Affordable material options for custom medals

Custom medals are an important way to recognize achievements, motivate teams, and commemorate special moments. Whether it’s a sporting event, a corporate competition, or a personal milestone celebration, choosing the right medal material is crucial. Choosing affordable and high-quality materials can ensure the quality and durability of the medal while controlling costs, especially when you need to produce in large quantities.

This article will introduce several common and affordable custom medal materials and help you make an informed choice based on your budget and needs.

1.Zinc alloy: cost-effective custom medal material

Zinc alloy is a very popular and affordable custom medal material, suitable for making trophies, medals, badges, etc. It has strong plasticity and can be easily engraved with complex patterns and texts. In addition, zinc alloy is corrosion-resistant, durable, and suitable for long-term storage.

Advantage:

• Highly cost-effective and suitable for bulk orders.
• Available in a variety of surface finishes such as gloss, matte, antique, etc.
• Strong corrosion resistance ensures the long-term durability of the medal.

Shortcoming:

• Slightly heavier than aluminum and acrylic, may not be suitable for all types of medal needs.

Zinc alloy is the most commonly chosen custom medal material by customers with limited budgets and is particularly suitable for mass production.

2.Brass: a combination of high-end feel and traditional style

Brass is often used to make medals, especially in some high-end events or occasions that need to reflect tradition and dignity. Although brass is slightly more expensive than zinc alloy, its golden luster and classic appearance make it unique in medal making.

Advantage:

• The classic golden luster gives the medal a noble feel.
• Excellent corrosion resistance, suitable for long-term preservation.
• Easy to carve, suitable for complex designs.

Shortcoming:

• Slightly more expensive than zinc alloy, so may not be suitable for projects with tight budgets.
• Heavier, may affect wearing comfort.

Brass medals are perfect for high-end events or events that require a sense of luxury.

3.Aluminum: A Lightweight and Versatile Choice

Aluminum is a lightweight and durable metal material that is often used to make trophies and medals. The biggest advantage of aluminum is its light weight, which makes it suitable for occasions where it is distributed or worn in large quantities. Aluminum medals are usually anodized and can be provided with a variety of colors and pattern designs.

Advantage:

• Lightweight, suitable for wearing or distributing.
• Available in a variety of surface treatments, such as color anodizing, bringing rich visual effects.
• Strong corrosion resistance and long service life.

Shortcoming:

• Aluminum is slightly less durable than zinc alloy or brass.
• It is more susceptible to scratches or dents.

Aluminum is an ideal choice for customers who require high-volume customization and have a moderate budget.

4.Acrylic: a creative and versatile custom material

Acrylic is an affordable material that is widely used in custom medals. It is transparent and highly customizable, making it suitable for making modern medals. Acrylic material is suitable for medal customization that requires complex designs or graphics, and can create unique visual effects.

Advantage:

• Affordable price for bulk purchases.
• Customizable shapes, colors and designs.
• Perfect for modern or graphic-heavy designs.

Shortcoming:

• It is easy to break due to strong impact.
• It is not as high-end as metal materials.

Acrylic is a great choice for businesses or events that fit modern designs and have a tight budget.

5.Resin: Creative and low-cost

Resin is a flexible material that is often used to create custom medals with complex three-dimensional designs. Resin materials support a high degree of personalization and can be combined with other materials (such as metal or acrylic) to create unique designs. Resin is relatively inexpensive, making it an economical choice for large-scale custom medals.

Advantage:

• Highly customizable, supports a wide range of colors and shapes.
• Suitable for making unique and creative medals.
• Very affordable, suitable for bulk purchases.

Shortcoming:

• Not as durable as metal materials and prone to cracking.
• The texture is not as high-end as traditional metal materials.

Resin is suitable for customers who need a lot of customization, have a limited budget, and need creative designs.

6.Tin: An economical choice for large quantities of custom medals

Tin is a very affordable material that is suitable for large quantities of custom medals on a very limited budget. Tin is often used to create participation prizes or promotional events due to its low cost and ease of production. Although tin is less durable, it is a very suitable choice for short-term use or large quantities.

Advantage:

• Extremely affordable and suitable for mass production.
• Lightweight and easy to distribute.
• Customizable to a variety of shapes and designs.

Shortcoming:

• Poor durability, easy to scratch and dent.
• The texture is not as high-end as other metal materials.

Tin is suitable for events with a very limited budget, such as school competitions, fundraisers, or other occasions that require a large number of prizes.

How to choose the most suitable custom medal material

When choosing the material for your custom medal, it’s important to consider your budget, design needs, and the purpose of the medal. Materials such as zinc alloy, brass, and aluminum are suitable for medals that require high durability and quality, while acrylic, resin, and pewter are suitable for events with limited budgets, creative designs, or bulk purchases.

By understanding the pros and cons of different materials, you can choose the most appropriate medal material based on the scale, budget and design needs of your event, ensuring that the awards are both high-quality and reflect the uniqueness of your event.

If you are looking for a professional custom medal supplier, choose a service provider like souvenir expert, who offers a variety of material options and personalized customization services to ensure that your medals perfectly match the theme of your event.