If you’re planning finisher awards for a 5K, marathon, or obstacle race, the first question is almost always the same: what do custom race medals actually cost, and how far ahead do you need to order them? The honest answer depends on quantity, material, and finish — but the numbers are more predictable than most race directors expect once you know where the price breaks sit.
This guide walks through the real cost tiers manufacturers publish, the minimum order quantities you’ll run into, and the lead times that separate a smooth medal order from a last-minute scramble. It’s written for someone about to request a quote, not someone browsing for inspiration — so every figure here is something you can plug directly into a budget.
Custom race medals are typically die struck or die cast in zinc alloy, then plated and finished with soft or hard enamel color, a spinner element, or a printed insert. The material and finish you pick move the price more than almost anything else, so it’s worth understanding the tiers before you sketch a design.
Source: Badge Artisans Medals, “How Much Do Custom Medals Cost In 2026?” (badgeartisansmedals.com/how-much-do-custom-medals-cost/) and Badges & Medals Learning Centre (blog.badgesandmedals.com/learning-centre/custom-medals-cost), 2026
How custom race medals are priced
Custom race medals are quoted per piece, and the price is really a blend of three things: the metal casting itself, the plating and color fill, and the ribbon and packaging. For a standard 2 to 3 inch die struck medal in zinc alloy with two-tone plating and soft enamel color, published quantity pricing runs about $4.05 each at 100 pieces, dropping to $3.53 at 300 pieces, $3.48 at 500 pieces, and $3.42 at 1,000 pieces, according to Lapel Pins Plus’s published medal pricing. Notice how flat the curve gets after 300 units — the steepest discount happens between 100 and 300 pieces, so if you’re on the fence between those two quantities, it’s worth pricing both before you commit.
Across the broader market, per-medal cost for custom race medals spans roughly $0.35 for a small, single-color stock-style piece up to $7.20 or more for a large multi-part design with a spinner, glitter fill, or add-on ribbon hardware, per industry pricing data compiled by Badges & Medals’ learning center. Where your order lands in that range depends on size, plating (antique gold/silver/bronze plating typically costs less than bright nickel or genuine gold plating), and how many colors of enamel fill the design uses.
Materials that move the price
Zinc alloy is the default for race medals because it takes fine detail and holds plating well at a low per-unit cost. Iron and brass are available but usually cost more per piece and are chosen mainly for very large medals or a specific antique-brass look. If a supplier quotes a price that seems unusually low, confirm the base metal — some low-cost quotes substitute a thinner zinc casting or skip a plating step to hit the number.
Finishes and add-ons that add cost
Soft enamel (recessed, textured color) is the cheapest color option; hard enamel (polished flat, higher-end feel) typically adds a modest per-piece premium. Spinner centers, glitter or UV-print inserts, and dual-plating (two different metal tones on one medal) each add incrementally to the unit price — usually pennies to a dollar per medal depending on complexity, not a flat surcharge on the whole order.
Minimum order quantities and what they mean for small races
Most full-custom medal manufacturers set a minimum order quantity somewhere between 100 and 500 pieces, because that’s the point where the mold and setup cost per medal becomes reasonable. If your race has fewer finishers than that, you have two realistic paths: order at the MOQ and keep extras as sponsor gifts or next-year samples, or go with a vendor advertising no minimum, which several race-medal suppliers now offer, sometimes down to a single piece for rush jobs. No-minimum orders typically carry a higher per-piece price, since there’s no volume to spread the mold cost across.
Some manufacturers also offer a lower-volume tier around 25 pieces for smaller local races, but expect a proportionally higher unit cost and possibly a flat mold fee added on top rather than folded into the per-piece price. Ask specifically whether the quote you’re given includes the mold fee or lists it as a separate line item — this is the single most common source of sticker shock on a first-time medal order.
Lead times: when to order custom race medals
Production is rarely the bottleneck people expect it to be — design approval and shipping buffer usually eat more calendar time than the casting itself. A realistic full-custom order breaks down into distinct stages, and skipping the buffer at the end is the most common reason medals arrive late.
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Design and revision | 1 week |
| Mold making | 1 week |
| Sampling and approval | 1 week |
| Bulk production | 3 weeks |
| Shipping and delay buffer | 2-3 weeks |
Rush options if you’re short on time
If you’re inside the 8-week window, most manufacturers offer rush production that can compress delivery to as little as 7-10 business days after art approval. Rush orders usually mean a smaller set of finish options, a rush fee, and air freight instead of sea freight for overseas suppliers — all of which push the per-medal cost up compared to a standard-timeline order.
Choosing ribbon, size, and finish details
Once quantity and material are locked in, the remaining decisions are mostly aesthetic but still affect cost slightly. Standard race medal diameters run 2 to 3 inches; going larger than 3 inches usually bumps you into a higher price bracket because it requires more metal and a bigger mold. Ribbons are typically quoted separately from the medal itself — a standard 7/8 inch sublimated ribbon with your race logo is inexpensive per piece, while a custom-woven ribbon with a jacquard pattern costs more and often has its own minimum order quantity separate from the medal’s.
Packaging is another line item worth pricing early rather than as an afterthought: a plain poly bag is typically free or near-free, while a velour pouch or a branded box adds a per-unit cost that can matter at high volumes. If medals are being mailed to virtual race participants rather than handed out at a finish line, factor a sturdier box into your budget from the start rather than adding it after your unit price is already locked.
Ordering checklist before you submit artwork
Before you send a design file to any manufacturer, confirm five things in writing: the all-in price per medal including plating and enamel fill, whether the mold/tooling fee is separate or included, the ribbon price and MOQ, the total timeline from art approval (not from today) to delivery, and what happens if your final headcount changes after you’ve placed the order. Race registrations often shift in the final weeks, and reputable suppliers can usually accommodate a modest quantity increase during production — but it’s much cheaper to ask about that flexibility before you sign off on artwork than to negotiate it after the mold is already cut.
Finally, request a physical or digital proof before bulk production starts. A sample round adds roughly a week to the timeline, but it’s the cheapest insurance against discovering a color mismatch or a sizing issue only after 500 medals have already shipped.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom race medals?
Most full-custom manufacturers set the minimum between 100 and 500 pieces, since that’s where mold and setup costs become worthwhile to spread across a run. A number of suppliers now advertise no-minimum orders, but expect to pay a noticeably higher price per medal since there’s no volume to absorb the tooling cost.
How much do custom race medals cost per unit?
Published quantity pricing for a standard 2-3 inch die struck medal runs about $4.05 each at 100 pieces down to roughly $3.42 each at 1,000 pieces. Simpler stock-style medals can run as low as $0.35, while large multi-part designs with spinners or multiple enamel colors can exceed $7 per piece.
How far in advance should I order custom race medals?
Budget 8-12 weeks from the time you approve final artwork to the time medals arrive. That covers roughly a week each for design revisions, mold making, and sample approval, three weeks of bulk production, and a 2-3 week buffer for shipping and unexpected delays.
Can I order fewer than 100 custom race medals?
Yes, through vendors that offer small-batch runs of around 25 pieces or no-minimum ordering, but the per-medal price will be higher than at the standard 100-piece MOQ because the mold cost is spread across fewer units.
Is there a rush option if I’m ordering close to race day?
Most manufacturers offer expedited production that can deliver in as little as 7-10 business days after artwork approval, though rush orders typically cost more per medal, limit your finish choices, and require faster (and pricier) shipping.
The bottom line
The numbers behind custom race medals aren’t complicated once you see them laid out: expect somewhere between $3.40 and $4 per medal at typical race quantities, a mold fee in the low hundreds if your design is fully custom, and a real-world timeline closer to two to three months than two to three weeks. The race directors who avoid last-minute stress are the ones who lock in quantity, material, and a delivery date before they finalize the artwork — not after.
If your event is on a tight runway, start with a rush quote to see what’s actually achievable, but treat the 8-12 week window as the default plan rather than the exception.