To design your own championship belt, work through six steps: decide what the belt is for, choose a build, plan each plate, pick colours and finish, write the exact wording, then review the mockup. MS Belts sends a free digital mockup within 48 hours and allows unlimited revisions, so you can change the design as often as you like before you approve it. Custom belts start at $275.
This guide takes each step in turn and shows which choices change the price.
Before you start: a one-page brief
You will get a better first mockup if you send a short brief. Use this table as a checklist.
| Item | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Title name | The exact words for the centre plate | Heavyweight Champion |
| Organisation | Name and logo file | Riverside Club, logo as a PNG or vector file |
| Holder | Who wears it, and whether it moves | Passes to each season's winner |
| Build | SD, CNC or HD | CNC, because the crest has small detail |
| Colours | Strap front, strap back, plate finish | Black front, red back, 24K gold |
| Size | Kids, adult or jumbo | Adult |
| Date | When you need it in hand | 15 March |
Step 1: Decide what the belt is for
Start with the person who will hold it and the place it will be seen. A belt worn on stage needs bold shapes that read from across a room. A belt that lives on a shelf can carry finer detail. A belt that passes from winner to winner needs space for names.
Write down the title name, who holds it, and whether it moves between people or stays with one winner. Every other choice follows from those answers.
Step 2: Choose the build
The build decides how the plates are made, and so how much detail the metal can hold. The plates are the metal parts of the belt. Prices below are for one belt.
| Build | How the plates are made | Best for | 1 belt |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD (standard detail) | Brass plates, cut and engraved to the design, finished by hand | Clear logos and lettering | $275 |
| CNC | Brass plates, CNC-machined | Finer detail, such as small crests and text | $350 |
| HD | Zinc alloy plates cast in a mould made for the design, finished by hand | The deepest 3D relief | $550 |
CNC means the metal is shaped by a computer-controlled machine. A mould is the hollow shape that molten metal is poured into. The HD build costs more because of the mould and the hand-finishing, not because zinc alloy is a dearer metal than brass. Our guide to how belt plates are made explains each method in plain words.
Step 3: Plan each plate
Most title belts have one large centre plate with smaller plates on either side. Decide what each plate says before you ask for a mockup.
- Centre plate: the title name or your main logo.
- Side plates: your organisation, the year, the division, or a repeated crest.
- Name plate: the holder's name, or a list of past winners. Name plate engraving is +$25.
Keep the wording short. Three or four words in large lettering read better than a full sentence, and small text is the first thing to blur in photographs. If you need small text or a detailed crest, the CNC build is the one made for finer detail.
Step 4: Pick strap colours and finish
The strap can be any colour, and the front and back can differ. Pick one main colour and one accent, so the belt looks planned rather than busy, and check both against the colours in your logo. A different colour on the back is a good place for a second team or club colour.
For the plates, keep the standard finish or add 24K gold electroplating for $20 per belt. Electroplating uses an electric current to lay a thin layer of real gold on the surface. The belt is not solid gold. Like any plating, it is a surface layer, so handle the belt gently.
Step 5: Choose a plate thickness
Plates are 2 mm thick as standard, and that is included in the price. You can go up to 3, 4 or 5 mm. Each extra millimetre costs $50, so 3 mm is +$50, 4 mm is +$100 and 5 mm is +$150.
Start at 2 mm unless your design has deep relief or you simply want a thicker plate. The plate thickness guide shows how to decide.
Step 6: Write the wording and check the mockup
Type out every word that goes on the belt exactly as it should appear, including capital letters, apostrophes and dates. Send your logo files and a short note on where things should sit. The guide to preparing your logo and artwork lists what to send.
A deposit starts the order. Within 48 hours you receive a digital mockup. Check spelling first, then spacing, then colours. Ask for as many changes as you need, because revisions are unlimited. The balance is due when you approve the mockup.
Build time is about 4 weeks from approval. An express 7-day build is +$80 per belt. Both are estimates, not guarantees.
What a finished design costs
Here are three examples with the options added up. All prices are for one belt.
| Example | Build and options | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Club title belt | SD, 2 mm plates, name plate engraving | $300 |
| Annual award | CNC, 3 mm plates, 24K gold | $420 |
| Showpiece | HD, 4 mm plates, 24K gold | $670 |
Five or more belts are 20% off each belt, and ten belts are 25% off each. Sets beyond ten are quoted individually. If you are designing a set, read the wholesale and bulk orders page.
Six design mistakes to avoid
- Too much text. Cut the wording until it is easy to read at arm's length.
- A low-quality logo file. A blurry file gives a blurry plate. Send the sharpest version you have.
- Leaving the holder's name until late. Use a name plate, so the main design can be approved now.
- Using artwork you do not own. Send logos and images you own or have permission to use.
- Approving on a quick look. Read every word of the mockup aloud, and ask someone else to read it too.
- Ordering too close to the date. Count back from your event, and leave time for revisions as well as the build.
Next step
Open the custom belt builder to start your mockup. If you want ideas first, browse the full catalogue and note which layouts you like.
In short
- Work in six steps: purpose, build, plates, colours and finish, thickness, then wording and mockup.
- SD is $275, CNC is $350 and HD is $550. 24K gold is +$20 and name plate engraving is +$25.
- The mockup is free, arrives within 48 hours, and revisions are unlimited.
- Build time is about 4 weeks from approval, or 7 days with express at +$80 per belt.
Questions
How much does it cost to design a custom championship belt?
The design and mockup are free. The belt itself is $275 for the SD build, $350 for CNC and $550 for HD. Options such as 24K gold (+$20), thicker plates (+$50 per extra millimetre), name plate engraving (+$25) and express building (+$80) are added on top.
How long does the design stage take?
You receive a digital mockup within 48 hours of sending your brief. How long approval takes depends on how many revisions you want. The build then takes about 4 weeks from approval, which is an estimate rather than a guarantee.
Can I change the design after I see the mockup?
Yes. Revisions to the mockup are unlimited. Once you approve it, the belt is made to order, so change-of-mind returns are not accepted. You can cancel free of charge within 24 hours of ordering.
Can the strap be any colour?
Yes. Any strap colour is available, and the front and back can be different colours.
What if I only have a rough idea?
Send what you have: a logo, a sketch, the wording and a note on the look you want. The mockup shows how it could work, and you can adjust it from there. Email support@msbelts.com if you have a question before you start.