Short answer: Most acrylic ornaments are 3 to 4 in. across and cut from 1/8 in. acrylic, which is light enough for any tree branch. Clear with front or reverse engraving is the classic look; mirror gold, silver, and solid colors work well for cut-out shapes.

What size and thickness to choose

A 3 to 4 in. ornament is the size most people picture. Smaller (2.5 in.) works for kids' names and big batches; larger (5 in. or more) is for a centerpiece ornament or a tree-topper star.

1/8 in. is right for nearly everything. A 3.5 in. clear round in 1/8 in. weighs under an ounce, so it won't bend a branch. Use 3/16 or 1/4 in. for chunky ornaments where the thick edge is part of the look, or for ornaments that also stand on a desk with a slotted base.

Popular styles

Clear engraved

A clear round or shape with a name, year, or design engraved on it. Engraving shows up frosted white, and it glows when tree lights shine through it. Reverse engraving on the back reads correctly from the front and looks deeper.

Cut-out shapes

Snowflakes, stars, trees, animals, or a name cut as a shape in mirror gold, rose gold, silver, or a solid color. Mirror finishes catch the light like glass ornaments without the breakage.

Layered

Two or three layers glued together: a colored back, a clear middle, and a cut-out front. These take a little more work but look hand-built.

Glowing edges

Fluorescent acrylic (1/8 in.) collects light and glows at the edges. Shapes with lots of edge, like snowflakes, look bright even in a dim room. Here's why fluorescent acrylic edges glow.

Hanging holes and hooks

A 1/8 in. hole is big enough for ribbon and standard ornament hooks. Place it at least 3/16 in. from the edge so the bridge of material above it doesn't snap. For a flat ornament on a thin branch, a small loop of ribbon hangs straighter than a wire hook.

Design tips

  • Keep engraved text at least 0.15 in. tall so it reads at arm's length.
  • In cut-out designs, avoid thin points under 1/16 in. wide. Snowflake arms should be at least 1/8 in. wide near the center.
  • For a family set with different names, send one file with all the names. We cut and engrave them in one batch.
  • Mirror acrylic is mirrored only on the front. If the ornament spins, the back shows a plain gray layer; glue two pieces back to back for a two-sided ornament.

Tip: businesses ordering ornaments for clients often go with a clear round, an engraved logo, and the year. It's simple, and it stays on the tree year after year.

Ornaments for businesses and teams

Ornaments make good client gifts and team keepsakes because they're light, cheap to mail, and get displayed every year. A few things make bulk runs go smoothly: keep one shape for the whole batch, put the variable part (names, years, logos) in a spreadsheet, and choose one or two finishes. Packing them flat in sleeves or small boxes keeps the faces from scratching in transit. Quantity discounts apply automatically when you price a batch.

Questions

Can you put a photo on an acrylic ornament?

Engraving turns photos into a frosted, grayscale image. It works best with a simple, high-contrast photo cropped close to the face.

Can acrylic ornaments go outside?

Yes. Acrylic handles rain, snow, and cold well. It gets more brittle in deep cold, so don't drop them on frozen ground.

Ready to make a batch? Upload your design, or describe the ornament and we'll suggest a size and finish.