What You’ll Need

To make custom fridge magnets at home, I used:

• Self-adhesive magnetic sheets (20 mil thick)

• Printed photos (I tried both inkjet at home and local photo lab prints)

• Sharp scissors and a craft knife

• A cutting mat (to protect the table)

• Metal ruler (straight cuts are easier)

• A soft cloth (to smooth photos and avoid fingerprints)

Most of these are inexpensive and easy to find at art supply or stationery stores. A 10-sheet pack of magnetic foil cost me around $12, and printing photos ranged anywhere from 20 cents to $1 per picture depending on quality.

Step-by-Step: My Process

1. Preparing the Magnetic Sheet

I peeled off the adhesive backing from the magnetic sheet and laid it sticky-side up on the cutting mat. This part was surprisingly easy, though the sheet tended to curl slightly, which made alignment trickier.

2. Adding Photos

I placed my printed photos carefully onto the sheet, smoothing them down with a soft cloth to avoid bubbles. Using lab-printed photos gave a much cleaner finish than my inkjet printer—my inkjet version looked dull and smudged a little when handled.

3. Cutting Shapes

This step required the most patience. Straight edges were fine with a sharp craft knife and ruler, but when I tried cutting circles or star shapes with scissors, the edges came out uneven. The magnet material also left a sticky residue on the blades, so I had to clean them often.

4. Finishing Touches

Once cut, the magnets looked great on my fridge. They held up fine for lightweight photos or notes, but heavier items (like postcards) slipped down.

The Results: Pros and Cons

What I Liked

• Creative freedom – I could make any shape or size I wanted.

• Personalized gifts – Friends loved the handmade touch, even if they weren’t perfect.

• Budget-friendly – If you already have tools, the cost per magnet is pretty low.

What I Didn’t Like

• Edges aren’t professional-looking – Hand-cut magnets never came out as crisp as store-bought ones.

• Print quality matters – Home printer results felt cheap; professional prints worked better.

• Time consuming – Between printing, sticking, and trimming, making 10 magnets took me about 90 minutes.

If you want to order photo magnets online, you can check out kstom

Is It Worth Making Them at Home?

If you enjoy DIY crafts and don’t mind imperfect edges, making your own custom fridge magnets is fun and rewarding. I liked the creative freedom and the satisfaction of seeing my photos turned into something usable. However, if you want polished, uniform magnets—especially as a gift—you might be happier ordering them from a professional service.

For me, I’d do it again for personal use or a casual gift, but probably not if I needed a sleek, professional finish.

Final Thoughts

Making custom fridge magnets is easier than it looks, but it does take patience. The process gave me a new appreciation for why professional magnets cost a bit more—you’re paying for precision and durability. Still, if you’re looking for a fun project with sentimental value, this is a great way to turn old photos into something fresh and practical.