Buttons differ in design, material, and uses. There are 5 main designs: 2 and 4-hole flat buttons, shank buttons, stud buttons, and toggles. These are available in a wide variety of materials including wood, metal, pearl, horn, plastic, etc. In this article, I’ll walk you through the most popular types of buttons so you can decide which style is best for your next project.
Different types of button styles:
Different types of button materials:
- Plastic / polyester
- Mother of pearl / shell
- Horn
- Corozo
- Wood
- Metal
- Leather
- Coconut
- Ceramic / porcelain
- Fabric covered
- Enamel
- Bone
- Glass
- Rhinestone / crystal
- Chinese knotted buttons
2-hole flat buttons
Description:
These are flat buttons with 2 small holes punched in the middle. They are most commonly disc-shaped, but you can also find square, flower, heart, triangle, or other shapes. 2- hole flat buttons come in a wide variety of sizes as well as materials, including horn, metal, plastic, wooden, mother of pearl / shell, corozo, coconut, and more. They are sewn onto the fabric by going back and front through the 2 holes, you can check out out in-depth article for a tutorial on how to sew them by hand or by machine.
Uses:
- Light to medium weight fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Jackets and coats (with the addition of a thread shank)
- Pillowcases and bedding
- Children’s clothes
4-hole flat buttons
Description:
4-hole flat buttons are just like 2-hole flat buttons, with the addition of 2 more holes. The 4 holes are punched out in a square formation, and they allow you to sew the button onto the fabric more securely. This makes them more suitable for heavier weight materials and areas that will be under more strain. They also come in a wide variety of materials, sizes, and shapes. You can check out our detailed article on the best way to sew them by hand or by sewing machine.
Uses:
- Light to heavy weight fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Jackets and coats (with the addition of a thread shank)
- Pillowcases and bedding
- Children’s clothes
Shank buttons
Description:
Shank buttons are flat or domed buttons with a small shank piece attached to the back side. The shank can be round, rectangular, or in the shape of a tunnel, and it features a small hole that’s used for sewing the button to the fabric. The addition of this shank piece makes it really easy to leave enough space between the button and the fabric, meaning you won’t need to create a thread shank like you would with flat buttons.
As the surface of the button doesn’t need to be interrupted with 2 or 4 holes, you can find more elaborate designs in shank buttons. Some of the more popular materials used for shank buttons are metal, leather, enamel, crystal, fabric, and glass.
Check out our in-depth article on how to sew shank buttons for more details.
Uses:
- Light to heavy weight fabrics
- Blazers and suit jackets
- Overcoats
- Waistcoats
- Knitwear like cardigans, sweaters, vests, etc.
- Blouses
- Evening / formal / bridal wear
- Upholstery buttons
- Making matching fabric covered buttons
Stud buttons
Description:
Stud buttons are quite different from all the other types of buttons on this list, as they are not sewn on. Rather, they are applied to the fabric by piercing the fabric using the screw on the backing from back to front, and pressing the top piece of the button onto the backing. They can be applied using a specialized press, or you can get small kits that can be used with just a hammer. They are most commonly made out of metal and used on jeans and workwear as they are very strong and easy to care for.
Uses:
- Jeans
- Denim jackets
- Overalls / coveralls
- Other workwear garments
Toggles
Description:
Toggles have long and narrow cylindrical shapes with rounded pointy ends. They have two holes pierced through their center which are used to sew them onto fabric. They are usually attached by threading a thin leather cord through the two holes, and trapping the ends of the leather cords in a small leather patch which then gets sewn onto the fabric. The other side features a small loop of leather cording with a matching leather patch. The traditional material used for toggles is horn, but you can also find them in wood, plastic, or metal.
Uses:
- Medium to heavy weight fabrics
- Coats and jackets
- Vests
- Bags
Plastic / polyester buttons
Description:
Plastic buttons are made out of synthetic materials like acrylic, polyester, epoxy, PET, or resin. They are on the cheaper side, which makes them a really popular option in ready-to-wear clothing. They are available in almost any size, shape, and color you can think of, as well as different styles like flat buttons, shank buttons, and toggles.
Uses:
- All weights of fabric
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Jackets and coats
- Pillowcases and bedding
- Children’s clothes
Mother of pearl / shell buttons
Description:
Mother of pearl buttons are made out of the nacre linings of mollusk, oysters, abalone, and snail shells. This lining material is the same composition as the outer layer or pearls, hence the name mother of pearl (source). They come in different colors depending on the type of shell used, ranging from creamy whites and pink or yellow hues to smoky greys and blacks. They can also be manipulated and coated to achieve more vibrant colors like blue, gold, green, or red. The front has a lustrous finish, and the back is usually left raw. You can choose to use the front or the back on the face of the garment for different looks. Although they are on the thinner side, they are quite strong making them suitable for many types of projects.
Uses:
- Light to medium weight fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Waistcoats and vests
- Jackets
Horn buttons
Description:
Horn buttons are made out of horns of different animals, making them really strong and durable. They are available in natural tones ranging from creams and browns to greys and blacks, they can also have a tortoiseshell or marbled pattern to them. They tend to be on the thicker side, and they are most often used on suits and coats.
Uses:
- Medium to heavy weight fabrics
- Suit jackets
- Waistcoats
- Trousers
- Coats
Corozo buttons
Description:
Corozo buttons are made using the corozo nuts which come from the tagua trees (source [1], [2]). They are really strong and they have a unique, natural grain pattern to them. You can find them in a wide variety of sizes and colors, often in more natural tones like browns and greens.
Uses:
- All weights of fabric
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Waistcoats and vests
- Suit jackets and blazers
- Coats
Wooden buttons
Description:
Wooden buttons are made out of different types of wood. Depending on the type of wood used, they can be in different hues of brown, and have different levels of strength. They all tend to be on the stronger side, so you can easily use them on your garments. They come in different sizes and shapes from tiny 2-hole flat buttons for shirts, to large toggles for coats.
Uses:
- All weights of fabric
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Waistcoats and vests
- Jackets and coats
- Children’s clothes
Metal buttons
Description:
Metal buttons can be made out of different metals and metal blends, including aluminum, brass, coppe, iron, stainless steel, and zinc alloy. They are extremely strong, making them perfect for hard wearing clothes and accessories. They are available in all designs of buttons from flat or shank ones to studs and toggles, as well as a wide variety of sizes.
Uses:
- Medium to heavy weight fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Jackets and coats
- Jeans, denim jackets, overalls
- Workwear
- Bags
Leather buttons
Description:
Leather buttons are made out of faux or genuine leather. One of the most common designs of leather buttons are shank buttons with a woven pattern on top, resembling a football. They also come in flat design with holes punched in the center. They have a formal look to them, making them great for suits and coats.
Uses:
- Medium to heavy weight fabrics
- Suit jackets and blazers
- Coats
- Bags
Coconut buttons
Description:
Coconut buttons are made out of coconut shells. They are usually available in smaller sizes, and the shade range is rather limited to light to darker browns. They have a natural texture to them, making them great for use on natural fiber materials like cottons and linens. You’ll most commonly find them in flat designs with 2 or 4 holes.
Uses:
- Light to medium weight fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses, rompers
- Children’s clothing
Ceramic / porcelain buttons
Description:
Ceramic buttons are made out of clay, fired in high temperatures, and then glazed and fired again. They can have elaborate designs and unique colours and textures depending on the glaze that is used. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and you can find them in flat or shanked designs.
Uses:
- All weights of fabrics
- Jackets and coats
- Waistcoats and vest
- Bags
Fabric covered buttons
Description:
Fabric covered buttons are shank buttons that have a domed surface covered with cloth. You can buy them premade, or purchase blank kits and make them using the fabric of your choice. They come in a wide variety of sizes, from tiny ones used on bridal or formal wear to huge ones used on coats or upholstery projects.
Uses:
- Bridal or formalwear
- Smoking jackets and formal suits
- Upholstery projects
- Coats
- Children’s clothing
Enamel buttons
Description:
Enamel buttons have a metal base that is coated with enamel. They are very strong, and they can feature intricate designs just like enamel pins. They are most commonly found in shank designs and used on suits.
Uses:
- Medium to heavy weight fabrics
- Suits
- Coats
Bone buttons
Description:
Bone buttons are made by carving animal bones. Much like horn buttons they are strong and durable, and they come in a limited shade range of whites and creams. They are available in flat, shank and toggle designs.
Uses:
- All weights of fabrics
- Shirts, tops, blouses
- Skirts, dresses
- Trousers
- Jackets and coats
- Suits
Glass buttons
Description:
Glass buttons are made out of clear or colored glass. They can come as shank buttons, or you can use glass beads with holes as buttons. As they can be on the more delicate side, it’s a better idea to use them on more delicate garments.
Uses:
- Tops and blouses
- Skirts and dresses
- Evening wear
- Accessories
- Decorative purposes
Novelty buttons
Description:
Novelty buttons are shank buttons with elaborate molded plastic tops. They come in a wide variety of shapes, designs, and sizes, featuring animals, plants, everyday objects, faces, and so on. They are mostly used on children’s clothes and accessories or for decorative purposes.
Uses:
- Children’s clothes
- Accessories
- Decorative purposes
Rhinestone / crystal buttons
Description:
Crystal buttons usually have one or many crystals embedded into a metal or plastic shanked base. Due to their sparkly look they are mostly used on evening wear and dressier garments.
Uses:
- Evening wear
- Coats and jackets
- Dresses and skirts
- Blouses
Chinese knot buttons
Description:
Chinese knot buttons are made by tying a specific knot using paracord. You can purchase ready made ones or make your own. They are mostly used on traditional garments or as decorative elements. There are also some varieties with a fake knot tied on a shank base.
Uses:
- Traditional Chinese garments
- Jackets and coats
Quick Q&A’s:
What type of button is the most popular?
Due to their affordability, plastic 2 or 4-hole flat buttons are very popular in ready-to-wear clothes.
How many types of buttons do we have?
There are 4 main types of buttons by design (flat, shank, stud, and toggle) and 13 popular materials (including plastic, horn, metal, mother of pearl, and wood).
Types of buttons for shirts?
On classic button-up shirts, you’ll most often find 2 or 4-hole flat buttons made out of plastic, mother of pearl, or wood.
How many buttons are on a shirt?
You’ll usually find 8 buttons on a classic shirt: 1 on the collar stand, 2 on the cuffs, and 5 on the button placket. You may find fewer or more buttons depending on the design choices.
Types of buttons on coats?
Shank buttons, toggles and larger flat buttons with 4 holes are good design types for buttons for coats. For materials; horn, bone, metal, plastic, and leather are suitable options.
Types of buttons on pants?
Flat buttons with 2 or 4 holes in medium sizes are commonly used on pants. As for the materials; look for metal, horn, plastic, wooden, and bone.
Types of buttons for jackets?
Shank and flat buttons are the two design types most often used on jackets. Depending on how formal the jacket is, you can go for a horn, bone, or leather button, or a metal, shell, or plastic button.
Types of buttons on wedding dresses?
Fabric-covered buttons are the most popular button option for wedding dresses (and other formalwear). You may also come across more decorative options such as rhinestone buttons.
Different types of buttons for clothes?
2 and 4 hole flat buttons are frequently used on shirts and pants, shank buttons are often used on jackets and coats, toggles on outerwear, and stud buttons on jeans and other denim goods.
Alternatives for buttons on clothes?
Snaps, hook-and-eye closures, and eyelets are some alternatives to buttons for garments.
What are buttons on jeans called?
Stud buttons are the most common type of buttons used on denim clothing. Rather than being sewn on like other types of buttons, they are pierced through the fabric and pressed into place.
What is the difference between a flat button and a shank button?
Flat buttons are flat discs with 2 or 4 holes pierced through them, while shank buttons have an additional shank piece underneath the button featuring one small hole.
Why do buttons have 4 holes?
The additional 2 holes allow you to sew the button to the fabric more securely.
What to read next:
This article was written by Nisan Aktürk and edited by Sara Maker.
Nisan Aktürk (author)
Nisan started her sewing journey in December 2019 and already has a fully handmade wardrobe. She’s made 50+ trousers, 20+ buttoned shirts, and a wide array of coats, jackets, t-shirts, and jeans. She’s currently studying for her Sociology Master’s degree and is writing a thesis about sewing. So she spends a lot of her time either sewing or thinking/writing about sewing! Read more…