How under $5 compares
The table below shows what your dollar buys you at Under $5 compared to the closest two bands. Compare typical products, branding options, and minimum orders.
| Under $2 | Under $5 | Under $10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical products | Plastic pens, keyrings, basic stress balls | Metal pens, basic drinkware, hi-vis caps | Travel mugs, hi-vis beanies, premium pens |
| Branding included | 1-colour pad / screen print | 1-2 colour print, laser engraving | Multi-colour print, embroidery |
| Typical MOQ | 250-500 | 100-250 | 50-100 |
| Materials | Plastic, light fabric | Metal, stainless steel, fleece | Stainless steel, brushed metal, fleece |
| Perceived value | Low-medium (event swag) | Medium (kept for months) | Medium-high (used daily) |
| Best for | Trade shows, school fundraising | Conference giveaways, client touch-points | Client gifts, employee welcomes |
| Browse | Under $2 → | You are here | Under $10 → |
What buyers use under $5 products for
Conference VIP swag bags
Premium pens, branded notebooks, and a thermal mug — under $5 per item lets you build a $15 swag bag for the right people.
Conference & events →Employee welcome starter kits
Metal pen, branded notebook, and a coffee mug as a new-hire welcome. Three items under $15 total.
Work from home kits →Real estate vendor gifts
A metal pen and branded notebook for the listing presentation. Light enough to leave with every prospect.
Real estate →Trade show booth premium offers
Hand out branded pens to passers-by; reserve hi-vis caps and quality keyrings for qualified leads who hand over a business card.
Point-of-sale displays →15 Best Promotional Products Under $5 in Australia (2026)
Accord Pen — $4.74
A genuine metal pen with a weighted barrel and a satisfying click action. Laser engraving cuts a permanent mark into the metal — a finish that outlasts printed branding.
Albina Series — $3.20
A metal pen series with a smooth twist or click mechanism and several barrel colours. A dependable writing instrument for conference bags and client meetings.
Aji Pen — $6.24
A slimline metal pen suited to a desk or a shirt pocket. The narrow barrel still carries a clear laser-engraved logo down one side.
3 Piece Wax Highlighter — $2.72
A set of three stackable wax highlighters in bright colours — a colourful, low-mess alternative to ink highlighters for students and creative teams.
Hard Hat Keyring White — $2.74
A keyring moulded in the shape of a hard hat. Instantly on-message for construction firms, safety-training providers and trade-event organisers.
Ashton Key Ring — $2.23
A metal keyring with a wide engraving panel and a weighty feel. The kind of item that stays on a keychain because it is genuinely well made.
Accord — $0.90
A chrome-trimmed plastic pen included here as the value anchor — useful for padding a mixed-budget order without dropping the overall quality.
Allbirds Highlighter — $0.68
A chisel-tip highlighter that rounds out a writing-instrument set, giving recipients a reason to keep the whole bundle on the desk.
2in1 Colour Pencil Tube — $1.63
A coloured-pencil tube with an in-lid sharpener — a creative item for education campaigns and family-audience brands.
Activity Pencil Set — $1.02
A compact coloured-pencil set for school fairs, community days and any event where the audience includes children.
How To Order
Browse products and trends on our website
Add items to your cart and get a quote
Send us your logo/artwork then we’ll send you a proof
Review and approve your proof
Confirm your order
That’s it! Your custom products are delivered to your doorstep
Frequently asked questions
Can I get laser engraving at this price?
Yes. Most metal pens and basic stainless drinkware under $5 accept laser engraving. The engraving is permanent and contrasts well against the underlying metal — typically white on stainless, darker on brushed brass.
Can I get multi-colour print at $5?
Yes for digital print on ceramic mugs and wrap-around print on some travel mugs. Pad-printed items stay 1-colour at this band. Your account manager will recommend the right method for each product.
What MOQs apply?
Most items in this band start at 100 units, with some metal pens dropping to 50 and some basic drinkware needing 250.
How long does production take?
Standard production is 10-12 business days from artwork approval for items requiring engraving. Pad-printed items remain 7-10 days.
Are samples available?
Yes — free digital proof, with physical pre-production samples on request. Sample cost credited back against the order.
Is express delivery available?
Express options exist for most items in this band — typically a 3-5 day total turnaround for an additional fee. Call 1300 658 604 for rush quotes.
The shift from $2 to $5: what actually changes
At $5, two things become possible that didn’t exist below $2: laser engraving on metal items, and multi-colour digital print on drinkware and bags. Metal pens, basic stainless drinkware, and proper hi-vis accessories enter the catalogue. Minimum order quantities drop to 100-250 units across most products, which opens the band up to small businesses running their first branded campaign.
The other shift is perceived value. A $0.34 pen reads as disposable; a $4.74 metal pen reads as a corporate gift. The recipient’s expectation of what to do with it changes. That’s the threshold this band crosses.
Branded items that earn their keep at $5
The category leaders in this band are metal pens (Accord Pen, Aji Pen, Albina Series), entry drinkware (ceramic and travel mugs at the upper end of the band), and hi-vis safety accessories. All accept laser engraving for a clean, permanent brand mark that survives daily use.
Quality keyrings — leatherette, brushed metal, two-tone acrylic with insert — also live here. These outperform plastic keyrings on perceived value while still hitting the sub-$5 unit price.
PromoShop insight: In 2025, metal pens were PromoShop’s fastest-growing under-$5 category, with order volume up roughly 28% year-on-year as Australian businesses traded up from plastic.
When $5 is the right anchor for your campaign
Use the $5 band when the recipient needs to feel that something has been given to them, not just handed out. Conference VIP bags, real-estate vendor gifts, employee welcome starter kits, small business open-day giveaways. The unit cost is low enough to run 200-500 units; the perceived value is high enough to be kept and used.