Looking for Ideas on Customizable Coasters – Best Materials and Design

Hey everyone!

I'm thinking about making some customizable coasters as gifts and possibly to sell at local markets. I want them to be both functional and stylish. I'm considering using wood, cork, resin, or even ceramic, but I’m not sure which materials are best for durability and ease of customization.

Also, what kind of designs or personalizations do people tend to like most—names, quotes, artwork, logos? If you’ve made or bought any cool custom coasters, I’d love to see your ideas and hear your recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey! I’ve been making and selling customizable coasters for a while, and I think you're on a great path. From my experience, wood—especially types like maple or walnut—strikes the best balance between durability and customizability. It engraves beautifully and has a natural, warm look people love. Resin is also great if you want something vibrant and eye-catching, especially for embedding things like glitter, flowers, or logos. Cork is easy to work with, but it tends to wear down faster. As for design ideas, personalized names, short quotes, pet portraits, and clean, minimalist art have been consistently popular.

Last edited by tixiti (May 08 5:41 PM)

Wood is probably your best bet—it’s durable, easy to engrave or paint, and has a timeless look that appeals to a lot of people. If you're aiming to offer customizable coasters that stand out, resin is also a great option for creative, colorful designs, though it takes more time and care to get right. Cork is super easy to work with, but not as long-lasting, and ceramic looks great, but can be fragile. In terms of customization, names and initials are always popular, but funny quotes, pet portraits, and simple, modern artwork also sell well at markets.