Badge design is far more than aesthetics—it’s a visual language that communicates authority, role, and tradition in split seconds. A sheriff’s star tells a different story than a detective’s oval or a federal agent’s eagle shield. Understanding these design conventions helps departments maintain professional standards while honoring law enforcement heritage.

This comprehensive guide catalogs over 100 professional badge designs used across American law enforcement and public safety. You’ll discover shield variations, oval edge treatments, deputy configurations, police department designs, and specialty badges that serve specific roles from patrol officers to federal agents.

Whether you’re establishing a new department, updating your badge design, or simply exploring options for promotion, this guide provides the detailed reference you need to make informed decisions that enhance both professional recognition and departmental pride.

Understanding Badge Shapes: What Each Design Communicates

Badge shapes evolved from historical symbols of authority. Stars represent frontier sheriffs and municipal police. Shields connect to medieval guards and governmental power. Ovals emerged as the detective profile in the early 1900s. Eagles symbolize federal authority. Understanding these traditions helps you select designs that communicate appropriate authority and maintain professional recognition.

Shield Badge Designs

Shield badges connect to medieval guard symbolism and represent governmental protective power. Federal agencies, state police, and command staff typically choose shields to communicate state or federal authority.

Classic Shield Badges

Traditional plain shields include shield A10B, shield A10C, shield F19 variant 2, F19B configuration, standard F19, and F21 variant.

Shields with Star Centers

Combining shields with stars creates hybrid designs perfect for sheriff departments. Options include shield with 5-point star and shield with 7-point star.

Eagle Shield Badges

Federal-style eagle shields include eagle shield B19, E1 design, F20 variant 4, F30 eagle, and G1 configuration.

Eagle top shield variations include eagle top B1 variant 2, B18 eagle, F20 variant 2, F21 eagle top, Michigan MI2, Wisconsin WI1, and Wisconsin WI2.

State-Specific Shields

Canadian agencies can select Ontario Provincial Police shields meeting provincial specifications.

Oval Badge Designs

Oval badges are the classic detective profile, offering discreet horizontal shape perfect for wallet credentials and plainclothes work. Edge treatments add visual interest while maintaining investigative character.

Line Edge and Decorative Ovals

Decorative edge ovals include line edge oval D23, lined edge D24, and sunburst line edge D19.

Reef Edge Ovals

Rope-like reef edges add traditional character. Options include reef edge D13 variant 2, D13 variant 4, and reef edge with reverse enamel.

Ribbed and Textured Ovals

Subtle texture options include ribbed edge oval G1 for understated visual interest.

Ovals with Eagle Elements

Federal investigator ovals include reverse enamel oval with eagle and flags and eagle and flag oval A1.

State-Specific Ovals

Regional designs include Texas oval with 5-point star honoring Lone Star State traditions.

Deputy Sheriff Badge Designs

Deputy badges typically match sheriff badge shapes but with “DEPUTY SHERIFF” or “DEPUTY” text to maintain department visual consistency while indicating rank.

Deputy Star Badges

Star configurations include 5-point star in circle deputy, 5-point rounded edges, 6-point deputy F3, 6-pointed in circle, 7-point H12, and 7-pointed H20.

Deputy Eagle Top Badges

Eagle tops for deputies include eagle top deputy D1 and E17 configuration.

Deputy Detective Badges

Oval deputy designs include oval 7-point F4 and oval 7-pointed F5.

Deputy Shield Badges

Shield deputies include shield deputy A10 and shield deputy A1.

Police Badge Design Variations

Municipal police departments use numerous design variations for different ranks, divisions, and specializations beyond the standard patrol star.

Police Detective Ovals

Detective badges include detective D16, D16 variant 2, D16 version 3, detective E1, and 7-pointed oval with reverse enamel.

Police Shield Variations

Shield-shaped police badges include police shield B1-2, F19, F19 version 2, F19 version 3, F19 version 7, F20, F20 variant 2, F20 variant 4, F21, F21 variant 2, and F30 shield.

Police Star Variations (14-Series)

Standard star variations include 14-series A1-2, B1, B10, B10-3, B2, B3, B4, C1, and H10-2.

Police 7-Point Star Variations

Seven-point police stars include 15-series H11-2, 16-series H12, H20, 17-series B1, H13, H14, H14-2, and H15.

Police 6-Point Star Variations

Six-point police stars include 18-series A1, H14, H14-2, 19-series F1, H15, and H16.

Police Circle and Specialty Designs

Circle and specialty configurations include circle 2-B1, 20-series A16, A16-2, H16, 22-series D19, and D20.

Specialty Badge Designs and Alternative Configurations

Beyond traditional law enforcement shapes, specialized badge designs serve event management, emergency medical services, and ceremonial purposes.

Sunburst Geometric Designs

Ceremonial sunburst badges include sunburst circle center and sunburst square design.

Convention and Event Badges

Professional conference identification includes convention badges, CB3-C11AK, event badge CB5-D10, and lanyard badges.

EMT and Paramedic Patches

Emergency medical patches include EMT patches HC1-A1, HC1-A1 variant 2, and HT2-A1 design.

General Custom Options

Multi-purpose badges include design 13-3C11, custom-made CB1-A10, and custom metal CB19-F1.

How to Choose the Right Badge Design

Selecting appropriate badge designs involves balancing tradition, authority communication, practical function, and departmental identity.

Step 1: Identify Your Primary Role

Patrol officers: Star badges work best for uniformed patrol. These shapes clearly identify patrol duties and clip easily to uniform shirts.

Sheriff departments: Star badges honor frontier sheriff traditions and immediately identify county law enforcement. Browse sheriff badge designs for options.

Detectives and investigators: Oval badges provide the classic detective profile and fit wallet credential cases perfectly. See investigator badges.

Federal agents and state police: Shield badges communicate governmental authority and photograph well for credentials. Explore federal agency badges.

Step 2: Consider Regional and Organizational Traditions

Research what surrounding agencies use to maintain inter-agency recognition. Check your state’s sheriff association or police chiefs association for common design standards. If your department has historical badge designs, modern versions that honor those traditions strengthen organizational identity.

Step 3: Plan for Rank Hierarchy

Use shape progression to indicate rank: patrol wears stars, detectives wear ovals, command staff wears shields or eagle tops. Alternatively, use the same shape across ranks but vary size or add eagles for command positions. Visit our design gallery to visualize options.

Step 4: Evaluate Practical Needs

Consider how officers will wear badges. Uniformed personnel need badges that clip securely to shirts. Detectives benefit from wallet-sized duplicates. Federal agents requiring frequent credential display prefer vertical shields. Think about photography for ID cards—shields and ovals photograph better than complex star configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions