“Magnetic sheet” covers several quite different products, and buying the wrong one is the most common reason a first batch of homemade magnets disappoints. This guide explains what actually differs between them and which one suits what you are making.
What a flexible magnetic sheet is
A flexible magnetic sheet is a thin layer of magnetic material, a magnetic powder bound in a flexible polymer, with a finished surface on one side. The magnetic side grips steel. The other side is the face you print on, glue to or leave plain.
One property surprises people: most flexible magnet is magnetised in narrow alternating stripes. Put two sheets face to face and they grip firmly in one direction and slide in the other. That is normal, not a defect, and it is why flexible magnets hold well against a fridge but feel odd against each other.
Thickness
Thickness is quoted in mils (thousandths of an inch) in the US and in millimetres elsewhere. One mil is 0.0254 mm.
| Thickness | Millimetres | Hold | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–15 mil | 0.3–0.38 mm | Light | Printable magnetic paper, crafts, labels |
| 20 mil | 0.5 mm | Medium | Photo magnets, business card magnets, save the dates |
| 30 mil | 0.76 mm | Strong | Promotional magnets, larger formats, signage |
| 60 mil and up | 1.5 mm+ | Very strong | Heavy signs, tool holders, industrial use |
Thicker holds more, costs more and is harder to cut cleanly by hand. For photo magnets on a fridge, 0.5 mm is the sweet spot: strong enough to hold the magnet and a sheet of paper, thin enough to cut with a craft knife. Our flexible magnetic sheets are 0.5 mm, 8.5 x 11 inches, with a smooth PVC-coated face.
The four types
Plain face
A white or coloured vinyl or PVC face with no adhesive. You attach your print with spray or roller adhesive. The most flexible option and usually the best value.
Adhesive-backed
A peel-off liner exposes a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Faster to mount and less mess. Watch for adhesive quality: cheap adhesives lift at the corners after a few months, especially in a warm kitchen.
Printable magnetic paper
A thin magnet with an inkjet-receptive coating, so you print directly onto it. Fastest route, but it is usually the thinnest and weakest option, and colour rarely matches real photo paper. Printers need a straight paper path for it, and some models jam. Good for crafts and quick jobs, less good for photos you plan to sell.
Dry-erase and specialty faces
Whiteboard, chalkboard, coloured and metallic faces for planners, labels and classroom use.
Magnetic paper or magnetic sheet?
- Choose magnetic paper for speed, children's crafts, labels and anything where perfect colour does not matter.
- Choose magnetic sheet plus photo paper for photo magnets, anything you sell, and anything that needs to hold firmly for years.
We use the second method for every flexible magnet we make, printing on Satin Pro Luxe and mounting on 0.5 mm sheet.
How many magnets fit on one 8.5 x 11 sheet
| Magnet size | Per sheet | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2" | About 20 | Square photo magnets, favours |
| 2 x 3" | About 12 | Classic photo magnets |
| 2 x 3.5" | About 10 | Business card magnets |
| 2.75 x 3.5" | About 9 | Save the dates, retro prints |
| 3.25 x 4" | About 4 | Calendars, larger photos |
| 4 x 5" | About 4 | Keepsake prints, announcements |
Counts assume tight nesting with thin cut lines. Allow a little less if you add bleed or trim margins.
Cutting
- Craft knife and metal ruler: cheapest, and precise if you change blades often.
- Rotary trimmer or guillotine: faster and straighter for batches of rectangles.
- Die-cutting machines: handle 0.5 mm with a deep-cut blade and several passes. Test one sheet first.
- Scissors: fine for one-offs, but edges will not be perfectly straight.
A dull blade tears the magnetic layer rather than cutting it. If edges look crumbly, change the blade.
Storing sheets
Store sheets flat, face up, away from heat. Flexible magnet remembers curves, so a rolled sheet will not sit flush on a fridge. Do not stack sheets magnet-to-magnet under weight for long periods, and keep them away from phones, cards with magnetic stripes and hard drives.
Buying checklist
- Thickness: 0.5 mm or 20 mil for photo magnets.
- Size: 8.5 x 11 inches if you print on a home printer.
- Face: plain if you mount photo paper; printable only if you accept thinner, less vivid results.
- Adhesive: only if it is a known-good adhesive rated for indoor temperature swings.
- Quantity: price per sheet drops sharply in packs, so buy for a month of production, not a year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the strongest magnetic sheet?
The thickest one you can practically cut and afford. For fridge photo magnets, strength beyond 0.5 mm rarely matters.
Can I put magnetic sheets through a printer?
Only sheets sold as inkjet printable, and only in a printer that accepts thick media. Plain magnetic sheets should not go through a printer.
Do magnetic sheets stick to stainless steel?
Only if the stainless steel is magnetic, and many fridge doors are not. Test with any magnet.
Are magnetic sheets safe for electronics?
Flexible magnets are weak, but keep them away from cards with magnetic stripes and older hard drives as a precaution.
How do I make photo magnets with magnetic sheets?
Step by step instructions are in how to make photo magnets.