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Custom award medals are more than prizes, they're lasting reminders of achievement. Whether you're recognizing a championship performance, celebrating a school accomplishment, honoring a horse show winner or commemorating a 5K finish, the right medal can make the moment even more memorable.
That is why choosing the right award medal matters.
A medal isn't simply something handed to a winner. It can become a keepsake, a symbol of accomplishment and a reminder of an experience that participants worked hard to achieve.
But with so many medal styles, materials, sizes, finishes and ribbon options available, how do you know which one is right for your event?
At Hodges Badge Company, we've been helping organizations recognize achievement since 1920. From sports and school events to horse shows, dog shows, fairs, 4-H programs and races, we've seen firsthand how the right award can elevate the entire presentation.
Here's how to choose the right award medal for your event.
Start With Your Event
Before choosing a medal, think about what you're celebrating.
A medal for a 5K may look very different from a medal for a county fair. A school championship may call for a traditional gold, silver and bronze presentation, while a corporate recognition event might benefit from a custom medal featuring the company's logo.
Consider:
- Who will receive the award?
- What accomplishment are you recognizing?
- How formal is the event?
- How many medals do you need?
- What is your budget?
- When do you need the medals?
Once you answer those questions, choosing the medal becomes much easier.
Choose the Medal Material
One of the biggest decisions is the type of medal you want.
Traditional Metal Medals
Traditional metal medals are a popular choice for sports, schools and competitions because they provide a familiar award presentation.
Die cast custom award medals are available in a wide variety of stock designs, making them an excellent choice when you want a sport- or event-specific image without designing a medal completely from scratch. Column 2
Printed Center Medals
Want your organization or event logo to be the star of the award?
Printed center custom award medals are an excellent option.
Your full-color artwork is printed directly in the center of the medal, allowing your branding to stand out while maintaining the traditional look of a metal award.
These medals work particularly well for schools, athletic leagues, races, clubs and organizations that want every recipient to take home a branded keepsake.
Acrylic Medals
Acrylic custom award medals offer something different.
Their smooth surface provides an excellent canvas for vibrant full-color artwork, making them especially effective when color and contemporary design are important.
Acrylic medals are a popular option for participation awards, school events, youth programs and colorful event themes.
Spincast Medals
If you want something completely unique, consider a custom spincast medal.
Spincast custom award medals offer exceptional design flexibility. Your medal can be created in a custom shape and incorporate decorative cutouts, dimensional details and enamel colors.
Instead of starting with a traditional round medal, imagine creating an award around your actual event.
A running shoe for a road race.
A horse head for an equestrian competition.
A paw print for a canine event.
Your organization's logo.
The possibilities are limited primarily by your imagination and the requirements of the manufacturing process.
Birchwood Medals
For something completely different, consider birchwood.
Birchwood custom award medals provide a natural look that can be especially appropriate for equestrian events, outdoor competitions, nature-themed events and organizations looking for an alternative to traditional metal.
Think About the Size
Size affects both the appearance and the cost of your medal.
A smaller medal can be perfect for participation awards or events where you're recognizing a large number of people.
A medium-sized medal provides a traditional balance between visibility and value.
A larger medal creates more presence and can be especially effective for championships, major races and special achievements.
The most important thing is to choose a size appropriate for the accomplishment.
A first-place championship medal should feel significant. A participation medal can be smaller and still be meaningful.
Don't Forget the Finish
If you're choosing a traditional metal medal, the finish can change the entire personality of the award.
Gold has long been associated with first place and championship achievements.
Silver provides a bright, classic appearance and is commonly associated with second-place awards.
Bronze offers a warm, traditional look and is commonly associated with third-place awards.
Antique finishes can emphasize dimensional detail, while bright finishes provide a cleaner, polished appearance.
Think about your artwork, organization colors and event branding when selecting the finish.
The Ribbon Matters More Than You Think
It's easy to focus entirely on the medal and overlook the neck ribbon.
Don't.
The ribbon is one of the first things people see when the medal is being worn.
Satin provides a smooth, polished appearance and works particularly well for formal or highly customized awards.
Grosgrain offers a textured, classic appearance and is popular for sports and competition medals.
You can also coordinate your ribbon with your organization's colors or event theme.
For an even more personalized award, consider printing your event name, date or other information on the ribbon when available.
Customization Makes the Award Memorable
A stock medal can be an excellent choice, particularly when you need awards quickly or are working with a tight budget.
But customization can turn a standard award into a keepsake.
Think about including:
- Your organization logo
- Event name
- Event date
- Championship designation
- Sport or activity
- Sponsor information
- School colors
- Custom artwork
Even a small amount of personalization can make the medal feel like it belongs specifically to your event.
Match the Medal to the Occasion
Sports
Custom award medals are a natural fit for sports. Swimming, track and field, gymnastics, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling, tennis, golf and countless other sports can use medals to recognize achievement.
Schools
Don't limit medals to athletic programs.
Custom award medals can recognize honor roll students, science fair winners, spelling bee champions, graduation achievements, debate competitors, music participants and other academic accomplishments.
Horse Shows
Equestrian events have their own traditions and presentation styles.
A custom award medal paired with an appropriate neck ribbon can provide a polished award for riders across disciplines and competition levels.
Dog Shows & Canine Sports
From traditional dog shows to agility, barn hunt, dock diving and rally, medals can give competitors a memorable way to commemorate their accomplishments.
Fairs & 4-H
County fairs, state fairs and 4-H programs recognize a huge variety of achievements, from livestock and agricultural competitions to baking, crafts, photography, art and science.
A custom award medal can provide a consistent award across many different categories while still allowing each program to showcase its own identity.
Races
5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and marathons are perfect opportunities for custom awards medals.
For recurring races, a unique medal can even become part of the event's identity. Participants may look forward to seeing what the next year's medal will look like.
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute
Your event date should be one of the first things you consider when choosing your medal.
Some medals are available through stock and express options for faster delivery, while highly customized medals may require additional production time.
If you're considering a completely custom award medal, allow enough time for artwork, proof approval, production and shipping.
The sooner you know your award requirements, the more options you'll have.
The Best Medal Is the One That Fits Your Event
There isn't one perfect medal for every event.
The right choice depends on your audience, accomplishment, design, budget and timeline.
If you want a traditional competition award, consider die cast or printed center medals.
If vibrant color is important, acrylic may be the right choice.
If you want a natural and distinctive look, consider birchwood.
And if you want an award that exists nowhere else, a custom spincast medal can bring your idea to life.
Want help deciding?
We've created a complete Custom Medal Buying Guide to help you compare medal styles, finishes, sizes, ribbons and customization options before you order.
With more than 100 years of experience creating awards, Hodges Badge Company is here to help you find the right way to recognize your winners.
Make the achievement memorable. Make the award worthy of it.
FAQs
What is the best medal for a sports event?
Traditional die cast, printed center and acrylic medals are all popular choices for sports. The best option depends on your budget, artwork and the type of presentation you want.
What medal is best for a completely custom design?
A custom spincast medal provides some of the greatest flexibility for creating a unique shape, dimensional design, cutouts and enamel color.
Can I put my logo on an award medal?
Yes. Many Hodges Badge medal styles can be customized with your organization's logo or artwork.
Should I choose gold, silver or bronze?
For traditional first-, second- and third-place competitions, gold, silver and bronze are classic choices. However, your finish can also simply be selected based on your event's design and branding.
