15 Backpack Charm Ideas: Easy DIY + Where to Find the Cutest Ones

If your kid has come home asking for those little charms hanging off everybody’s backpack, you’re not imagining it — they’re everywhere right now. And like most trends that hit around back-to-school, the store-bought versions can add up fast when your kid wants six of them.

So here’s the good news: some of the cutest backpack charms are ones you can make yourself for a couple of dollars, and the ready-made ones don’t have to break the bank either. I’ve been rounding these up all season, and I pulled together my favorites here — the easy DIY ones first (because free is my favorite price), then the ones worth buying.

Let’s get into it.

Why backpack charms are having a moment

Part of it is just that kids love making a backpack theirs. A charm or two turns a plain bag into something with a little personality — and it’s a low-cost way to let them do that without buying a whole new backpack every year.

The other part is that they’re genuinely useful for spotting your kid’s bag in a sea of identical ones on the hook. (Anyone who’s dug through a pile of near-identical backpacks at pickup knows exactly what I mean.)

Either way, they’re cheap, they’re cute, and half of them you can make at your kitchen table on a rainy afternoon.

Easy DIY backpack charms (my favorite budget option)

This is where the real savings are. Most of these use supplies you might already have in a craft drawer, and they make great little “get the kids off screens for an hour” projects too.

1. Beaded name or word charms. A few pony beads or letter beads on a keyring, spelling out a name or a favorite word. Cheap, endlessly customizable, and little hands can do most of it themselves.

2. Zipper-pull charms. Clip a small charm or a cluster of beads right onto the zipper pull. This is the easiest one on the list — genuinely a two-minute project.

3. Crochet charms. If you crochet (or want an excuse to learn a quick pattern), tiny crocheted fruits, animals, or hearts make the sweetest charms. [Personal note: mention if you’ve made one, or link a simple free pattern.]

4. Pom-pom keychains. Yarn scraps + a pom-pom maker (or a fork). Fluffy, colorful, and basically free if you already have yarn.

5. Shrink-plastic charms. Kids draw a design, you shrink it in the oven, and suddenly they have a one-of-a-kind charm they made themselves. Feels like magic to little ones.

6. Ribbon & bead tassels. A little bundle of ribbon and beads tied to a clasp — very “aesthetic” backpack energy for the older kids.

7. Friendship-bracelet charms. Braid a short embroidery-floss bracelet, add a clasp, and clip it on. If your kid already makes these, they’ve basically been making charms this whole time.

8. Air-dry clay charms. Roll, shape, poke a hole with a toothpick, let it dry, then paint. Little hearts, stars, and tiny animals all work — no kiln, no baking, just a day to dry.

9. No-sew felt shapes. Cut two matching felt shapes, glue the edges with fabric glue, sandwich a keyring loop between them. A felt strawberry or a little chicken is very us. 🐓

10. Button-stack charms. Thread a few mismatched buttons from the button jar onto a headpin or wire, curl the top into a loop, and clip. Pure upcycle — costs nothing and clears out the odds-and-ends drawer.

11. Fabric-scrap tassels. Cut thin strips from an old shirt or fabric scrap, bundle, tie at the top, add a clasp. Great way to use up scraps and it matches the cottagecore look.

12. Painted wooden-bead charms. Grab a few unfinished wooden beads, paint or wood-burn a simple design, string them on a keyring. Sturdy, natural-looking, and they hold up to being dragged around all year.

Frugal tip: Buy a big mixed bag of clasps, keyrings, and lobster clips once at the start of the year. It’s a few dollars for enough hardware to make charms all season — way cheaper than buying them one at a time.

Where to find the cutest ready-made charms

Not in a DIY mood? Totally fair. These are the ones I’ve actually picked up and liked — I did short videos on a few of these, so you can see them in action.

The Halloween charm with a hidden zippered pocket. This one surprised me — it’s a cute little Halloween charm, but it actually unzips into a tiny pocket. Perfect for tucking in lunch money, a note, or a bit of lip balm so it doesn’t rattle around the bottom of the bag.This is actually going to be my little Aldi quarter bag. How fun to change it up for each season.

If you want it for fall, I’d grab it soon — the seasonal ones tend to sell out once October hits.

The mini JanSport backpack charm. It’s a teeny version of the classic backpack, and it’s honestly adorable — looks just like the real thing shrunk down. This is the one for the older kids who want the “aesthetic” look without a pile of charms. I loved Jansport as a kid, so it brings that nostalgia, plus this one can fit earbuds, ligloss. Grab it on Amazon here.

The Minion charm. Instant kid magnet. If you’ve got a little one who lights up at Minions, this is a no-brainer — It’s soft, squishy, and a bit bigger than the others mentioned so far. It clips on easy and it’s the kind of thing they’ll show every friend at the bus stop.

The little football plush charm (Jellycat dupe). Okay, this one’s my favorite — a soft little squishy football that gives Jellycat vibes for a fraction of the price. Football season timing is a chef’s kiss, and if you’ve got a little Bills fan in the house, as I do, it’s a perfect bag topper. Plus, if you are new to Palm Pals, they are so good quality for the price.

Backpack charm ideas by kid & style

Not every kid wants the same thing, so here’s a quick way to match the charm to the kid:

For boys. Skip the assumption that charms are just a girl thing — sports charms, dinosaurs, gaming-themed clips, and carabiners with a mini gadget all go over great.

For the aesthetic / older kids. Think matching color palettes, beaded tassels, and one or two “statement” charms rather than a pile. Less is more for this crowd.

For little ones. Bigger, chunkier charms are easier for small hands to clip and unclip — and less of a choking-hazard worry with the tiniest kids.

How to attach them so they don’t fall off

The number one complaint with backpack charms is losing them. A few things that actually help:

• Use a lobster clasp or lockable keyring, not an open jump ring — open rings snag and slide off.
• Attach to a fixed loop or D-ring on the bag rather than the zipper pull if it’s a charm your kid would be sad to lose.
• For anything precious, a tiny dab of clear nail polish on the ring joint keeps it from working open.

A few quick do’s & don’ts

Do let your kid pick — the whole point is that it’s theirs. Do keep a couple of spare clasps around; you’ll be reattaching things all year. Don’t overload a cheap zipper pull with heavy charms — it’ll pull the zipper apart over time. Don’t spend a fortune. Two or three charms is plenty, and the DIY ones cost pennies.

Backpack charm FAQ

How do you make DIY backpack charms? The easiest way is beads or a small charm on a keyring or lobster clasp. String your beads, add a clasp, and clip it on — no special skills needed. Shrink plastic, crochet, and pom-poms are great next steps once you’ve got the basics.

What can I use to attach charms to a backpack? Lobster clasps, lockable keyrings, and small carabiners all work well. Attach to a D-ring or fixed loop for anything you don’t want to lose.

Are backpack charms just a trend? They’ve had a big moment around back-to-school, but customizing a backpack with a charm or two has staying power — it’s a cheap, easy way for kids to make a plain bag their own year-round.

Where can I buy cute backpack charms? I grabbed a bunch on TikTok Shop, but you can check out Amazon, Target, and Walmart too. There are adorable affordable options out there — no need to overspend.

Grab a couple, make a couple, call it done

That’s the beauty of backpack charms: you can make a few at the kitchen table, grab one or two cute ones you love, and your kid gets a bag that feels like theirs — all without spending much at all. Very much my kind of project.

I’ll be heading out to Dollar Tree this week to see if they have any in stock since they are gaining popularity and I’ll update the post.

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Loving these budget back-to-school ideas? Check out more tips on how to teach your kids how to budget for back-to-school stuff.