Engraved vs. UV Color Metal Cards: Full Pricing Breakdown

A custom metal card cost breakdown comes down to two choices: engraved or UV color. Engraved metal cards start at $99 for a preset design on stainless steel or brass, with laser-etched linework that sits permanently in the metal. UV color metal cards start at $125 for a preset design with full-color, photo-quality printing cured onto the same 28-gram body. Both builds run on the same patented EMV chip transplant (U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194), so the difference is not in function. The difference is finish, aesthetics, and what you pay for each.

What Each Build Costs

Metal card pricing splits across three tiers: preset designs, custom designs, and add-ons.

Preset Engraved Metal Cards

A preset engraved metal card costs $99. That covers your choice from over 106 designs, the patented chip transplant, a prepaid shipping label, and worldwide delivery. The laser cuts your design into stainless steel or brass at 0.8mm thick and 28 grams, nearly five times a standard plastic card. Linework, logos, and illustrations sit in the metal itself, so nothing peels, chips, or fades.

Preset UV Color Metal Cards

A preset UV color metal card costs $125. Same patented conversion. Same 28-gram metal body. Same worldwide shipping. The difference is full-color printing cured onto the surface, reproducing gradients, character art, and photography at photo quality. The $26 gap in engraved vs. UV metal card price reflects the added production step: UV printing lays color onto the metal before curing, while engraving removes metal to form the design.

Custom Design Pricing

Both custom engraved and custom UV color builds start at $99 through the design-your-own route. You bring your own artwork, logo, or photograph, and the team builds a mockup you approve before production. Custom builds include the same patented conversion and worldwide shipping as presets, making custom UV color $26 less than its preset equivalent.

Engraved vs. UV Color at a Glance

Here is how the two finishes compare across the factors that shape your decision. Our full engraving vs. UV printing breakdown covers the production methods behind each.

Add-Ons That Shape Your Final Cost

The base price is only part of the picture. Several upgrades change your total.

• Tap to Pay (+$50) - Adds contactless functionality for a total of $149 on a custom build. A compatible chip is required.
• Diamond Cards (from $199) - Genuine VS1 diamonds, hand-set into the card face. The highest-tier build Lion Card offers.
• Optional insurance (2-year or 4-year plans) - Covers up to two replacements with a $25 deductible. Must be added at checkout.
• International shipping ($65 flat) - FedEx International Priority with tracking. A prepaid USPS First Class label covers domestic shipping.

The Bottom Line

Whether you start at $99 for an engraved build or $125 for a preset UV color card, every conversion runs on the same patented process, the same 28-gram metal body, and the same 30-day guarantee. Engraving suits clean linework and timeless monochrome. UV color suits vibrant artwork and photography. Pick your finish, design your card or browse the full collection, and decide what it should say about you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the price difference between engraved and full-color metal card conversion?

A preset engraved metal card costs $99, while a preset UV color metal card costs $125. The $26 difference covers the additional UV printing and curing process that lays full-color artwork onto the metal surface. Custom versions of both start at $99.

Is UV printing more expensive than engraving?

For preset designs, yes. Preset UV color cards run $125 compared to $99 for engraved. For custom designs where you bring your own artwork, both start at $99.

How much does a custom metal card cost with add-ons?

A custom engraved or UV color card starts at $99. Adding Tap to Pay brings the total to $149.

Diamond builds start at 199 with genuine VS1 stones. Optional insurance and international shipping ($65 flat) add to that.

How do you turn a plastic card into a metal card?

You order your design, receive a prepaid shipping label, and mail in your plastic card. Lion Card transplants the EMV chip and magnetic stripe data into a 28-gram stainless steel or brass body using a process protected by U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194. You approve a mockup before production, and both cards are returned with tracking.

Are metal cards safe to use?

Lion Card does not store, share, or sell your card information. Data is used only during the transfer and permanently deleted once complete. SSL encryption protects checkout, and Lion Card never asks for your PIN, Social Security number, or banking password.

Do metal cards work in every machine?

Metal cards work with chip insert and magnetic swipe at any terminal your original card accepted. Avoid readers that pull the card fully inside, since the rigid metal body may not eject smoothly. For contactless payments, add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.