The Best Push Pins

Because push pins are so handy, it's nice to have a variety around the house. Also known as thumbtacks, you can use these pins to hang papers on bulletin boards, complete craft projects, and decorate your home. Push pins are generally inexpensive, so you can pick up a couple of different packs to meet all of your decorative and practical needs. When it comes to deciding which kind to buy – functional pins? Cute printed pins? A mix of the two? – it can be helpful to have a list of the best options available to narrow down the selection. For that reason, we took the time to review a few of our favorites, so no matter what you need push pins for, you'll have a quality option to go with.

AmazonBasics Push Pins

Hardly Notice They're There

These push pins have a clear plastic head so they're inconspicuous on your walls.
Best Overall

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If you want to draw your guests’ eyes to the objects you have hanging instead of what they’re being held up with, these clear push pins are a great option. Thanks to their transparent construction, they blend into nearly any background so that they don’t stand out. With this set, you get 200 push pins with a clear plastic head. They have a strong steel point that’s 3/8″.

The large head is 1/2″ (which is fairly large), so they’re easy to grab. You can push these into the wall without struggle and pull them out again without a problem. If you’re mindful when you use them, you can get many uses out of them. It’s also worth nothing that they come in a clear plastic container with a lid for convenient storage.

Pros

  • Standard size, so you can easily push them in and pull them out
  • Container has a screw top, so they store without falling out
  • Transparent head that looks professional hanging on your walls or bulletin board

Cons

  • If you push too hard, the plastic head will snap off and you won’t be able to use that push pin again. Your gentleness will be rewarded

Seven YJ. Decorative Push Pins

Pretty Designs

Here's a push pin with a decorative head that'll look great no matter where you stick it.
Best Decorative

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The philosophy behind these decorative pins is that push pins don’t have to be plain. Beautifully crafted, you can select between several different designs, including flowers, bees, and pretty rose gold balls that’ll look amazing in a more dainty workspace. No matter which style you pick, you’ll get 24 push pins in a plastic container.

Each shape is a slightly different size, so make sure you read the specs to ensure the push pins will work for your needs. They work well on bulletin boards and to use to mark maps. These are sturdy, so you can put a little bit of pressure on them to get them in place.

Pros

  • Cute designs options that’ll add a touch of color to your workspace
  • Clear plastic container with lid to keep them from spilling all over your drawer
  • Sturdy design, so they will hold up to a lot of use

Cons

  • The head is a little larger than most standard push pins, so they take up a bit more space

Mr. Pen Thumb Tack

No Nonsense

You'll get many uses out of these rust- and corrosion-resistant push pins.
Best Flat

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Do you prefer a flat style of push pin? With this set, you get 500 for one great price. They’re very inexpensive per pin. They are made from a rust-resistant steel that will still look nice after many uses.

As they push in firmly and don’t have a large head sticking out, these push pins are perfect for crafts. You can use them to create word art, make designs on canvases, and more; however, with that said, crafts aren’t the only reason to keep a box of these push pins around. They work great for hanging papers on bulletin boards, marking maps, or tacking art prints to the wall. Thanks to their no-frills simplicity, you’ll find a lot of ways to use these.

Pros

  • Flat head that has a low profile so that it doesn’t stick out of the wall as far
  • Perfect for crafts, so you can create all sorts of beautiful things to decorate with
  • Budget-friendly option with a great price per pin, so you spend less and get more

Cons

  • These come in a flimsy plastic container that can break easily, so you may want to pick up a solid container for them

Outus Wooden Clips Push Pins

Domestic Hybrid

At first glance, these are typical clothes pins; however, look closer and see that they double as push pins, too.
Best for Displays

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What if you want to hang a picture or paper, but don’t want to poke holes in it? These push pins are the perfect solution. They have a small clothespin attached, so you can clip your papers instead of stabbing them. The pin portion is about 0.39″ long, so they’ll go firmly into a cork board. The clip portion is a little small – each one measures 1.4″ in length. They’ll hold any lightweight object, such as a photograph, memo, or a document.

You can choose between a pack of 36 or a pack of 100. Both sets come in a nice plastic box that will keep your push pins contained. The wooden clip is durable, so you can reuse the pins multiple times.

Pros

  • Don’t leave holes in paper, so they’re great for keepsakes and important documents
  • Allows you to create fun displays in your home, school, or office that you can easily swap out
  • Quality container with lid that you can reuse again and again

Cons

  • These are designed for cork boards or bulletin boards, not for drywall. You might break them trying to push them into a hard surface

Coideal Colored Map Thumb Tacks

A Dozen Colors

You'll get 600 push pins in 12 different colors with this set, so you'll always have some on hand.
Best Colors

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Do you need a lot of push pins? If so, feast your eyes on this 600-pack. It touts 12 different colorways (six transparent, six opaque), each with 50 pins. It’s a great variety.

The push pins arrive in a sturdy plastic container that’s divided inside so you can keep them organized by color. They are standard size, with a 1/2″ plastic head. They’re easy to get in and out. There are sharp tips that glide easily into most surfaces. The plastic is high-quality, too, so they’re less likely to break going into hard surfaces, if you go slowly.

Pros

  • Includes 600 pins so you’ll have a lot of them on hand
  • 12 different colors so you can use them to color code a bulletin board if desired
  • Durable plastic container that has a different space for each color so it’s easier to pull out exactly the ones you want

Cons

  • The ends are very sharp on these, so you can get hurt if you aren’t careful

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use push pins in rental homes?

Many rental agreements will allow you to use push pins. The pin portion is thin and narrow, and doesn’t cause much damage to the walls. Since push pins don’t go in deep, the hole left behind is very hard to see. It’s not like hammering a nail into the wall and having a huge hole in its place. However, each landlord is different. You will want to get permission before you hang anything on the walls to avoid any unexpected fees when you move out.

How do you store push pins?

When you store push pins, you want to make sure they don’t spill. If they do, you risk poking your thumb or finger when you reach in to grab one. Always store push pins in a solid container with a lid. If your push pins come in a flimsy container, consider moving them into something else. Some people have luck storing push pins in clean baby food jars or mason jars. You can also look for push pins that come in a reusable container. Then you won’t have any added expense for storage.