Portable Bar Showdown: Customized Designs vs. The Portable Bar Company

When investing in a portable bar for your event business, bartending operation, or venue, the choices can be overwhelming. Two major players in the market are Customized Designs (maker of the bars sold at PortableBar.com) and The Portable Bar Company. While both offer folding, LED-compatible portable bars with branding options, the differences in pricing, materials, and long-term usability are significant.

This comparison breaks down the key differences between these two brands so you can decide which portable bar best fits your needs.

1. Price & What You Get

Customized Designs offers its 48″ and 62″ portable bars starting at $1,699 and $1,999 respectively. These prices include:

• LED lighting system (multi-color with remote)

• One custom-printed front panel

• Lightweight aluminum frame

By contrast, The Portable Bar Company’s equivalent models are significantly more expensive:

• Standard Bar (with LEDs): ~$2,838

• Professional Bar (with LEDs): ~$3,751

Their pricing model separates core features like LED lighting and custom graphics as extra-cost upgrades. Once you configure these add-ons, the price difference between brands can exceed $1,500 per unit. If you’re buying multiple units (as many rental companies or venues do), that cost gap quickly multiplies.

2. Shipping & Freight Costs

Shipping costs are often overlooked but can be a major factor, especially for large items like portable bars. (example to Austin, TX. Halfway between the two companies)

• Customized Designs: ~$339 freight shipping

• Portable Bar Company: ~$740+

This is mostly due to weight: Customized Designs uses lightweight aluminum (80–100 lbs), while Portable Bar Company bars use heavy-duty steel (170–270 lbs), which bumps them into higher freight classes.

Bottom line: You could save over $400 per shipment just on freight.

3. Build Quality & Materials

Customized Designs:

• Built in North Carolina, USA

• Aluminum frame (rust-proof and lightweight)

• Acrylic panels, printed in-house

• Modular and customizable

• Optional accessories (speed rails, extra bins, covers)

The Portable Bar Company:

• Steel frame (heavier and more impact-resistant)

• Panels available in vinyl-wrapped or laminated finishes

• Includes more built-in bartender tools by default (ice bins, speed rail, shelf)

• Made overseas and / or assembled in the U.S. from imported parts

Steel can be a plus in static or heavy-use environments, but for mobile operations, the weight becomes a serious drawback. Aluminum, while lighter, still offers solid durability and is much easier to transport and manage.

4. Portability & Setup

Customized Designs Bars:

• Fold down to 8″ thick

• Easy for one or two people to lift into a van or SUV

• Sets up in under 1 minute

• Wheels included for easy rolling

Portable Bar Company Bars:

• Fold to 13–16.5″ thick and stand ~5 feet tall when collapsed

• Much heavier (Standard: 170 lbs, Professional: 270 lbs)

• Set up in 2–5 minutes

• Wheels included, but due to weight, moving them often requires two people or special equipment

If your business depends on quick setups, tight storage space, or solo transport, the lighter design from Customized Designs is a clear advantage.

5. Custom Branding & Lighting

Customized Designs includes:

• Free full-color front graphic

• Direct-UV printing onto the acrylic (no vinyl stickers)

• LED lighting fully integrated and designed to evenly light the entire bar

The Portable Bar Company:

• Graphics are an upcharge (~$355–$595 depending on coverage)

• Vinyl prints (can peel or bubble)

• LED lighting works only with certain panel colors (like translucent white) and is an extra-cost option (~$506)

In short: Customized Designs delivers turnkey branding and lighting out of the box; TPBC requires multiple upgrades to reach the same effect.

6. Customization & Lead Time

Because Customized Designs fabricates and prints in-house, they can handle:

• Custom requests

• Rush orders (3-day shipping option available)

• Flexible accessory add-ons

The Portable Bar Company offers a more fixed product line with longer lead times and fewer customization options. If timing and flexibility matter, Customized Designs has an edge.

7. Use Case Summary

Final Thoughts

Both companies produce professional-grade portable bars, but the best fit depends on your priorities:

• Choose Customized Designs if you want a cost-effective, easy-to-move, American-made bar with customizable features and fast turnaround.

• Choose The Portable Bar Company if you need a heavy-duty tank bar, more rigid setup with all accessories built in and are less concerned about price or portability.

For mobile bartenders, event rental companies, or organizations that move their gear frequently, the lighter build, integrated features, and lower price point of the Customized Designs Bars make it a practical and high-value choice.