Organizing a successful marathon, school tournament, or corporate award ceremony takes months of planning. Among all the details, the custom medals are often the most anticipated reward for the participants. A heavy, well-designed medal not only celebrates achievement but also acts as a lasting advertisement for your event.
However, if you have never ordered from a sports medal manufacturer before, the process might seem complicated. What material should you choose? Should you go for 2D or 3D? How long does production take?
As an experienced custom medals manufacturer for events, XXMetals has helped thousands of organizers worldwide. In this complete buyer’s guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of ordering custom medals so you can get the best quality within your budget and timeline.
Step 1: Define Your Event Type and Design Concept
Before contacting an award medal supplier, you need a basic idea of what you want. The style of the medal usually depends on the event:
- Sports & Race Events (Marathons, Cycling, 5K Runs): These usually require large, heavy medals. Custom race medals often feature dynamic cut-out designs, 3D relief (raised metal), and vibrant enamel colors.
- School & Academic Awards: These tend to be more traditional and classic. They often feature the school’s crest, a shiny gold/silver/bronze plating, and a clean, flat 2D design.
- Corporate & Commemorative Awards: Usually highly polished, featuring hard enamel or elegant antique finishes to give a premium, high-value feel.
Pro Tip: You don’t need a perfect design file to start. At XXMetals, you can send us a sketch or a reference photo, and our design team will provide a free digital artwork proof.
Step 2: Choose Between 2D and 3D Medal Designs
Understanding the difference between 2D and 3D designs is crucial for your budget and the final look of the medal.
- 2D Custom Medals: The surface has two levels—raised metal and recessed areas (which can be filled with soft enamel or hard enamel colors). This is the most popular and cost-effective option, perfect for logos, texts, and flat graphics.
- 3D Custom Medals: The metal is sculpted with multiple curved levels, making it look like a miniature statue. This process (usually Die Cast Zinc Alloy) is highly recommended for designs featuring human faces, animals, buildings, or complex landscapes.
Step 3: Select the Right Material and Plating Finish
As a direct factory, XXMetals offers several materials. For custom medals, the most common materials are Zinc Alloy (best for large, thick, or 3D medals) and Iron/Brass (great for standard 2D enamel medals).
Once the material is chosen, you need to select the plating finish. Your plating choice will completely change the vibe of the medal:
- Shiny Finishes: Shiny Gold, Silver, and Copper. (Great for standard 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards).
- Antique Finishes: Antique Gold, Antique Silver, and Antique Bronze. (Highly recommended for 3D medals, as the dark recessed areas make the 3D details pop out beautifully).
- Dual Plating: Combining gold and silver on the same medal for a highly premium, luxury look.
Step 4: Don’t Forget the Custom Ribbon (Lanyard)
A custom medal is not complete without a high-quality neck ribbon. When ordering from a professional custom medals manufacturer, you can customize the ribbon just as much as the medal itself.
- Standard Solid Color Ribbons: Affordable and fast.
- Custom Printed Ribbons: We can use silk-screen printing or heat-transfer (sublimation) printing to add your event name, year, and sponsor logos directly onto the ribbon. This is a huge value-add for event sponsors!
Step 5: Plan Your Lead Time and Budget
One of the biggest mistakes event organizers make is ordering too late. Custom manufacturing takes time. Here is a realistic timeline you should expect when working with an overseas supplier like XXMetals:
- Artwork Confirmation: 1 to 3 days.
- Sample Production (Optional but recommended for large orders): 7 to 10 days.
- Mass Production: 15 to 20 working days.
- International Shipping: 4 to 7 days via Express (DHL/FedEx/UPS), or 30+ days via Sea Freight for heavy, bulk orders.
Ordering Checklist for Buyers:
- Determine quantity (MOQ usually starts around 100 pieces).
- Set your in-hands date (Aim to order at least 4-6 weeks before the event).
- Prepare your logo or design idea.
- Contact a direct manufacturer (like XXMetals) to avoid trading company markups.
Why Choose XXMetals as Your Medal Manufacturer?
Sourcing custom medals from China should be a smooth and stress-free experience. At XXMetals, we specialize in B2B OEM/ODM manufacturing.
- No Hidden Fees: We provide clear, itemized quotes.
- Free Artwork Proof: We don’t start until you are 100% happy with the digital design.
- Strict Quality Control: Every medal is inspected for plating consistency and enamel accuracy before shipping.
- On-Time Delivery Guarantee: We know event dates cannot be changed. If we commit to your timeline, we deliver.
Ready to create unforgettable medals for your next event?
Whether you need 100 school award medals or 10,000 custom race medals, we are here to help.
At XXMetals, our MOQ typically starts at 100 pieces per design, making it friendly for both small schools and large marathons.
Standard medals are usually 2mm to 3mm thick. However, for premium marathons and sports events, organizers often choose 4mm or even 5mm thickness for a heavier, high-quality feel.
Yes, we can add laser engraving to the back of the medals for specific categories (e.g., 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon) or individual participant names.
