Plate thickness is how thick the metal plates on the front of your belt are, measured in millimetres (mm). MS Belts makes plates 2 mm thick as standard, and 2 mm is included in the price. Plates of 3, 4 or 5 mm add $50 for each extra millimetre: 3 mm adds $50, 4 mm adds $100 and 5 mm adds $150. A thicker plate does two things. It allows deeper relief, which means the design can stand further out from its background. It also weighs more. Thickness does not change the artwork or the strap. Stay at 2 mm for a lighter belt. Go thicker if you want more depth in the design and more weight in your hands.
The four options side by side
| Thickness | Price change | Room for relief | Weight | Consider it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mm | Included | Least of the four | Lightest of the four | You want a lighter belt to wear and pass around |
| 3 mm | +$50 | More than 2 mm | Heavier than 2 mm | You want a little more depth without much more weight |
| 4 mm | +$100 | More than 3 mm | Heavier than 3 mm | The belt will be worn sometimes and displayed often |
| 5 mm | +$150 | Most of the four | Heaviest of the four | The belt is mainly for display and you want the most depth and weight |
The comparisons assume the same design in the same build. We do not publish belt weights, because weight depends on the design, the build and the thickness together. If you need a figure, ask and we will confirm it in writing for your order.
What is a plate, and what is relief?
The plates are the metal pieces fixed to the front of the strap. A championship belt usually has one large centre plate and smaller plates on either side.
Relief is the difference in height between the raised parts of a design and the background behind them. Lettering that stands up from the surface is in relief. On custom belts the SD plates are brass, cut and engraved to the design; the CNC plates are brass, machined for finer detail; and the HD plates are zinc alloy, cast in a mould made for the design. A thicker plate gives more metal to work into, so the design can have more depth. The guide to how belt plates are made explains the process in plain words.
What will you notice in real life?
- Shadow and depth. Deeper relief casts stronger shadows, so details stand out more from an angle and in photos.
- The edge. Seen from the side, a thicker plate has a taller edge.
- Weight. A thicker plate contains more metal, so the belt is heavier to hold up and to wear.
As a general rule, the difference is clearer up close, from the side and in the hand than it is from across a room.
What does thickness cost?
2 mm is included on every belt. Each extra millimetre adds $50, on custom belts and on catalogue belts alike. For example, a CNC belt is $350 with 2 mm plates. With 4 mm plates it is $350 + $100 = $450, and with 24K gold as well it is $350 + $100 + $20 = $470.
What does thickness not change?
- The artwork. You are choosing how thick the plate is, not a different design.
- The strap. It is cowhide leather in any colour, whichever plate you choose. Any belt size can be made, from kids to jumbo.
- The build and the finish. SD, CNC or HD, and 24K gold electroplating, are separate choices with their own prices.
Which thickness should you choose?
Start from how the belt will be used.
- Passed around and worn a lot, for example a league trophy that changes hands each season: a thinner plate keeps the weight down.
- Worn by a child or a smaller adult: lighter is easier to wear, so stay thin.
- Displayed on a shelf, a wall or a desk: weight matters less, so a thicker plate gives you more depth to look at.
- Held up for photos or presented on a stage: deeper relief gives stronger shadows under lights.
- Not sure: 2 mm is the standard and it is a complete belt. Say so when you send your artwork and ask us about thicker plates for your design.
There is no wrong answer here. Thickness is a preference, not a grade.
How do thickness and build work together?
Thickness is not the only thing that adds depth. The HD build, with zinc alloy plates cast in a mould, gives the deepest relief, and the CNC build gives finer detail than SD. If you want the most substantial belt, go thicker, choose HD, or do both. The guide to brass or cast zinc alloy plates compares the metals and the builds.
Does a thicker plate take longer to make?
A custom belt takes about 4 weeks from the day you approve the mockup, or 7 days with the express option for an extra $80 per belt. These are estimates, not guarantees. If you have a fixed date and want a thicker plate, tell us before you order and we will confirm the timing in writing. The guide to planning back from your event date shows how to count the weeks.
In short
- 2 mm is the standard thickness and is included. 3, 4 and 5 mm add $50 for each extra millimetre: +$50, +$100 and +$150.
- Thicker plates allow deeper relief and weigh more. The artwork and the strap stay the same.
- Choose thinner for a belt that is worn and passed around, and thicker for a belt that is mostly displayed.
- We do not publish belt weights. Ask and we will confirm the figure in writing for your order.
Next step
Pick the thickness in the belt builder, or read what a championship belt costs.
Questions
What plate thickness is standard?
2 mm. It is included in the price of every belt.
How much do thicker plates cost?
Each extra millimetre adds $50. Plates 3 mm thick add $50, 4 mm add $100 and 5 mm add $150.
Do thicker plates make the belt heavier?
Yes. As a general rule a thicker plate contains more metal, so the belt weighs more. We do not publish belt weights, so ask and we will confirm a figure in writing for your order.
Which thickness suits a belt that is worn a lot?
A thinner plate keeps the weight down, so 2 mm suits a belt that is worn often, passed from one winner to the next, or worn by a child. A thicker plate suits a belt that is mostly displayed.
Does thickness change the artwork or the strap?
No. The design and the cowhide leather strap stay the same whichever thickness you choose.