“Button” covers a surprising range — from a featherweight shell disc on a silk blouse to a hammered metal tack on a pair of jeans. Buttons differ in two main ways: what they're made of, and how they attach. Here's the complete map, with where each one belongs and where to find it.
The short version
Pick the material for look, feel, and price tier — natural (horn, shell, corozo, wood) for character, synthetic (polyester, urea) for consistency, metal and glass for statement. Pick the attachment for the garment — sew-through for most things, shank for thick fabrics and coats, toggle for outerwear, tack for denim.
Buttons by material
The material sets the character. Natural materials bring variation and warmth; synthetics bring uniform color and value.
H
Horn
Warm, marbled water-buffalo horn. Tailoring, blazers, outerwear.
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S
Shell
Iridescent mother-of-pearl, agoya, troca. Shirting and eveningwear.
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C
Corozo
Tagua-nut “vegetable ivory.” Dye-friendly, sustainable shirting.
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Co
Coconut
Earthy, light, sustainable. Casual and resort wear.
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O
Olive Wood
Natural grain, renewable. Heritage and craft pieces.
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B
Bamboo
Renewable and light. Eco-conscious designs.
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U
Urea Resin
Durable and heat-resistant. Shirting and suiting.
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P
Polyester
Consistent color, any finish. Built for production volume.
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M
Metal
Brass, nickel, antique finishes. Blazers, uniforms, workwear.
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G
Glass
Rhinestone and jewel tones. Eveningwear and accessories.
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Pe
Pearl
Freshwater and faux pearl. Refined shirting and blouses.
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E
Eco-Friendly
Corozo, wood, recycled materials. Sustainable sourcing.
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Still weighing the naturals? Our guide to corozo vs. horn vs. shell breaks down how each wears.
Buttons by attachment
How a button fastens matters as much as what it's made of — match it to the garment's weight and use.
Sew-through (2- and 4-hole)
The classic flat button, stitched through holes on the face. The default for shirts, blouses, and most garments. New to it? See how to sew on a button.
Shank
A loop on the back instead of face holes, so the button sits proud of the fabric — ideal for thick materials, coats, and knitwear. Shop shank buttons →
Toggle
Elongated, barrel-shaped closures for duffle coats, cardigans, and outerwear. Shop toggles →
Jean & tack
Hammered-on metal hardware for denim and workwear — no sewing required. Shop jean buttons →
Buttons by size
Within every type, size is measured in ligne (L). Dress shirts run about 16–18L, jacket fronts 32–36L, and coats 36–45L. Our button size chart converts ligne to millimeters and lists the right size for every garment.
Find your button
Browse every material and style by the piece or by the gross — or have any of them dyed to your exact color.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of buttons?
Buttons are grouped two ways: by material (horn, shell, corozo, wood, metal, glass, pearl, polyester, and more) and by attachment (sew-through with 2 or 4 holes, shank, toggle, and tack/jean). Most garments use sew-through; coats and thick fabrics use shank.
What's the difference between sew-through and shank buttons?
A sew-through button has holes on its face and is stitched flat to the fabric. A shank button has a loop on the back, so it sits raised above the fabric — better for thick materials and coats where the button needs room to fasten.
What button material is best for dress shirts?
Mother-of-pearl and agoya shell are the classic luxury choice, while corozo is the dye-friendly, sustainable workhorse. Both look refined at the 16–18L sizes typical of shirting.
What size buttons should I use?
It depends on the garment — roughly 16–18L for dress shirts, 32–36L for jacket fronts, 36–45L for coats. See our
button size chart for the full breakdown.
