Custom coasters: which material is right for you?
Answer three questions in order: how long the coasters need to last, how they handle condensation and how your logo will reproduce. The budget follows from there.
One shift, one evening or several years?
Start with the use: one coaster manufacturer suggests asking who will use them, where and for how long [1]. Pulpboard can't be reused and can go soft after extended use [2][3], which is why it belongs in bar service and at events. Thicker board absorbs more and lasts longer [4][1]: a thin sheet is fine for one round of service, while a thicker one gets through an evening or can be kept as a souvenir [4].
For a gift or an office, suppliers describe cork as reusable and longer lasting, but pricier [2][3]. If you prefer a rigid material, a consumer comparison that did not test products points out that diatomite (an absorbent stone) without a backing can scratch soft finishes and that solid wood needs a non-slip pad [5].
Absorb, hold or stick?
According to a printer, pulpboard absorbs because it is uncoated; any coating, gloss or matte, makes water bead up and lets the glass slide [4], so avoid coated board for service. Silicone, rubber and sealed wood don't absorb anything: water sits on the surface or inside the rim until it's cleaned [5][2][3]. Plan on wiping or washing them.
According to a consumer food publication, condensation trapped between two smooth surfaces makes the glass stick; glass, polished stone, resin, metal, glazed ceramic and varnished wood are the most affected, while unglazed ceramic and raw stone avoid the problem [6]. Cork is generally presented as absorbent [2][5], but according to an engraving shop, a polyurethane-type finish cuts down that absorption [7]: ask which finish is applied.
Your logo points to a process, and the process to a material
On uncoated pulpboard, ink sinks into the fibre: according to a printer, solid shapes, strong colours and bold type hold up well, but hairlines and dark photos lose definition, and colours dry more matte than they look on screen [4]. Cork lends itself best to engraving or a simple, high-contrast design, according to two manufacturers, one of coasters and one of laser systems [2][8].
One distributor pairs offset printing with pulpboard, one- to three-colour screen printing with cork and rubber, laser engraving with wood, cork and some stones, and sublimation with full-colour images on ceramic or coated blanks [3]. Multicolour logos need colour printing such as offset or sublimation (confirm other materials); one-colour logos can also be engraved.
Budget is about use, not just unit price
In one distributor's comparison table, the unit cost climbs from pulpboard to cork, rubber, ceramic and then sandstone [3]. It goes down as quantities go up [1][9], and a single colour costs less than a full-colour design, according to a promotional products distributor [10]. Measure the price against how long the coaster will stay in front of people rather than against the unit.
Écran Blanc's advice
For service or an event, an absorbent, uncoated pulpboard in a thickness suited to how long it will be used is often a good place to start. For a gift or an office, look at cork or another reusable, textured material, with a protective backing if it's rigid. Either way, simplify your logo before you ask for a quote.