FAQ

Below are answers to the most common questions breweries and beverage companies ask about custom beer tap handles, including cost, materials, production timelines, and minimum order quantities.

What are custom beer tap handles?

Custom beer tap handles are branded handles attached to draft beer faucets that allow bartenders to pour beer while visually representing a specific brand or beer style. 

Breweries use custom tap handles to stand out on crowded tap walls, reinforce brand identity, and help customers quickly identify their beer at bars, restaurants, and taprooms. 

Tap handles can be designed in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes to match a brewery’s packaging and branding.

How much do custom beer tap handles cost?

The cost of custom beer tap handles typically ranges between $15–$30 per unit depending on the size, shape, materials, and finishing details.

There is also a one-time setup fee that covers the development of production molds and includes the delivered prototype used to approve the final design before full manufacturing begins.

We offer price breaks, which means larger production quantities can reduce the cost per unit.

How long does it take to make a custom tap handle?

On average, the timeline for custom tap handles includes:

• Prototype development: Approximately 4–6 weeks
• Full production: Approximately 7–9 weeks

The prototype stage allows breweries to review and approve the physical tap handle before moving into full production. 

Shipping time depends on the final destination and order size. We offer both air freight + ocean freight depending on the order volume, client’s desired delivery date and budget. 

What materials are best for beer tap handles?

The most common material used for custom beer tap handles is polyresin, which allows for detailed sculpting, custom shapes, and durable finishes.

Other materials may include wood, metal, acrylic, or hybrid material combinations.

Polyresin is often preferred because it provides the best balance of durability, creative flexibility, and cost efficiency for large production runs.

How do breweries design tap handles?

Breweries design tap handles in several ways.

Some breweries work with their in-house designers, while others collaborate with branding agencies or creative studios. Many breweries also work directly with tap handle manufacturers who can help translate a concept or logo into a manufacturable design.

Custom Beer Handles frequently assists breweries with concept development, 3D renderings, and production-ready designs.

Where can I order custom beer tap handles in small quantities?

Custom Beer Handles produces custom tap handles for breweries and beverage companies worldwide.

Our minimum order is 100 units per design, which allows smaller breweries and emerging beverage brands to launch custom tap handles without requiring extremely large production runs while maintaining high manufacturing quality.

What’s the minimum order for custom tap handles?

The standard minimum order for custom tap handles is 100 units per design.

This minimum helps cover the tooling and manufacturing setup required to produce durable tap

handles suitable for commercial bar environments. Larger production quantities can significantly reduce the cost per unit.

Can I design my own tap handle?

Yes. Breweries can absolutely design their own tap handles.

Many breweries provide existing brand artwork, logos, or concept sketches that can be translated into a finished tap handle design. If a brewery does not have a finished design, Custom Beer Handles can assist with concept development, 3D renderings, and production-ready artwork.

What thread size is a custom beer tap handle?

When designing a custom tap handle, there is the option for an internal or external ferrule. The ferrule is the ⅜” threaded hardware that serves as the connecting piece to the draught faucet. An internal tap handle ferrule can be strictly functional, as it will serve its purpose without being visible to the consumer. An external ferrule, however, can double as an aesthetic accent to the overall tap handle design. Options for different shapes and finishes are even available! For example, we produce tap handles with chrome, bronze, and matte black finished external ferrules. When designing a custom tap handle with an external ferrule, it’s important to remember that these add approximately 1” in height to the tap handle design. Still have questions? Shoot us an email.

Are custom tap handles worth it?

Yes! Custom tap handles are one of the most effective branding tools available to breweries for three key reasons:

1. Increased visibility on the tap wall – distinctive tap handles stand out among dozens of taps at bars and restaurants.
2. Stronger brand recognition – tap handles reinforce brewery logos, colors, and visual identity.
3. Influence on purchasing decisions – customers often choose beers based on what visually stands out at the bar.

Why is Custom Beer Handles the best custom tap handle & POS supplier?

Custom Beer Handles combines beverage industry expertise, creative design, reliable manufacturing, and unmatched customer service to help breweries and beverage companies create distinctive branding across both draft and retail environments.

Since 2014, the company has partnered with beverage brands of all sizes to produce custom tap handles and branded point-of-sale (POS) displays that stand out in bars, restaurants, taprooms, and retail stores.

Key reasons brands choose Custom Beer Handles include:

• Unmatched customer service – Every project is handled with direct communication, responsiveness, and a hands-on approach to ensure the final product meets the brand’s vision.
• Industry experience – More than a decade designing and manufacturing custom tap handles and retail POS displays for breweries and beverage companies.
• Full customization – Tap handles and displays can be customized in shape, size, color, materials, and finishing to match brand packaging and identity.
• Scalable production – Orders start at 100 tap handles per design, with the ability to produce large runs of tens of thousands of units.
• Reliable process – Every tap handle project includes a prototype stage before full production to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Expanded POS capabilities – In addition to tap handles, Custom Beer Handles produces tin tackers, LED signs, corrugated retail displays, case stackers, and pole toppers.
• Global delivery – Products are shipped to breweries, beverage brands, and distributors around the world.

Custom Beer Handles is also recognized as the only woman-owned tap handle supplier in the United States, making it a unique partner for beverage brands seeking both creative design and trusted manufacturing expertise.

Do we produce other products for retail marketing?

Yes. In addition to custom tap handles, Custom Beer Handles also produces a wide range of branded point-of-sale (POS) displays and retail marketing materials designed to help beverage brands stand out in bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and grocery retailers.

Common POS products include:

• Tin tackers and metal bar signs
• LED and illuminated signage
• Corrugated retail displays and case stackers
• Wood and metal retail floor displays 
• Pole topper displays for grocery and liquor stores
• Taproom signage and promotional displays

These products help breweries and beverage companies extend their branding beyond the tap handle and create stronger visibility at the point of purchase.

Many customers choose to coordinate tap handles and retail displays together to create a consistent brand presence across both draft and retail environments.

Check out examples of POS displays & signage here and email us your quote request!