- No limit on colours, sponsor logos included.
- A 3D print option you can feel under your finger.
- Both sides can carry a full-colour design.
- Metal plating or any RAL colour underneath.
Price and lead time
What do custom printed steel medals cost?
Printed steel medals are laser-cut from sheet steel and printed in full colour with UV ink, which hardens instantly under ultraviolet light. Photographs and gradients reproduce as they are, and no mould is needed. As a guide, they cost about €1.80 per piece at 100 units and €1.65 at 1,000. Orders start at 50 pieces; production takes 8–12 days and you should plan around 10 weeks overall with express shipping.
In short
Shape
Any shape, laser, no die
Thickness
2–5 mm thick
Material
Steel
Colour
Full-colour UV print
If you can draw it, we can print it
Cut to the shape of the artwork
The laser follows the design itself — a race number, a runner, the outline of the course. The number on the start line becomes the medal at the finish.
Bare steel as part of the design
Leave a margin unprinted and the brushed metal becomes a frame around the colour. It is a choice in the artwork, not an extra step.
Four platings under one print
Gold, silver, bronze or black nickel under an identical design. The plating shows at the cut edge and wherever the artwork leaves the metal bare.
Not sure which medal to pick? Ask one question: is your design a poster or a crest? A poster — a course map, a photo, a painted scene — belongs on printed steel. A crest with raised lines you can feel belongs in a cast medal.
Flat for the picture, raised for the name
The picture is printed flat and smooth. The race name or logo can be printed raised, up to 0.75 mm, so it stands out from the background — both on the same medal.
Step by step
What happens after you send the file?
- 01
Send the file — or just a photo
A logo, a course map, last year's finish photo. A PDF, AI or EPS file is ideal, but a sharp image is enough — our designer gets it ready for print.
- 02
A proof at real size
You see the design at the medal's actual size, with the cut line marked. That is the moment to read every letter.
- 03
Laser cutting
The outline and any cut-outs are cut from sheet steel, then the metal gets its plating or colour coat.
- 04
Print, varnish, ribbon
The artwork is printed, selected areas are varnished if the design asks for it, ribbons go on, and every medal is checked before it ships.
Frequently asked questions
What are printed steel medals made of?
Steel or stainless steel, 2–5 mm thick, laser-cut to any outline, with plated or powder-coated finishes under the print.
How heavy is a printed steel medal?
A 70 mm medal weighs about 60 g at 2 mm, 90 g at 3 mm and 150 g at 5 mm, a little less with cut-outs. Steel is denser than the zinc alloy used for cast medals, so at the same thickness it is heavier. 3 mm is our default.
Is UV print durable enough for a medal?
Yes, for a medal that hangs at home. The ink hardens under UV light and bonds to the plated surface, and areas that get touched often can be varnished. It sits on top of the metal rather than being cut into it, so keys in a bag can mark it, and years in direct sun can soften the colours.
How fine can openwork details be?
Cut-out gaps from about 1 mm and bridge widths from 1.5 mm are safe. Letters inside openwork work best from 6 mm height — we check every design before production.
Can the 5K, 10K and half marathon each get their own medal?
Yes. The same shape can carry a different print for each distance, and there is no new mould to pay for, as there would be with casting. Names, categories or dates that differ on the back are laser-engraved.
Why is printed steel the cheapest of the three?
There is no mould to make. A cast medal starts with a die cut for your design; a steel medal starts with a file sent to a laser cutter and a printer. That saving is largest on smaller orders, where setup is a bigger share of the price.
When is a cast medal the better choice?
When the medal should have weight and real relief — a raised figure you can run your thumb over, or a thick, heavy award. Printed steel stays a flat sheet; even the 3D print is a texture on the surface, not a sculpted figure.
Let's print your event on steel
Send the artwork, a photo or just the idea, and roughly how many medals you need. You get a price and a proof at real size.