Those metal bottle caps from drinks and jars are too pretty to bin — flattened, decorated, and backed with a magnet, they become sturdy little fridge magnets that hold photos, shopping lists, and kids' drawings. All you need is a hammer, a small magnet, and some strong glue. One bottle cap takes about a minute to make, and the results look genuinely good on the fridge door.
What You'll Need
- Metal bottle caps (drinks, jars, or sauce bottles — the fluted ones work best)
- Small round magnets (craft magnets from any stationery shop, or salvaged from old fridge magnets)
- Strong glue: hot glue works instantly; super glue or epoxy is stronger for heavier items
- A hammer and a flat hard surface (to flatten the caps)
- Optional: paint, stickers, or photos to decorate the inside of the caps
The 10-Minute Method
- Wash and dry the caps. Soak them in hot soapy water to remove sticky residue, then dry completely. Glue won't stick to a greasy cap.
- Flatten them with a hammer. Place a cap fluted-side down on a hard surface and give it two or three firm taps. You want it mostly flat but still slightly domed — a gentle curve makes a nicer magnet than a pancake.
- Glue the magnet inside the cap. Put a generous dot of hot glue or a drop of super glue in the centre of the cap's underside and press the magnet in firmly. Hold for 30 seconds.
- Let it cure. Hot glue sets in a minute; super glue and epoxy need a few hours for full strength. Don't hang anything heavy on them before they're cured.
- Decorate (optional). The inside of the cap — the part that faces out — is a perfect little frame. Stick in a tiny photo, a sticker, or paint it with nail polish for a pop of colour.
Why Are These So Popular?
Bottle cap magnets have been a viral craft for years because they hit the sweet spot: practically free, genuinely useful, and personal. Kids can make them with supervision (an adult handles the hammering and hot glue). They make great party favours, stocking stuffers, or gifts for grandparents — a photo inside a cap magnet turns it into something people actually keep. And unlike flimsy promotional magnets, a metal cap magnet is strong enough to hold several sheets of paper.
How Strong Can They Be?
- One small magnet holds a photo or a shopping list easily.
- For thicker stacks, glue two magnets inside the cap instead of one — the hold doubles.
- Test before trusting. Hang the magnet on the fridge and tug gently. If it slides, add a stronger magnet rather than more glue.
FAQ
Will these scratch my fridge? Flattened caps are smooth underneath, but a rough edge can mark paint. Run your finger around the rim — if you feel anything sharp, file it lightly or add a small felt dot.
Can I use plastic bottle caps? Metal caps are much better: they're flatter, stronger, and the magnet glues to them securely. Plastic caps are too domed and the glue bond is weaker.
What glue works best? Hot glue is fastest and fine for light duty. For magnets that will hold heavier items long-term, epoxy or super glue forms a much stronger bond to metal.
Where do I get strong small magnets? Craft and stationery shops sell them cheaply, or peel apart old magnetic photo frames. Avoid the thin flexible magnetic sheets — they're too weak for this.
If you love putting magnets to work in the kitchen, you'll like our magnetic spice jars on the fridge — the same idea, scaled up for serious storage. And since bottle caps come from bottles anyway, check out the plastic bottle hanging herb planter and the DIY sink sponge holder from a plastic bottle for more trash-to-treasure kitchen projects.