How to choose Personalised Medals
Personalised Medals offer a simple, immediate way to celebrate an achievement, reward participation or preserve a memory of an event. The range of shapes and sizes lets you find a model suited to the occasion and the artwork you want, while the materials affect weight, feel and appearance. Finishes are equally important: they can evoke traditional award ceremonies or give the medal a more modern, distinctive character. Customisation with logos, wording, images and colours makes each medal reflect the event for which it is created.
Materials used
With personalised medals, distinguish between the material of the medal body and that of the ribbon or cord used to wear it. Metals are particularly common: steel is sturdy and modern-looking, zinc alloy is suited to three-dimensional details and traditional finishes, while aluminium is lightweight and durable. Natural options include wood and plywood, valued for their grain, and bamboo, with its simple natural appearance; recycled cardboard is a lightweight alternative made from recovered material. Acrylic and plexiglass also allow transparent designs with full-colour artwork. Ribbons and cords generally use textiles such as practical, durable polyester, RPET made from recycled PET plastic, and soft, natural-looking cotton.
Shapes and sizes
Personalised medals come in several shapes, each with typical reference sizes. The shape influences the finished appearance and the space available for logos, wording and images.
- Round: the most traditional and widespread shape, with diameters from 40 to 80 mm. Ideal for central motifs, symbols and wording around the edge.
- Square: from 40 × 40 to 70 × 70 mm. The regular surface works well for logos, illustrations and geometric layouts.
- Rectangular: from 40 × 60 to 50 × 75 mm. The vertical layout helps distribute images and text across several lines.
- Hexagonal: six-sided medals measuring 60 × 60 mm, with a defined geometric outline that stands apart from traditional models.
- Octagonal: eight-sided medals measuring 60 × 60 mm. Similar to round medals but with a faceted edge.
Thickness also varies with material and production method, but is generally between 2 and 4 mm. Ribbon sizes are more variable: 90 cm is a common length, while the width usually ranges from 15 to 30 mm.
Available finishes
The finish defines much of a medal’s visual character. Traditional gold, silver and bronze distinguish first, second and third places, a convention introduced at the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis and still widely used. Some zinc-alloy models feature three-dimensional relief: molten metal is cast in a mould made from the selected design, forming lettering, symbols and details that can be seen and felt. Mixed-material finishes combine contrasting surfaces, such as a steel frame around plywood or plexiglass, clearly separating the rim from the centre. Other options include a domed resin finish, created by applying a slightly raised transparent coating over the artwork, and transparent acrylic finishes that let light pass through for a lighter appearance.
Printing and customisation techniques
Customisation determines how recognisable a product will be. On personalised medals it lets you reproduce logos, wording, images and colours associated with the occasion. Not every technique works with every model: the choice depends on the material, print area and artwork. Importantly, both the medal body and the ribbon can be customised, usually with different processes. For the body, common options include UV LED printing, which applies high-definition, full-colour images directly to the surface, and custom mould production, which creates three-dimensional metal medals with shapes and raised details based on the artwork. Less commonly, pad printing suits simple logos in a few colours, while engraving marks the surface precisely and durably without ink. Dye sublimation is widely used for ribbons: where the model allows it, it can cover the full printable area with sharp, vivid, photographic-quality results, but works only on polyester or specially prepared materials. Some models also offer transfer printing, in which a design is printed on a carrier then heat-transferred to the ribbon, and screen printing, useful for straightforward designs and often cost-effective in large quantities.
Ideas for use
Personalised medals are versatile awards, not necessarily reserved for winners. Depending on the design, they can celebrate an achievement, recognise someone's efforts or preserve a shared experience. Their most familiar use is in sport: federations and clubs present them at tournaments, races and sporting events, to winners or participants, often alongside Personalised Trophies. Schools and universities can award them at student competitions, learning activities and end-of-year ceremonies. In companies they serve as internal recognition, and together with Personalised Plaques, can celebrate anniversaries, professional results or team-building activities. They also suit charity events and cultural initiatives organised by public bodies, non-profit organisations and social cooperatives. Natural or recycled materials may be particularly fitting for events focused on the environment and sustainability.
For further guidance and a practical checklist to help you select the most suitable personalised medals, download this document.
Personalised Medals - FREQUENT QUESTIONS
The choice mainly depends on the occasion and the effect you want. For sports or company award ceremonies, zinc alloy offers raised details and traditional finishes, while steel is sturdy and modern. Wood, bamboo and recycled cardboard work well for events highlighting natural or recovered materials, whereas acrylic offers transparency and colour. For the ribbon, consider cotton for a natural look, or polyester and RPET for multicolour artwork.
Yes, some models come in more than one size while retaining the same shape, material and production method. This may suit a sports club wishing to use medals from the same range in different sizes for winners and other participants. Not all products offer this option, however: some are made in one size only. Check the available variants on the product page.
Consider the intended use and size of the artwork first. A small logo and date may fit on a compact medal, but an event featuring several sponsors and fine details calls for a larger surface. Think about weight and comfort too, particularly when recipients will wear their medals for a long time. Always check the actual printable area, as it may not cover the entire medal.
For a company award ceremony, classic round metal medals are a traditional option, while steel-and-plexiglass models look more contemporary. For schools and universities, wood, recycled cardboard or full-colour printed models suit student contests and competitions. Shape matters too: round medals highlight a central emblem, while square and rectangular models make it easier to arrange logos, names and dates.
For podium presentations, metal medals with gold, silver and bronze finishes are the traditional choice. If you are organising a marathon, cycling race or tournament and want to reward every participant, consider steel, wood or recycled-cardboard models. UV printing can reproduce multicolour logos and illustrations, while a customised ribbon can display the event and sponsor names.
Yes, depending on the model. Some medals are available in gold, silver and bronze finishes at the same price. This helps sports clubs and race organisers maintain a consistent design while distinguishing the three podium positions. Other finishes depend on the material, such as the natural appearance of wood or the transparency of acrylic.
Yes, many models allow customisation of both the front and back of the ribbon, generally using dye sublimation. This is useful for sponsored events and sports competitions, where organiser and sponsor logos can both be featured. Whether different designs are possible on each side, and the available print area, depend on the product. Check its printing positions and techniques.
Custom mould production is suitable when you want a metal medal with three-dimensional shapes and details, such as a raised crest for a sports competition or company award. UV LED printing is better suited to images, multicolour logos and gradients on the surface. Consider quantity as well: medals made with a custom mould generally require larger orders than UV-printed models.
Yes, but only for certain products. Where the ribbon's sublimation printing is expressly included, you only need to pay any printing setup charges; for other products, check the price in the quotation configurator. If you are organising a race and need sponsor and organiser logos on both sides, check whether the price covers double-sided customisation. Also verify any costs for work on the medal body.
The minimum quantity varies by model and production method. Most models have minimum orders of 50 or 100 pieces, while others, especially bespoke medals, start at 500 pieces. A sample may also be available for certain products, but you should check this on each product page.