Metal Card Materials Guide: Stainless Steel, Brass, and 24K Gold

A metal card is built from a few core materials, and the three that matter most are stainless steel, brass, and a 24K gold finish. Stainless steel is the durable, silver-toned standard. Brass brings a warmer, gold-toned look and engraves cleanly. A 24K gold finish adds the richest, most luxurious surface of the three. A converted card from us weighs 27 grams in a 0.8mm body, the same footprint as the plastic card you carry now. 

Here is how each material looks, feels, and holds up, so you can pick the one that matches you.

The Core Metal Card Materials

Most metal cards start from one of three materials. Each carries a different look and feel.

Stainless Steel, the Durable Standard

A stainless steel credit card is the most common metal choice, prized for strength and a clean silver tone. Type 304 stainless resists rust, bending, and daily wear, which is why most cards start here. Our stainless build takes a crisp, monochrome engraving and carries real presence in hand.

Brass, Warm and Gold-Toned

Brass carries a rich, warm gold color and is softer than steel, so it engraves cleanly and holds fine detail. Our brass cards come with gold edges for a fuller luxury look. The tone reads warmer than steel, close to classic gold without the cost of a solid-gold card.

24K Gold, the Richest Finish

A gold metal card uses a 24K gold finish over the metal body for the most opulent surface available. Some premium cards on the market use 24-karat gold for exactly this reason. The finish signals luxury at a glance and pairs well with engraving or diamond-style accents.

How the Materials Compare

Each material trades off look, feel, and durability in its own way.

What Stays the Same Across Materials

No matter the metal, every converted card carries your real EMV chip and magnetic stripe through our patented transfer (U.S. Patent No. 11,562,194). Your account number and chip never change. The material shapes the feel and the look, not the way the card works. 

See how the conversion works for the full process.

Weight and Size, Consistent Either Way

Our cards weigh 28 grams of stainless steel or brass in a 0.8mm body, measuring 85.60 by 53.98mm, the standard card footprint. That heft is several times the weight of a plastic card, which sits near 5 grams. The size stays standard, so it fits any wallet slot.

Choosing Your Material

The right pick comes down to the look you want and how you carry. Match the metal to your goal:

• Toughness and a clean silver look, choose stainless steel

• Warm gold tone and crisp engraving, choose brass

• The richest, most luxurious surface, choose a 24K gold finish

Pick Steel for Daily Durability

Choose stainless steel if you want the toughest, lowest-maintenance option with a modern silver look. It handles daily taps, dips, and pocket time without complaint. A preset engraved design in steel is the easiest place to start.

Pick Brass or Gold for Warmth and Status

Choose brass for a warm, gold-toned card that shows fine engraving beautifully, or a 24K gold finish for the richest statement. Both lean further into luxury than steel. Reach for full-color UV printing if you want vivid color layered over the metal instead.

Pick Your Metal

Stainless steel, brass, and 24K gold each carry the same chip, the same account, and the same standard size. The only real choice is the look and feel you want in your hand. Steel for durability, brass for warmth, gold for prestige. 

Browse the full collection of designs and pick the metal that looks like you.

FAQs

What are metal credit cards made of?

Metal credit cards are made from materials such as stainless steel, brass, titanium, palladium, copper, or gold. Stainless steel and brass are the most common for converted cards, with a 24K gold finish available for a richer look. The material changes the weight and appearance, not how the card works.

Is a stainless steel credit card durable?

Yes. A stainless steel credit card, especially Type 304, resists rust, bending, and fading, which makes it one of the toughest card materials. It holds its finish and shape through years of daily carry. Plastic warps and frays far sooner by comparison.

What is the best material for a metal card?

Stainless steel is the best all-around material for most people, balancing strength, a clean look, and easy engraving. Brass suits anyone who wants a warm gold tone with fine detail. A 24K gold finish is the pick for maximum prestige.

Are gold metal cards real gold?

A gold metal card typically uses a 24K gold finish applied over a metal core rather than a solid-gold body. The finish delivers the rich gold look at a fraction of the weight and cost of solid gold. Solid-gold cards exist but are rare and far more expensive.

Does the card material change how it works?

No. Whether your card is stainless steel, brass, or gold-finished, it carries the same EMV chip and magnetic stripe and reads at terminals the same way. Tap runs through a mobile wallet, since the metal card itself does not tap. Your account and chip stay the same.

Which metal card material is the heaviest?

Weight depends more on the build than on the choice between steel and brass, since both standard cards weigh 28 grams. The heaviest option is the Dual EMV Diamond build, which reaches up to 29 grams. For everyday carry, steel and brass feel equally substantial in the hand.