Bulk Custom Medals — Factory-Direct Wholesale Pricing
100 pieces or 50,000. Your local 5K or a national marathon series. Same zinc alloy, same 12-step process, same three-stage QC. The only thing that changes with volume is the per-unit price — and we pass those savings directly to you.
How Bulk Pricing Works — Four Factors
Medal pricing isn't a mystery. Four factors determine your per-unit cost. Understanding them helps you make trade-offs that keep your budget on track without sacrificing the medal quality your participants expect.
1. Material
- Zinc alloy: Best value. 90% of our orders use it. Die-casting enables 3D relief and openwork that stamping can't match.
- Brass: 20–40% more than zinc alloy. Premium weight (8.9 g/cm³). Preferred for military challenge coins and executive awards.
- Iron: Most economical. Good for simple 2D shapes in very large quantities. Not recommended for detailed 3D designs.
- Aluminum: Lightweight (2.7 g/cm³). Best for anodized color finishes and modern minimalist designs. Mid-range cost.
2. Size & 3D Complexity
- Standard (1.5–2.5"): Baseline pricing. Most common range for race and sports medals.
- Large (3–4"): +20–50% per unit. More material, larger mold, longer cycle time.
- Giant (5"+): Custom quote. Used for overall winner or special recognition pieces.
- 3D relief / openwork: Small premium for complexity. Worth it — this is what makes zinc alloy medals stand out.
- Simple 2D: Most affordable. Flat surface, logo + text, minimal mold complexity.
3. Color & Finish
- 1–3 enamel colors: Standard pricing. Gold plate + red + black = 2 enamel colors.
- 4–6 colors: Small per-color surcharge. Each additional color = one more fill-and-bake cycle.
- 7+ colors: Priced per color. Complex designs with many color zones require more labor.
- Hard enamel: +15–25% vs soft. Requires post-fill polishing — an extra process step.
- Glitter / glow / translucent: Each counts as one color + one process step surcharge.
4. Quantity Tier
- 100–300 pcs: Entry pricing. Mold cost spread across fewer units.
- 300–1,000 pcs: Volume discount begins. Mold cost amortization improves significantly.
- 1,000–5,000 pcs: Significant per-unit savings. Bulk material pricing kicks in.
- 5,000–10,000 pcs: Best per-unit rate for most projects. Production efficiency at scale.
- 10,000+ pcs: Enterprise pricing. Dedicated production line allocation.
* Actual pricing requires a custom quote. Every quote is free, detailed, and non-binding. You'll see exactly where your money goes.
Bulk Order Process — Five Steps From Inquiry to Delivery
Send Inquiry
Tell us about your event, quantity, preferred size and colors, and deadline. Attach your logo or any reference images. We'll respond with clarifying questions within hours — not days.
Design & Quote in 24h
You'll receive a detailed quote (line-item breakdown: mold, material, plating, enamel, ribbon, packaging, shipping) plus a professional medal design with 3D renderings. Revise either as needed. No charge.
Sample in 7–10 Days
Approve the design → we cut the steel mold → you receive a physical sample. This is your actual medal. Check the weight, colors, and finish before committing to bulk production. Most clients approve on the first sample.
Bulk Production 7–15 Days
Once the sample is approved, bulk manufacturing begins. 30,000+ pieces daily capacity across multiple production lines. In-process QC after casting, plating, and enamel filling — issues caught the same day, not at final inspection.
QC & Worldwide Shipping
Every medal individually inspected. Packaged to your specification. Customs documentation included. Tracking number provided on dispatch. Air freight (5–10 days) or sea freight (20–35 days) based on your preference.
How Volume Affects Per-Unit Price — An Illustrative Example
These are illustrative figures for a standard 2-inch zinc alloy medal with gold plating, 3 enamel colors, and a printed ribbon. Your actual quote will reflect your specific design.
| Quantity | Per-Unit Price Trend | Mold Cost / Unit | Total Investment | Typical Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 pcs | Highest per-unit | High (fixed cost ÷ 100) | Lowest total | Local 5K, small school event, first-time buyer testing quality |
| 300 pcs | ~15–25% lower per-unit | Moderate (fixed cost ÷ 300) | Moderate total | Regional race series, mid-size sports league |
| 1,000 pcs | ~30–40% lower per-unit | Low (fixed cost ÷ 1,000) | Significant total | Large marathon, statewide tournament, corporate event |
| 5,000 pcs | Best value per unit | Minimal (fixed cost ÷ 5,000) | Large total | National race series, multi-event organization, annual reorder |
| 10,000+ pcs | Enterprise pricing | Negligible per unit | Enterprise scale | Multi-year contracts, government orders, global brands |
These are illustrative trends, not actual prices. Your specific design, material, size, color count, and packaging requirements determine your actual quote. Get a free custom quote — it takes 24 hours.
Bulk Order Questions, Answered
What is the minimum order quantity for bulk medals?
100 pieces per design. That is the point where the one-time mold cost stops dominating the per-unit price. Below 100 pieces the mold is spread across too few units to make factory-direct ordering worthwhile.
Is the mold fee charged again on reorders?
No. The mold is cut once and kept on file under your account. Reordering the same design means no new tooling cost — only material, plating, enamel and labour. That is why a second order of the same medal is noticeably cheaper than the first.
Can I order several designs in one bulk order?
Yes, but each design needs its own mold and must meet the 100-piece minimum on its own. If you want several variants of the same medal — different age groups, different years — it is cheaper to keep one mold and vary the plating colour, the enamel colours or the engraving instead.
Can I see a physical sample before committing to bulk production?
Yes. For any new design we cut the mold and send a physical pre-production sample by express. You check the weight, the colour match and the surface finish on the actual medal before bulk production starts. Most orders are approved on the first sample.
What are the payment terms for a bulk order?
A deposit of 30 to 50 percent confirms the order and covers tooling and material. The balance is due before dispatch, once you have seen the pre-shipment photos and the inspection report. For repeat customers we can agree Net 30 terms.
What happens if some pieces arrive defective?
Every medal is inspected individually at three stages — after casting, after plating and after enamel filling — and the whole batch is photographed before packing. Production defects found on arrival are remade and shipped at our cost. Transit damage is handled through the carrier's insurance, and we supply the photos and packing list you need to file the claim.
Ready to Price Your Bulk Medal Order?
Tell us your event details — we'll create a free custom medal design and a detailed line-item quote within 24 hours. See exactly what you're paying for. No obligation.
Get Your Free Bulk QuoteRelated Medal Types
Building a medal programme across categories? Our custom hard enamel medals and custom spinning medals are produced on the same Zamak die-cast base with MOQ 100 per design — one factory, one plating specification, one reorder file.
Bulk Quantity Tiers — What Changes at Each Volume
Unit cost is driven by how far the mold fee is spread across the run. These are the tiers a bulk quote is built from.
| Order Size | Mold Cost Handling | Unit-Cost Trend | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100–300 pcs | New mold amortised over the run | Highest per-unit | 7–15 days after sample |
| 300–1,000 pcs | Same mold, spread wider | Noticeably lower | 7–15 days |
| 1,000–5,000 pcs | Mold effectively absorbed | Lowest tier in most quotes | 10–15 days |
| 5,000–10,000+ pcs | Volume scheduling slots | Lowest; freight dominates | 10–15 days (confirm slot) |
| Reorder, same mold | No new mold fee | Best long-run value | 7–15 days |
Weight by Material and Size — For Freight Planning
Freight quotes need weight, not just piece count. Use this table to estimate before you request a shipping quote.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Approx. 50 mm x 3 mm Medal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc alloy (Zamak 3/5/7) | 6.7 | ~39 g | Standard; best detail and weight |
| Brass | 8.9 | ~52 g | Heaviest feel; premium |
| Iron | 7.8 | ~46 g | Budget; over 4 mm is hard to press |
| Aluminum | 2.7 | ~16 g | Lightweight; stamped |
Mold Ownership and Reorder Policy
The questions every bulk buyer asks before the first purchase order.
| Question | Our Policy |
|---|---|
| Who owns the mold? | Tooling is made for your order; reorder rights stay with you for repeat runs. |
| Reorder the same design? | No new mold fee — we retrieve archived tooling and Pantone specs. |
| Change logo or year? | Minor edits are a mold revision (quoted); new artwork needs a new mold. |
| A second design? | Separate mold and a separate 100-piece MOQ per design. |
| Rush with an existing mold? | Fastest route — production can start without new tooling. |
