Custom metal motel keychains for brands wanting the vintage motel-tag look on a smaller, more substantial metal body instead of plastic. UV printed in full color, sized at 2.5" tall x 1.28" wide (smaller and lighter than the 3.5" plastic version, sized to be carried daily without weighing down your keys), and finished with your choice of gold, silver, or rose gold hardware.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
Why pick the metal version
The metal motel keychain trades plastic for solid metal. You get a heavier, more premium feel in hand and a finish that holds up indefinitely. The tradeoff is size: we keep these at 2.5" because a full 3.5" metal keychain gets pretty heavy and bulky for someone to carry every day. (We can do 3.5" metal on request, just email us for a custom quote.)
Choose the metal motel keychain if your brand wants the motel/hotel keychain aesthetic but needs the substance and durability of metal. Choose the plastic UV printed version if you want the larger 3.5" size at a more economical price.
What you get
- Size: 2.5" tall x 1.28" wide. (3.5" metal is possible on request; gets heavier and bulkier.)
- Material: Solid metal body with full-color UV printing.
- Printing: Full-color UV. Single or double-sided.
- Hardware: Gold, silver, or rose gold. Keyring, lobster claw, or hardware-only.
- Express shipping included
Other motel keychain options we offer
- Plastic UV printed motel keychains, the larger 3.5" plastic version
- Foil-embossed motel keychains, stamped artwork with metallic foil
- Wooden motel keychains, made in the USA
- Patch motel keychains
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector, raster, sketch, Procreate file, whatever you have), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward, so you're not surprised at proof.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about a month to your door. That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Prop 65 compliant on metal-and-enamel keychains, tested for lead and phthalates.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Common questions
Why is the metal version smaller than the plastic version?
Weight. A 3.5" plastic keychain is light enough to carry on your keys daily without thinking about it. A 3.5" metal version weighs significantly more and most people find it bulky. We sized the metal version at 2.5" to keep it usable as an everyday-carry item. The mold for 2.5" is already paid for, so it also keeps the cost down. If you specifically want 3.5" metal, email us for a custom quote.
Can I do print variants on the same shape?
Yes. Simple variants are fine if each variant hits 50 pieces. Lots of low-quantity variants get expensive because of added labor; email us for a quote on complex splits.
Can I add specialty inks like glitter or glow?
Yes, but it requires a custom mold and combines either soft or hard enamel with the printing, which costs more. Email us for an exact quote on specialty inks.
Can you do other shapes or sizes?
We can make hard or soft enamel keychains in this size with a different mold (costs more because two molds are needed). For non-motel shapes, see our custom UV-printed metal keychains.
How long do they take?
About four weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. No rush fees.
Do I see a proof before production?
Yes. Digital proof for review before production is scheduled. Revisions until you approve.
Are motel and hotel keychains the same product?
Yes. Both terms describe the same vintage key-fob shape.
Are these made in the USA?
Metal motel keychains are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. For US-made keychains, see our wooden motel keychains.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
Design Templates
Set up your artwork at the correct size with proper bleed and safe zones using our production templates. Vector files (PDF/AI/EPS) are preferred for clean lines and scaling; raster (PSD) works for full-color artwork at 300dpi.
- Metal Motel Keychain 2.5" Template - Vector (Vector PDF)
- 80x54mm Pin Backing Card (Raster PSD)
- 75x100mm Pin Backing Card (Raster PSD)
