Metallised Bottles: the Shiny Finish That Costs 3,000 pcs
By Joe Joo · 8PCK · Shantou · Updated 26 October 2026
Metallising gives a mirror finish by vacuum-depositing aluminium. It starts at 3,000 pcs, adds a week, and changes the recycling story.
Metallising deposits a thin aluminium layer on the surface. The look is unmistakable; the cost and the recycling consequences are less obvious.
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Why the Minimum Is 3,000
The parts are racked and coated in a vacuum chamber, so the set-up is volume-based. Small runs are possible but the per-piece cost rises steeply.
Gold and Silver
The two standard shades; others are tinted coats.
Partial Metallising
Masked areas; more handling, higher cost.
Recycling
A metallised bottle is a coated plastic bottle: the coating makes the pack harder to sort and usually rules out a recyclability claim.
Where It Goes Wrong
Fingerprints and scratches show immediately. Matte-lacquered metallising is the usual fix for handles.
How to Specify It
What separates a good metallising order from a bad one is the sample and the standard, not the catalogue photo.
Ask for Two Batches
Batch-to-batch variation is the usual complaint; compare two physical samples, not photos.
State the Light
Look at the sample under shop lighting, not office lighting.
Write the Acceptance
A visual standard plus a physical master sample is what a factory can actually match.
What It Does to the Claim
Any metallising changes what the pack can claim about recycling. Decide the claim before the finish, not after.
Questions We Get on This
What is the minimum order for metallising?
3,000 pcs, with 7–10 days added to lead time.
Can metallised bottles be recycled?
Poorly; the metal layer complicates sorting and usually rules out a recyclability claim.
Does it scratch?
Yes — specify a protective lacquer if the pack is handled.
What is the MOQ?
3,000 pcs.
Does metallising change the MOQ?
Usually yes — most finishes start at 1,000 or 3,000 pcs; check before designing the range.
Can I see a sample first?
Yes: 7 days on stock moulds, with the finish applied.
Does it affect recycling?
Often — coatings and pigments can put the pack outside the standard stream.
Sizes That Fit This Guide
Get a Price on This, Within One Business Day
Tell us the capacity, the neck and the quantity. You get unit price, lead time and a sample plan — not a catalogue.
Every batch is gauged at the neck and weighed. The documents travel with the shipment.