Custom Medals Vs Insert Medals: A Pros And Cons Breakdown

Insert medals are a popular choice for many events around the world. 

But that doesn't mean they're the best choice. 

After a while, many event organisers start to wonder if there's a better way to recognise people's achievements - like traditional custom medals. 

Both insert medals and custom medals have their pros and cons, but sifting through these can feel overwhelming. 

That's where we at Badges And Medals come in. 

We've helped hundreds of customers with this same decision and know how to make the process easier for you. 

It all comes down to addressing these questions:

• Which medal is the most sustainable?
• Which medal is the most durable?
• Which medal offers the most design flexibility?
• Which medal is the fastest to make?
• Which medal is the best value for money?

In this article, we’ll walk you through these questions and give you a comparison of insert and custom medals, helping you make the best choice for your event.

Which medal is the most sustainable?

When it comes to eco-friendliness, the material of a medal matters most. 

It influences whether a medal is sustainable, recyclable, or biodegradable.

Let's examine how insert and custom medals measure up in terms of eco-friendliness.

Custom medal eco-friendliness:

Custom medals present a mixed case. 

While they are recyclable, the environmental cost of producing them is quite high. 

Most custom medals are made of zinc alloy with a bit of brass or copper thrown in for strength, or pure brass, which is a mix of copper, zinc and tin. 

The process of mining and smelting these materials can have negative environmental impacts, like land degradation, and water and air pollution. 

Making zinc alloy and brass also takes a huge amount of energy. 

On the upside, once zinc alloy and brass have been made, they can be infinitely recycled. 

Some suppliers take advantage of this, such as Badges And Medals, making their medals sustainable.

Insert medal eco-friendliness:

Insert medals also present sustainability challenges. 

They're made of three components: a zinc alloy medal, a vinyl sticker, and a plastic dome to protect the sticker. 

The dome is made of a man made resin which often can't be recycled because once it's set, it can't be remelted. 

Even if your insert medal does have a type of resin that can be recycled, it still complicates recycling efforts, because the resin is attached to custom, which has a very different recycling process. 

This means the two materials need to be separated before recycling can begin. 

If your local area doesn't have the facilities to do this, then the insert medals will likely be sent to a landfill.

Winner: custom medals

Custom medals are more sustainable than insert medals. CREDIT: Badges And Medals

Which medal is the most durable?

When it comes to durability, not all medals are created equal. 

Here’s how they stand:

Custom medal durability:

Custom medals are well-known for their durability. 

Although they may get minor scratches or tarnish over time, custom medals are highly resistant to damage and maintain their appearance far longer than their insert medal counterparts. 

Funnily enough, their biggest threat is actually themselves - if they aren't packaged properly when they're posted, they can rub up against each other and leave scratches.

Insert medal durability:

Insert medals are the easiest of the three medals to damage. 

Their plastic dome, built to shield the design beneath, is also unfortunately their weak point. It can be scratched and can even warp in high temperatures, such as sitting in a too-hot car.

Winner: custom medals

Which medal offers the most design flexibility?

All custom medals offer some level of personalisation - that's what makes them 'custom' after all. 

However, the extent of customisation depends on the type of medal. 

In this section, we’ll compare the customisation options for insert and custom medals. 

Just so you know, both types can be engraved on the back with a laser and fitted with a custom ribbon. 

Let’s take a closer look at what else you can do to each.

Insert medal customisation:

These offer a basic level of customisation. 

You often have to pick from two sizes - a 50mm medal or a 70mm one - and three colours: gold, silver, and bronze. 

Some suppliers allow you to choose the decorative elements around the sticker, like a wreath or stars, and of course all suppliers allow you to choose the design of the sticker itself. 

But beyond these aspects, the scope for personalisation is quite limited.

Custom medal customisation:

Custom medals offer the most customization options of any medal type. 

Most custom medal suppliers will let you change their thickness, shape, material (such as zinc alloy or the heavier-but-more-expensive brass), and plating type (such as antique finishes for a vintage vibe or shiny finishes for more sparkle). 

You can also pick from a wider range of sizes compared to insert medals. 

Some suppliers even let you go beyond the typical gold, silver, or bronze and choose colours like black or white. 

You can also design the medal's face, then add colours, engravings, or even cut-outs. 

Plus, custom medals can be enhanced with unique add-ons such as bottle openers, fidget spinners, 3D elements, or magnets. 

If you can dream it, it can happen!

Winner: custom medals

Which medal is the fastest to make?

Insert medal turnaround time:

These are the sprinters in the medal-making marathon. 

For smaller orders, they're incredibly quick off the blocks, making them a go-to choice for those in a rush. 

For example, it would take about 17 days to design, make and deliver about 50 large (70mm) insert medals, or just over a week to make 50 smaller (50mm) insert medals.

Custom medal turnaround time:

Custom medals are the marathon runners of the two, taking their time to ensure quality and customisation. 

It takes an average of 30 days to design, make, and ship your custom medals. 

The reason for this longer timeline? 

It's all in the customisation. 

As you learnt in the last section, custom medals offer a lot more customisation options than insert medals, and some must be done by hand, which naturally takes more time.

Winner: insert medals

Which medal is the best value for money?

Budget is an important factor to consider when choosing your medal. 

However, there are several factors with influence the cost of an insert or and custom medal:

• The number of medals you order
  Ordering in bulk usually lowers the cost per medal. Why? Because larger orders allow suppliers to run production more efficiently and reduce overhead costs like rent, utilities, and salaries. So, the more medals you order, the less each one will cost.
   
• The size of the medal
  Medals come in a variety of sizes, but 50mm and 70mm are the most popular. Smaller medals (like 50mm) are less expensive because they use less material, while larger medals (like 70mm) will cost a bit more.
    
• The level of customisation
  Some suppliers include full customisation in their base price, but others charge extra for certain features. Add-ons like intricate designs, extra colours, or special finishes can increase the cost, so it’s worth checking what’s included.
    
• The type of ribbon
  You can usually choose between plain or custom ribbons. Plain ribbons are simple, with one or two colours, and are the more affordable option. Custom ribbons, on the other hand, can feature your logo, text, or unique designs. They cost a bit more but add an impressive touch that stands out.

Let's say, for example, that you want to buy 100 medals with a custom ribbon and a decent amount of design detail. 

Here's what that might cost you for each medal type:

Custom medal price:

For an order of 100 medals, prices usually sit between US$3.35 and US$6.90 each. 

However, one of the biggest advantages of custom medals is how much the price drops when you order in bulk. 

For example, if you ordered 500 medals, you could expect to pay about US$1.50 to US$4.15 per medal - and this only gets lower the more you buy. 

Keep in mind that most suppliers charge a setup fee for creating the custom medal mould for your design. 

The good news is that this fee is usually charged just once because the mould can be reused if you order the same medal again, which saves you money in the long run. 

At Badges And Medals, this setup fee is US$85.

Insert medal price:

Insert medals are more budget-friendly in the short-term, ranging between about US$2.95 to US$4.10 per medal for an order of 100. 

However, unlike custom medals, the price of insert medals doesn’t drop a lot when you order in bulk. 

This is because the plastic domes that protect the vinyl stickers need to be applied by hand, which is a time-consuming and skilled process. 

Insert medals also come with a setup fee, but this is usually smaller than for custom medals. 

At Badges And Medals, this setup fee is US$26.50. 

This fee is applied to each order, as it covers the cost of setting up the insert medal machines.

Winner: Insert medals (small orders), custom medals (large orders)

Insert medals are cheaper than custom medals, in small amounts.

Which medal should you choose?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the perfect medal for your event. 

Insert medals and custom medals both have their own strengths, and the right choice depends on what’s most important to you: price, speed, design, strength, sustainability, or a little mix of everything. 

If you’re unsure, here's a quick summary:

Insert medals are best for those who:

• Are short on time.
• Are hosting a small event on a tight budget.
• Live near a facility that can recycle their medals.

Custom medals would suit those who:

• Want as much design freedom as possible.
• Are looking for a high-quality, expensive feel.
• Are hosting a large event and want to save money.
• Want a medal that will last as a memento for decades.

Need help making the choice?

At Badges And Medals, we understand that choosing the right medal type for your event can be overwhelming. 

We hope these answers help you figure out the right medal to suit your event's needs.

If you want personalised advice or to explore our range of custom custom medals, we encourage you to fill out this quick and easy form.