Custom Medallions vs Custom Medals: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Order?

Article Summary: A side-by-side comparison of custom medallions and custom medals covering physical specs, use-case fit, material and process differences, pricing structure, and a practical five-question decision framework. Built for event planners, race directors, and procurement professionals who need to order the right format the first time.

You are planning an event. You need custom awards. Someone on your committee just asked: “Should we order custom medallions or custom medals?”

If you are not sure whether there is a real difference — or which one fits your event — you are not alone. Even experienced event planners use these terms interchangeably. But in manufacturing, they describe two different products. Order the wrong one and recipients get something that does not match the moment.

What we’ll cover:

• The physical differences between medals and medallions — size, thickness, wearability
• Which scenarios call for a medal versus a medallion
• How material and process choices diverge between the two formats
• A five-question decision framework you can use right now
• What drives pricing and lead time for each format

Terminology: Why the Confusion Exists

In everyday language, “medal” and “medallion” get thrown around as synonyms. Google treats them as related searches. Some suppliers list both terms on the same product page.

But walk onto a custom medal factory floor and the distinction is clear. A medal is designed to be worn. It comes with a ribbon, a connection ring, and a wearable attachment on the back — a safety pin, a magnet, or a spike clasp. A medallion is designed to be displayed. It is typically larger, heavier, and meant for a presentation case, a wall mount, or a desktop stand.

The simplest way to remember it: if it hangs around a neck during a ceremony, it is a medal. If it sits in a case on a shelf, it is a medallion.

Size, Thickness, and Wearability: The Physical Differences

The most immediate difference between a medal and a medallion is physical. And those physical differences drive everything downstream — cost, production method, packaging, and how recipients experience the award.

Here is a manufacturing detail most buyers do not learn until their second order: medal thickness is not just about feel — it determines which processes you can use. Zinc alloy die-casting , the most common method for custom 3D medals, requires a minimum wall thickness of 2.0mm. Below that, the molten zinc — flowing at 385°C into an 88-ton press — will not fill the mold cavity completely. You get short shots: incomplete edges, missing detail. Medallions, at 4–5mm, give the die more room to fill, which means crisper 3D relief and deeper sculpting.

There is a trade-off. A medallion at 100mm diameter and 5mm thickness in zinc alloy weighs about 140 grams. Hang that from a standard 25mm neck ribbon for a two-hour ceremony, and your recipients will be holding it in their hands by the third speech.

Use Case Comparison: Medal or Medallion by Event Type

The right choice depends on what happens during and after your event. Here is how the decision breaks down across four common scenarios.

One pattern we have noticed after 15 years of making custom awards: events with a photography moment lean toward medals. Events where the award stays visible after the event lean toward medallions. Race photos show medals around necks. Office shelves show medallions. Pick based on where your brand needs to appear six months later.

Material and Process: What Each Term Implies in Manufacturing

When you request a quote for “custom medals,” factories assume a specific production path. When you request “custom medallions,” the assumptions change. Understanding this prevents you from receiving samples that do not match your vision.

For custom medals, the default manufacturing path is:

• Process: Zinc alloy die-casting → polishing → plating → color filling → ribbon attachment
• Mold: Steel mold, four-gate water injection design — gates spaced evenly around a circular medal for balanced metal flow
• Surface: Plated finish (gold, silver, antique bronze) with soft enamel or hard enamel color fill
• Back: Typically flat with engraved text, plus attachment hardware

For custom medallions, the path often diverges:

• Process: Die-cast metal, CNC-routed wood or acrylic, or resin-cast — a wider range than medals
• Mold: For metal medallions, same steel mold process but with deeper cavity depth for more 3D relief
• Surface: Antique finishes dominate — antique gold and antique silver highlight sculpted detail better than bright polished finishes. See our plating options guide for a full comparison.
• Back: Often finished with the same attention as the front — medallions get viewed from both sides in a display case

Here is a process detail worth knowing: antique finishes on medallions are not just aesthetic — they are functional. The electroplating sequence for antique gold runs: bright gold plate first, then a blackening agent that settles into recessed areas, then hand-polishing on the raised surfaces with a vegetable-fiber wheel. The contrast makes 3D detail visible at arm’s length — the distance most people view a medallion on a shelf. Bright polished gold, by comparison, reflects light evenly and hides contour detail.

The plating line runs with fixed parameters: an alkaline copper base layer at roughly 500 seconds in the bath, followed by acid copper for brightness at 20–60 minutes depending on the target luster, then the finish plating color, then a clear protective coating baked at 100°C for 40 minutes. Medallions with deep relief run the acid copper stage longer — deeper cavities need more dwell time for even coverage.

Pricing and MOQ: What to Expect When Ordering

Medals and medallions sit at different points on the cost curve. Three factors drive the difference: material volume, mold complexity, and finishing labor. For a complete pricing breakdown across all formats, see our custom medals pricing guide .

Do not forget the packaging line item. A medal on a ribbon is a complete product. A medallion without a case feels unfinished. Budget $0.80–$2.50 per piece for a velvet or leatherette presentation case if you are ordering medallions. Our ribbons and accessories guide covers packaging options in detail.

Decision Framework: Medal or Medallion?

Five questions. Answer these and you will know which direction to go.

1. Will recipients wear this during the event? Yes → Medal. No → Medallion.
2. Is there a photographer capturing the award moment? Yes → Medal photographs better around a neck. No → Medallion reads better in display orientation.
3. Where will this award live after the event? Around a neck in photos, then in a drawer → Medal. On a shelf, desk, or wall → Medallion.
4. What is your per-piece budget including packaging? Under $4 → Medal is more achievable. $5+ → Medallion with a case is in range.
5. How many recipients? 500+ on a tight budget → Medal delivers better unit economics at scale. 50–200 VIP recipients → Medallion carries higher perceived value per piece.

Still on the fence? Order a sample of both. A 65mm medal and an 85mm medallion, held side by side, will tell you more in five seconds than any spec sheet. Most manufacturers — Badge Artisans included — provide free design and sampling before full production. Put both formats in your hands before you commit to 500 pieces