Learn how to make resin magnets at home with simple molds, safe epoxy mixing, color ideas, magnet placement tips, and beginner fixes for bubbles, weak magnets, and cloudy finishes.
Resin magnets are one of the easiest ways to turn a small batch of epoxy into something useful, giftable, and satisfying. They do not need much resin, they cure in simple silicone molds, and they are forgiving enough for a first weekend project. If you have been wanting to try resin without committing to a large canvas or complicated jewelry setup, learning how to make resin magnets at home is a practical place to start.
The basic idea is simple: pour colored or clear resin into small molds, add decorations if you like, let the pieces cure, then attach strong magnets to the back. The finished magnets can hold notes on the fridge, decorate a craft room board, become party favors, or turn tiny keepsakes into everyday decor.
If this is your first time working with epoxy, read our broader Resin Art for Beginners guide before you mix. This tutorial focuses specifically on small resin fridge magnets, including which molds work best, how to avoid bubbles, and how to make sure the magnets actually hold.
How to Make Resin Magnets at Home: The Beginner Method
To make resin magnets at home, you need a small silicone mold, clear art-grade epoxy resin, pigments or decorations, and strong craft magnets. Mix the resin according to the bottle directions, tint it if desired, pour it into the mold, remove bubbles, let it cure fully, then glue a magnet to the back with a strong adhesive.
That sounds straightforward, but there are a few details that matter. The resin piece must be thin enough that the magnet can still grip through the weight. The back should be flat enough for good glue contact. The magnet should be strong enough for the finished piece, not just decorative. A beautiful resin charm with a weak magnet will slide down the fridge, which is frustrating after waiting two days for it to cure.
For beginners, start with small shapes around 1 to 2 inches wide. Circles, hearts, stars, shells, alphabet letters, small flowers, and simple geometric molds all work well. Save large chunky shapes for later once you understand how heavy cured resin can be.
Supplies You Need for Resin Fridge Magnets
A resin magnet project uses many of the same basic tools as other small resin crafts. If you already have a beginner resin kit, you may only need molds and magnets.
Recommended supplies:
- Clear art-grade epoxy resin: $18-$35 for a 16 oz beginner kit
- Small silicone molds: $6-$18 depending on shape and size
- Resin pigments, mica powder, or alcohol ink: $8-$20 for a starter set
- Nitrile gloves: $8-$12 per box
- Safety glasses: $5-$10
- Graduated mixing cups: $6-$12
- Silicone stir sticks or wooden craft sticks: $3-$8
- Toothpicks or detail tools: $2-$8
- Heat gun, lighter, or bubble-removal tool: $5-$25
- Strong neodymium magnets: $8-$15 for a small pack
- E6000, two-part epoxy glue, or strong craft adhesive: $5-$12
- Plastic table cover or silicone mat: $6-$15
- Dust cover or clean storage box: $5-$15
For magnets, choose neodymium discs rather than lightweight flexible magnet tape. Flexible strips are fine for paper crafts, but resin is heavier. A 10 mm to 15 mm neodymium disc is usually enough for a small resin piece. Larger magnets may need two discs or a wider magnet.
If you are building your first resin setup from scratch, our Resin Art Essential Tools list can help you buy only what you need instead of overloading your cart.
Choose the Best Mold Shapes for Resin Magnets
The best beginner mold is shallow, smooth, and easy to demold. A depth of about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch is ideal for most fridge magnets. Thin pieces stay lighter, cure more evenly, and need less magnet strength.
Good beginner mold options include:
- Round cabochon molds
- Alphabet letter molds
- Small flower molds
- Heart molds
- Seashell molds
- Simple square or hexagon molds
- Mini coaster-style molds used at a smaller size
Avoid very deep molds for your first magnet batch. Deep resin pieces are heavier and may trap bubbles near the front. Also be careful with molds that have many narrow points, such as snowflakes or detailed leaves. They look beautiful, but tiny corners can tear, hold bubbles, or make demolding harder.
If you want your magnets to match a theme, plan the set before pouring. For example, you could make a garden set with dried flowers, a beach set with blue mica and tiny shells, or a craft-room set with alphabet letters spelling creative words.
Step-by-Step Resin Magnet Tutorial
Read through the full process before mixing resin. Once epoxy is combined, your working time is limited.
Step 1: Prepare your workspace
Cover your table with a plastic sheet or silicone mat. Put on nitrile gloves and safety glasses. Work in a ventilated area and keep pets and children away from the curing space.
Set your mold on a flat tray so you can move the whole project if needed. Check that the tray is level. Resin will settle toward the low side if the surface is tilted, and that can make one side of your magnet thicker than the other.
Step 2: Plan your colors and decorations
Decide what goes in each mold cavity before you mix. Resin magnets are small, so a little color goes a long way.
Beginner-friendly design ideas:
- Clear resin with pressed flowers
- Pastel mica powder swirls
- Glitter over a colored base
- Tiny dried fruit slices for kitchen magnets
- Gold foil flakes in transparent resin
- Alcohol ink drops for smoky color clouds
- Small stickers sealed under clear resin
If you use paper stickers, photos, or printed images, seal them first with a clear-drying glue or spray sealer. Unsealed paper can darken, bleed, or release bubbles in resin. For more tiny-resin inspiration, see our guide to How to Make Resin Keychains at Home, which uses many of the same decoration techniques.
Step 3: Measure and mix the resin
Follow the ratio on your resin bottle exactly. Many beginner epoxy kits use a 1:1 ratio by volume, but not all do. Measure carefully in graduated cups.
Stir slowly for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the cup. The mixture should look clear, not streaky. Fast stirring adds bubbles, so keep the motion steady and patient.
For a small batch of magnets, mix slightly more resin than you think you need. Very tiny batches are easier to mismeasure, and inaccurate measuring can leave pieces sticky. Pour extra resin into a spare mold for test charms.
Step 4: Add pigment carefully
Divide the mixed resin into smaller cups if you want multiple colors. Add pigment a little at a time. Too much pigment can affect curing, especially with liquid colorants.
For most resin magnets, these color amounts work well:
- Mica powder: a small scoop on the tip of a craft stick
- Liquid resin pigment: 1 to 3 drops per small cup
- Alcohol ink: 1 to 2 drops for translucent effects
- Glitter: enough to sparkle, but not so much that the resin becomes paste-like
Stir each color slowly. If bubbles appear, let the cups sit for a few minutes before pouring.
Step 5: Pour into the mold
Pour resin slowly into each cavity. Fill the mold almost to the top, but do not overfill. A slightly flat back is better for magnet attachment than a bulging back.
For layered looks, pour a thin clear layer first, add decorations face down if your mold shows the front at the bottom, then add colored resin behind it. This works especially well with flowers, foil, tiny charms, and letter molds.
Use a toothpick to push resin into corners and move small decorations into place. Do not scrape the silicone mold aggressively; gentle guiding is enough.
Step 6: Remove bubbles
Small bubbles are common in resin magnets because the molds have tight corners. Use a toothpick to pop visible bubbles near the surface. You can also pass a heat gun or lighter quickly above the mold, but do not overheat the resin or the silicone.
For detailed molds, tap the mold lightly on the table after pouring. This helps bubbles rise out of corners. Check again after 10 minutes because new bubbles may appear as decorations release trapped air.
Step 7: Cover and cure
Cover the mold with a clean box, plastic container, or dust cover. Let the resin cure according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most small epoxy pieces need 24 hours before demolding and 48 to 72 hours before they reach a harder full cure.
Do not rush demolding. If the resin is still flexible, fingerprints and bends can become permanent. Waiting an extra day is better than ruining a clean batch.
Step 8: Demold and inspect
Peel the silicone mold away from the resin instead of pulling the resin piece hard. Check each piece for sharp edges, bubbles, or uneven backs.
If an edge feels sharp, sand it lightly with wet/dry sandpaper. Start around 600 grit and finish with 1000 or 2000 grit for a smoother feel. Wipe away dust before attaching magnets.
Step 9: Attach the magnets
Turn the resin pieces face down on a protected surface. Add a small amount of strong adhesive to the back, press the magnet into place, and let it cure fully.
E6000 and two-part epoxy glue are both common choices. Hot glue is not recommended for long-term resin magnets because it can peel away, especially on smooth backs.
Keep magnet polarity in mind if you are making a set that stacks or stores together. Let the adhesive cure for the full time on the package, often 24 to 72 hours, before using the magnets on a fridge or board.
Product Recommendations for Better Resin Magnets
You do not need premium supplies for every step, but a few products make a real difference.
Low-odor art epoxy resin ($18-$35): Choose a clear, UV-resistant resin with a comfortable working time. Avoid deep-pour resin for thin magnets unless the label says it also works for small molds.
Shallow silicone molds ($6-$18): Look for smooth, flexible molds with simple shapes. Alphabet molds and small cabochon molds are especially useful for gifts.
Neodymium disc magnets ($8-$15): These are stronger than flexible craft magnets. For most small pieces, 10 mm by 2 mm or 12 mm by 2 mm discs are a good starting point.
Strong adhesive ($5-$12): E6000, two-part epoxy adhesive, or another jewelry-strength glue will hold better than hot glue or school glue.
Mica powder set ($10-$18): Mica gives resin magnets shimmer without adding much liquid. It is beginner-friendly and works beautifully in small molds.
Wet/dry sandpaper pack ($6-$12): Keep this nearby for smoothing backs and edges before gluing magnets.
Common Resin Magnet Problems and Fixes
My resin magnets slide down the fridge
The magnet is probably too weak for the weight of the resin. Use stronger neodymium magnets, reduce the thickness of future pieces, or glue two magnets to the back of larger shapes. Also make sure the glue layer is thin enough that the magnet sits close to the fridge surface.
The magnet popped off the resin
The back may have been too glossy, dusty, or oily. Lightly sand the attachment spot, wipe it clean, and reglue with a stronger adhesive. Let the glue cure fully before testing.
The front has bubbles
Bubbles often come from fast stirring, cold resin, or decorations releasing air. Stir slowly, let resin rest before pouring, and seal porous decorations. For cured bubbles near the surface, you can sometimes sand and add a thin clear top coat.
The resin stayed sticky
Sticky resin usually means the ratio was off, the batch was not mixed long enough, or too much colorant was added. For broader curing help, read our Resin Art Troubleshooting Guide. For future batches, measure carefully and mix until the resin is completely clear.
The back is uneven
A slightly uneven back is common with molds. Sand the back flat where the magnet will sit. If the piece is very lumpy, pour less resin next time and make sure the mold is level.
Creative Resin Magnet Ideas to Try Next
Once you understand the basic process, resin magnets are easy to customize. Try making seasonal sets, personalized initials, or small collections for handmade gifts.
Fun ideas include:
- Herb garden labels for a magnetic kitchen board
- Initial magnets for lockers or office boards
- Mini beach magnets with sand-colored mica and blue resin
- Pressed flower magnets for spring gifts
- Tiny fruit magnets for recipe cards
- Color-coded chore chart magnets
- Craft room magnets with glitter, thread snips, or tiny charms
You can also use leftover resin from other projects. If you are making pendants from our Resin Jewelry Making for Beginners tutorial, pour extra resin into small magnet molds instead of wasting it.
FAQ About Making Resin Magnets at Home
What kind of magnets work best for resin magnets?
Neodymium disc magnets work best because they are strong for their size. Flexible craft magnet tape is usually too weak for cured resin unless the resin piece is very thin and light.
Can I put the magnet inside the resin instead of gluing it on?
You can embed magnets in resin, but beginners usually get better results by gluing them to the back after curing. Embedded magnets may shift, sink, or end up too far from the surface to hold well.
How long do resin magnets take to cure?
Most epoxy resin magnets can be demolded after about 24 hours, but they are stronger after 48 to 72 hours. Always follow your resin brand's instructions and allow extra time in cool rooms.
Are resin magnets safe for kids to make?
Children should not handle uncured epoxy resin. Adults should do the measuring, mixing, pouring, and curing setup. Kids can help choose colors, arrange sealed decorations with supervision, or decorate packaging after the resin is fully cured.
Can I sell handmade resin magnets?
Yes, resin magnets can be sold as handmade crafts if they are well-cured, securely glued, and finished cleanly. Test each magnet on a fridge or magnetic board before selling, and include care notes such as keeping them away from heat and small children.
Final Thoughts on How to Make Resin Magnets at Home
Learning how to make resin magnets at home gives you a low-pressure way to practice epoxy mixing, mold pouring, color effects, bubble removal, and finishing. The pieces are small, the supply cost is manageable, and every batch teaches you something useful for future resin crafts.
Start with shallow molds, strong neodymium magnets, and simple colors. Once you have a few successful sets, experiment with flowers, foil, alphabet shapes, and themed collections. Resin magnets may be small, but they are a smart beginner project that builds real confidence for larger resin art.