Choose the construction that fits the order size

Different magnet builds have very different economics. Soft PVC is usually best when you need a shaped, colorful, low-breakage souvenir. Printed epoxy magnets are better for photo detail, gradients, QR codes, and low-tooling orders. Die-cast metal magnets suit premium museums, clubs, universities, and destination retail, but they are heavier and less forgiving if the artwork has very fine color islands.

MOQ is also construction-specific. For printed magnets, 100 to 300 pieces per design can be practical because tooling is limited to cutting dies or print setup. For soft PVC, 300 to 500 pieces per design is more realistic. For die-cast zinc alloy or iron magnets, 100 pieces is technically possible, but 300 pieces is a healthier MOQ because mold, plating rack, enamel labor, and magnetic assembly costs spread better.

Construction	Good use case	Typical MOQ	FOB unit range at 500 pcs	Normal lead time after artwork approval
Soft PVC magnet, 2D or 3D	Tourism, kids events, sports mascots	300 to 500 pcs/design	USD 0.55 to 1.60	18 to 25 days
Printed paper or film with epoxy dome	Photo image, logo gradient, budget promo	100 to 300 pcs/design	USD 0.35 to 1.20	12 to 20 days
Acrylic printed magnet, 2 to 5 mm thick	Modern retail, clear edge effect	200 to 300 pcs/design	USD 0.60 to 1.80	15 to 22 days
Die-cast zinc alloy with enamel	Premium souvenir, club crest, gift shop	300 pcs/design preferred	USD 1.20 to 3.80	25 to 35 days
Tinplate magnet, printed front	High-volume campaign, simple round or rectangle	500 pcs/design	USD 0.28 to 0.75	15 to 23 days

Do not choose metal only because it sounds premium. A 75 mm zinc alloy magnet can weigh 45 to 80 g depending on relief and thickness, which increases air freight cost and may require a stronger magnet. If the buyer is mailing one magnet inside a brochure, a 1.2 to 1.8 mm flexible magnet sheet or a 3 mm acrylic magnet is usually safer.

Step 3: Specify the magnetic back before comparing quotes

A low quote often hides a weak magnet. For most fridge applications, flexible magnet sheet in 0.5 to 1.5 mm thickness is enough for lightweight printed or PVC products. For a metal magnet above 35 g, a ferrite or neodymium disc is normally more reliable, but it requires recessing, gluing, or mechanical retention so the disc does not detach during use.

A practical holding-force target is more useful than only naming the magnet material. For small printed magnets below 25 g, target 80 to 150 g vertical pull on a clean painted steel panel. For PVC magnets around 30 to 50 g, target 150 to 300 g. For heavier die-cast metal magnets, target 300 to 600 g or use two magnet points to reduce rotation. Ask the factory to test on a standard steel plate, not on a thick warehouse beam, because that can exaggerate performance.

Dimensional tolerances matter here. Flexible sheet magnets can normally be cut within plus or minus 0.5 mm on length and width, while glued disc placement should be held within plus or minus 0.8 mm for normal promo items. For two-disc backs on a long magnet, specify center-to-center distance tolerance of plus or minus 1.0 mm, because uneven placement can make the magnet rock on a flat door.

Step 4: Turn artwork into a production drawing

Once the material route is chosen, convert the buyer artwork into a factory drawing before sampling. This drawing should show actual size, color references, thickness, magnet location, edge radius, printing area, bleed, and any relief levels. For metal enamel magnets, also mark raised metal borders, recessed enamel areas, plating finish, and backstamp if used.

For print-based magnets, allow 2 to 3 mm bleed outside the cut line and keep live text at least 2 mm inside the edge. Minimum readable text depends on process: offset print can handle 1.2 to 1.5 mm capital letters, while screen print is safer above 2.0 mm. For soft PVC, raised or recessed lines should usually be at least 0.5 mm wide, with color areas no narrower than 0.8 mm if the part is under 70 mm.

For die-cast metal magnets, we normally use zinc alloy at 1.8 to 3.0 mm base thickness, or iron stamping when the shape is simple and flat. Plating thickness for nickel, black nickel, or antique brass should be specified at around 3 to 8 microns for promotional indoor use. If the magnet will be sold near coastal tourist areas, consider epoxy protection or sealed plating, but avoid promising outdoor corrosion resistance unless a separate salt-spray requirement and material plan are agreed.

Step 5: Read the quote like a production plan

A reliable quote should not be only a unit price. It should list tooling, sample charge, mass production lead time, packing, estimated unit weight, carton size, payment terms, and what is excluded. For magnets, the difference between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm flexible sheet, or between ferrite and neodymium discs, can change performance more than it changes appearance.

Typical tooling charges are modest for printed magnets, often USD 30 to 100 for cutting die or setup. Soft PVC molds are commonly USD 80 to 180 depending on size and 2D or 3D relief. Die-cast metal molds can range from USD 80 to 250 for small to mid-size magnets, with complex 3D relief or multiple cavities costing more. If a supplier quotes zero tooling for a shaped metal magnet, confirm whether they are absorbing it into unit price or using a simplified generic process.

• Unit price by quantity tier, such as 300, 500, 1000, and 3000 pieces
• Tooling cost and whether it is refundable or reusable for reorders
• Sample lead time in days after drawing approval
• Mass production lead time in days after sample approval and deposit
• Magnet grade, thickness, diameter, or holding-force target
• Packing method, including individual polybag, backing card, or retail header card
• AQL level for final inspection and acceptable cosmetic defects
• Estimated gross weight and carton dimensions before freight booking

For most ZheCraft magnet projects, sample timing is 7 to 12 days for printed or acrylic magnets, 10 to 15 days for soft PVC, and 12 to 18 days for die-cast metal with enamel. Bulk timing is usually 12 to 22 days after sample approval for simple printed orders and 20 to 35 days for PVC or metal. Rush production is possible in some seasons, but it increases defect risk when enamel curing, epoxy drying, or adhesive bonding time is compressed.

Step 6: Approve a sample with measurable checkpoints

Sample approval should not be a simple yes or no based on a phone photo. Ask for clear photos under daylight and neutral light, plus a short video showing the magnet attached to a normal refrigerator-style steel surface. For important orders, courier the physical sample and inspect it against a checklist before releasing bulk production.

Measure finished size with calipers and allow realistic process tolerance. Printed and acrylic magnets should usually be within plus or minus 0.5 mm for simple shapes. Soft PVC parts are often plus or minus 0.7 mm, especially on irregular outlines. Die-cast metal magnets are commonly plus or minus 0.3 mm on body dimensions after finishing, but enamel fill and plating buildup can change the visual edge slightly.

Check magnet retention as well as magnet strength. For glued disc magnets, apply a moderate peel or push test by hand and look for glue squeeze-out, uneven bonding, or wobble. A practical factory test is 24 hours at 40 to 50 degrees Celsius for adhesive stability on heavier magnets, especially if goods will ship by sea in summer. For flexible sheet backs, inspect the edges for lifting and specify no visible delamination after light manual bending.

Step 7: Control bulk production before everything is packed

Bulk defects in magnets usually come from four areas: print color drift, epoxy bubbles, weak magnetic assembly, and packing scratches. A mid-production check is useful once 20 to 30 percent of the order is complete, because it catches systematic issues before all pieces are finished. For example, if a backing card slot is too tight or the magnet sheet is cut 1 mm short, finding it at final inspection is late and expensive.

For standard promotional magnets, a common inspection setting is AQL 2.5 for major defects and AQL 4.0 for minor defects, using general inspection level II. Major defects include detached magnets, wrong design, wrong colorway, sharp metal burrs, unreadable required text, severe plating failure, or holding force below the agreed target. Minor defects include tiny dust in epoxy, slight print specks, small edge marks, or color variation within the approved sample range.

If the item is for retail sale, tighten the cosmetic standard and packaging inspection. Retail buyers often reject visible scratches through clear bags, crooked backing cards over 2 mm, barcode placement errors, or mixed designs in inner cartons. ZheCraft usually recommends packing by design and color first, then by master carton, with carton labels showing item code, quantity, net weight, gross weight, and production batch number.

Step 8: Pack for the sales channel, not just for export

Fridge magnets are deceptively easy to damage because flat surfaces rub against each other. Epoxy domes scratch, metal plating scuffs, and soft PVC can pick up dust or pressure marks. Individual OPP bags are enough for many giveaways, but retail magnets normally need a backing card, hang hole, barcode area, and sometimes a protective film over acrylic or metal surfaces.

Carton weight should be controlled early. A carton of small printed magnets may be under 12 kg, while die-cast metal magnets can exceed 20 kg quickly if packed too densely. For hand-safe export cartons, target 12 to 18 kg gross weight, use 5-ply cartons for heavy metal items, and add inner boxes of 50 to 100 pieces to prevent shifting. If the magnets have strong neodymium discs, avoid packing them so close that they attract across layers and damage cards or coatings.

Sales channel	Recommended packing	When not to use it
Mass giveaway	Individual OPP bag, 100 to 250 pcs per inner bag or box	Not ideal for plated metal or epoxy if visible scratches matter
Tourist retail	Backing card with hang hole, individual bag, 50 to 100 pcs per inner carton	Adds USD 0.05 to 0.20 per piece and needs barcode control
Museum or premium gift	Printed card, foam or paper insert, rigid gift box if needed	Often too costly for orders below 300 pcs/design
Mailer insert	Thin printed or acrylic magnet, no bulky disc magnet, flat polybag	Avoid heavy zinc alloy because postage and damage risk rise

Freight planning should happen before production ends. Magnets are usually not hazardous, but heavy cartons and magnetic attraction can affect courier handling rules for air shipment, especially with strong neodymium magnets. Ask for packed carton dimensions and gross weight before balance payment so your forwarder can confirm cost and any documentation requirements.

What to do next before placing the order

Before you issue a purchase order, freeze one written specification sheet and make sure the quotation, drawing, proforma invoice, and sample label all match it. The biggest sourcing failures happen when the buyer approves a beautiful sample but the bulk order is produced from an older drawing, cheaper magnet, or different packing note. A two-page spec sheet is usually enough if it is precise.

• Confirm final artwork, Pantone or CMYK values, and approved sample photos
• Confirm finished size, thickness, material, and magnet type with measurable holding-force target
• Confirm tooling ownership or reuse terms for repeat orders
• Confirm bulk tolerance, AQL level, inspection method, and defect definitions
• Confirm packaging layout, barcode files, carton marks, and carton weight limits
• Confirm production lead time, shipping method, destination, and latest acceptable delivery date
• Keep one approved physical sample at the factory and one with the buyer if schedule allows

If you are sourcing magnets together with pins, keychains, patches, or lanyards for one campaign, send the full set plan at RFQ stage rather than buying each item separately. ZheCraft can align plating finish, card stock, logo color, carton labels, and delivery schedule across mixed promotional items, which reduces mismatch and repacking work. The practical next step is to send artwork, target quantity, required delivery date, and the intended sales channel, then request a production drawing and quote that state the magnet specification in writing.

Have a project? Send your artwork and target quantity and we’ll reply with a detailed quotation within 12 working hours.