As someone who has spent the last 12 years as a metal clips supplier, I’ve lost count of how many times parents, craft teachers, and even fellow industry peers have asked me the same question: Are metal clips suitable for children’s crafts? It’s a loaded question, really—on one hand, metal clips are durable, versatile, and way more long-lasting than plastic alternatives for projects like scrapbooking, paper crafts, or DIY room decor. On the other hand, they’re made of metal, which naturally sparks concerns about safety around little hands. Metal Clips
I didn’t always have a straight answer for this. Early in my career, I’d field these questions and default to generic disclaimers, but over time, I started working directly with early childhood educators, testing our clips in after-school craft programs, and digging into kid-safe product standards. Today, I can tell you that metal clips are suitable for children’s crafts—if you know what to look for, how to use them, and how to source them responsibly. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned.
First, let’s address the biggest elephant in the room: safety. Metal is sharp, right? If you hand a 7-year-old a raw, unprocessed metal clip, yeah, that’s a risk—edges can be burr-y, surfaces might have sharp seams, and small parts can even pose a choking hazard for toddlers. But here’s the thing: not all metal clips are created equal. Most of the subpar, low-cost clips you find at big-box dollar stores are made from thin, untreated steel that’s cut and stamped with rough edges. We saw this firsthand a few years back, when a local elementary school sent us photos of a craft project where a student got a small cut from a store-bought clip. That’s when we invested in specialized machinery to deburr every edge of our clips, rounding them to a smooth, uniform finish that’s still strong enough to hold thick cardstock or fabric but gentle enough for small fingers to handle.
We also test all our clips for compliance with international toy safety standards—specifically ASTM F963 and EN 71, two of the strictest frameworks for children’s products. These standards mandate that all parts of a product must be non-sharp, free of toxic coatings, and not small enough to fit into a standardized choking hazard test chamber (which measures about 1.25 inches in diameter, for reference). Our standard craft clips are 2 inches long, so they’re way too big for choking, and we never use lead-based paints or harsh coatings—just food-safe, BPA-free powder coating that comes in fun, kid-friendly colors like pastel blue, cherry red, and sunflower yellow. We even offer “junior craft clips” that are slightly shorter (1.5 inches) and have extra-wide, rounded grips to make them easier for kids as young as 4 to open and close.
But safety isn’t just about the clips themselves—it’s about how they’re used. I’ve seen parents grab a bag of metal clips and dump them on the floor for a free-for-all craft session, and that’s a mistake. For younger kids (under 8), metal clips work best with adult supervision, just like any other crafting supply—scissors, glue, or even glitter, for that matter. We worked with a 1st-grade teacher in Chicago last year who started using our clips for a “memory book” project, where kids glued photos of their pets and family to cardstock and secured the edges with colored clips. She told me that the clips were a game-changer: no more pages tearing, no more messy tape or glue, and the kids loved that their projects had a “sturdy, professional” look that made them feel proud. The only rule she had was that clips were only used at the craft table, not on the floor, and she’d do a quick check after class to make sure no clips were left loose where toddlers could step on them.
Another common concern I hear is durability. Plastic clips break after a few uses, right? You press them once too hard, they snap, and you’re left with a ruined craft or a tiny plastic piece that’s a hassle to clean up. Metal clips, on the other hand, can last for years—even after being opened and closed hundreds of times. That’s a huge plus for parents who do weekly craft nights or classrooms that stock supplies for an entire school year. I’ve had a customer in Texas tell me that she uses our clips for her 10-year-old’s birthday party crafts, and the same bag of clips has been used for three parties now, with only a couple minor scuffs (which wipe right off) and zero breaks. For schools, that translates to lower supply costs over time, because you don’t have to replace broken clips every few weeks.
Of course, no product is perfect for every kid or every project. There are times when plastic is the better choice—for toddlers who mouth all their toys, for example, or for really small craft projects that need a tiny clip that fits in the palm of a baby’s hand. But for kids ages 4 and up, especially those working on projects that need a strong hold (like fabric crafts, art displays, or photo albums), metal clips are actually more versatile than plastic. We’ve even worked with a group of Girl Scouts who used our clips to make dream catchers—they strung yarn between our colorful metal clips, which were sturdy enough to hold the weight of the yarn without bending, and the bright colors made their projects look even more eye-catching.
Wait, but what about the environment? A lot of parents these days are focused on sustainable craft supplies, and metal clips can seem like a step back from plastic, which is recyclable. But here’s the thing: metal is infinitely recyclable, and our clips are made from 100% recycled steel. When a child is done with their craft project, they can take the clip off, wash it, and reuse it for something else—no waste, no single-use plastic piling up in a landfill. We’ve had customers tell us that they keep a jar of our clips on their craft table for years, pulling them out for every new project, and that’s a huge win for reducing household waste. Unlike plastic, which can take hundreds of years to decompose, steel clips can be melted down and turned into new metal products over and over again, with no loss in quality.
Over the years, we’ve also started to see more niche uses for our metal clips in children’s crafts that make them even more valuable. For example, we make custom-sized clips for things like felt board projects, where kids use the clips to hold felt shapes in place during storytime, or for 3D paper crafts, where the clips act as hinges to keep folded paper figures standing up. A pediatric occupational therapist we partner with uses our extra-gentle clips to help kids with fine motor skills practice opening and closing them—since they’re easier to grip than tweezers or small clips, they help build hand strength without frustration. That’s been a really rewarding use for us, because we’re not just selling a craft supply—we’re helping kids develop important skills.
I know there are still people out there who will say metal is too dangerous for kids, and that’s a valid concern. But after 12 years of testing, collaborating with experts, and hearing stories from thousands of parents and teachers, I can say with confidence that the key is sourcing high-quality, kid-tested clips and using them responsibly. It’s not about banning metal from children’s crafts—it’s about making sure the metal you’re using is made for kids.
If you’re a parent, teacher, or craft organizer who’s ready to try metal clips for your next project, I’d encourage you to look for suppliers that test their products for safety, disclose material ingredients, and offer guidance on how to use them with kids. Avoid cheap, unbranded clips from online marketplaces—more often than not, those are the ones with rough edges, toxic coatings, or choking hazards.
At our company, we’ve spent years refining our craft clips to meet the needs of kids and the people who work with them. We don’t cut corners on safety, and we’re always working with educators to create products that make crafting easier, more fun, and more rewarding for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a pack of bright, colored clips for your home craft table or bulk supplies for a school or organization, we can work with you to find the right size and style for your project.
If you’re interested in learning more about our kid-friendly metal clips, or if you have questions about safety testing, bulk pricing, or custom orders, please reach out to our team to discuss your needs. We’re here to help make your next craft project a success, with supplies you can trust for kids of all ages.
Metal Plates References
ASTM International. Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (F963). ASTM International.
European Committee for Standardization. Safety of Toys (EN 71). European Committee for Standardization.
American Occupational Therapy Association. Fine Motor Skill Development in Children. American Occupational Therapy Association.
Qingdao Xinding Huiyuan Industry and Trade Co., Ltd.
We are one of the most experienced metal clips manufacturers and suppliers in China. With a professional production team, we are able to meet the needs of the majority of our customers. Please rest assured to wholesale customized metal clips at competitive price from our factory.
Address: No.149, Yuyuan Street, Chenggang Road, Laizhou City, Yantai City, Shandong Province
E-mail: lin@lzhdwj.cn
WebSite: https://www.hdmetalparts.com/
