Both medals and pin badges are popular event keepsakes, but choosing the wrong one can mean wasted budget or missed opportunities for recognition. Whether you’re organising a charity fun run, a school awards day, or a corporate team-building event, understanding the strengths of each option is key to leaving a lasting impression.
This comprehensive guide compares custom pin badges and medals to help event organisers make informed decisions aligned with their budget, audience and event goals.
At first glance, pins and medals might seem interchangeable. Both are metal, both can be personalised, and both make memorable keepsakes. However, they serve fundamentally different purposes.
| Feature | Pin Badges | Medals |
| Size | Small (typically 25-50mm) | Large (typically 50-80mm) |
| Primary Purpose | Identification, affiliation, collectables | Achievement recognition, competition awards |
| Wearability | Discreet, attaches to lapels, bags, hats | Worn around the neck on ribbons |
| Cost | Lower unit cost, especially at volume | Higher unit cost due to size and materials |
| Perceived Value | Personal expression, community | Prestige, accomplishment |
Pin badges are discreet, wearable pieces of art that can be displayed on jackets, backpacks, or lanyards. They foster a sense of belonging and work brilliantly as giveaways or collectables. Medals, on the other hand, carry inherent prestige. When someone crosses a finish line or achieves a significant milestone, a medal worn proudly around the neck signals that accomplishment to everyone.
Custom pin badges excel in scenarios where you want to create community, raise awareness, or provide a tangible thank-you without the formality of a competition award. Here’s when they’re the ideal choice:
For charity events, enamel pin badges offer incredible versatility. They can be sold to raise additional funds, given to donors as thank-you gifts, or worn by supporters to show solidarity. Unlike medals, which are typically earned, pins can be distributed widely to everyone who contributes, creating a visible community of supporters.
Awareness campaigns particularly benefit from pins. Whether you’re supporting a medical research charity or a social cause, a well-designed pin becomes a conversation starter and a symbol of commitment that people wear long after your event ends.
Schools love bespoke pin badges for their flexibility. They’re perfect for:
For graduation ceremonies, consider using medals for top academic achievers while offering subject-specific pins to all students. Everyone feels recognised, but the hierarchy of achievement remains clear.
For corporate events, custom pin badges deliver exceptional return on investment. They’re affordable enough to produce in large quantities yet durable enough to become long-lasting brand ambassadors. Trade show attendees appreciate a quality pin they can wear on their lanyard, far more useful than a flyer that will be discarded by lunchtime.
Some events build year-on-year attendance by creating a collectable pin series. Sports clubs, fan conventions and annual festivals can design new enamel pin badges each year, encouraging attendees to return and complete their collections. This approach builds event loyalty and creates organic marketing when attendees display their pins.
Explore our full range of Pin Badge Styles
When it comes to sports events, medals carry a weight that pins simply cannot replicate. There’s a reason Olympic medallists cry when that medal is placed around their neck. Medals symbolise achievement in its purest form.
Medals connect to centuries of tradition. From ancient olive wreaths to today’s meticulously designed awards, medals tell stories of endurance, skill and victory. For participants in competitive events, a medal validates their effort in a way that nothing else can.
Modern medal design has evolved tremendously. Today’s options include eco-friendly wooden medals, medals with spinning elements and designs incorporating cultural motifs, making each award unique to your event.
Bespoke medals allow you to control every element:
Discover our range of Running Medals
This is a question we hear frequently from event organisers working within tight budgets. The short answer: it depends on the type of event.
For small-scale or local events, enamel pin badges can work beautifully as an alternative. A village fun run or a school non-competitive event might find that pins are more practical and affordable while still giving participants something to treasure.
Awareness walks and charity events often benefit from pins over medals. Since these events focus on raising awareness rather than athletic achievement, pins symbolise solidarity and can be worn afterwards to continue spreading the message.
Virtual events have popularised pin badges as participation awards. When you can’t physically place a medal around someone’s neck, mailing a high-quality pin feels appropriate and costs significantly less to post.
Major competitive events demand medals. If your event has winners, podiums and intense competition, participants expect medals. The photograph of a winner biting their medal is iconic (no one bites a pin badge!).
Achievement recognition matters. For milestones like completing a first marathon or winning a championship, the heft and presence of a medal validate the accomplishment in a way that a small pin cannot.
Tradition matters. Some events have decades of history awarding medals. Changing to pins could devalue the event in participants’ eyes.
Making the right choice requires honest answers to four key questions:
Pin badges offer exceptional value at scale. Because they’re smaller and use less material, you can produce hundreds or thousands of custom pin badges for a fraction of the cost of medals.
Medals require a larger investment but deliver higher perceived value. If your budget allows, medals make participants feel truly recognised.
Consider what your participants value:
| Event Type | Recommended Choice | Why |
| Competitive sports | Medals | Recognition of achievement matters |
| Charity fun run | Either | Depends on the budget and formality |
| School awards | Both | Medals for top achievers, pins for all |
| Corporate conference | Pins | Brand exposure, easy to wear |
| Fundraising campaign | Pins | Can be sold or given to donors |
| Annual festival | Pins | Collectable series builds attendance |
Think beyond event day. Will participants wear their award afterwards? Enamel pin badges attach to bags and jackets, providing ongoing visibility for your brand or cause. Medals typically get displayed at home, treasured but private.
At Bespoke Medals, we’re uniquely positioned to help you choose the right option and then create it perfectly. Unlike suppliers who specialise in only one product, we offer exceptional quality across both custom pin badges and medals.
Both pin badges and medals have unique benefits, and the right choice depends entirely on your event type, audience and objectives.
Choose custom pin badges when you want to:
Choose medals when you want to:
Sometimes, the perfect solution is both. Many successful events use medals for competitive elements and pins for broader participation, ensuring everyone feels recognised at the appropriate level.
Ready to create the perfect awards for your next event? Whether you need stunning bespoke pin badges, prestigious medals, or both, our team is here to help. With our free design service and commitment to quality, we’ll bring your vision to life.
Talk to us today to discuss your requirements and request a free quote.