Your badge is more than metal and enamel—it’s a symbol of authority, trust, and service that identifies your role to the public. Whether you’re outfitting a new police department, replacing worn sheriff badges, or establishing a professional security company, choosing the right badge design sends a powerful message about your organization’s professionalism and legitimacy.

This comprehensive guide explores over 100 professional badge designs used by law enforcement, security, and public safety agencies across America. You’ll learn which shapes, styles, and features work best for different roles, understand the traditions behind each design, and discover how to customize badges that perfectly represent your department’s identity.

From classic 5-point police stars to prestigious eagle top federal designs, we’ll help you navigate the world of custom badge design with confidence. Every design shown can be fully customized with your department name, badge numbers, seals, and text.

Understanding Star Badge Shapes

The number of points on a star badge isn’t arbitrary—it reflects tradition, jurisdiction type, and sometimes specific meanings. Understanding these conventions helps you choose a design that looks right to the public and fits your department’s role.

5-Point Star Designs: The Police Standard

The 5-point star is instantly recognizable as the symbol of American law enforcement. From beat cops to chiefs, this timeless design conveys authority and protection. Modern variations include stars set within circles for added dimension, rounded points for contemporary styling, and reverse enamel for vibrant department colors.

Classic 5-Point Stars in Circles

The star-in-circle design adds visual interest and provides more space for department text around the outer ring. Popular options include traditional proportions with classic styling, alternate proportion designs, and modern contemporary versions with updated aesthetics.

Departments seeking variations can choose from updated styling options, wide star point designs, bold appearance models, premium finish versions, or traditional heritage designs. For departments wanting colored accents, reverse enamel options allow vibrant department colors to stand out.

Rounded Point 5-Point Stars

Modern agencies often prefer rounded star points for a contemporary, approachable appearance. These designs maintain the authority of the star shape while offering softer visual lines. Popular choices include classic rounded tip designs, versions with decorative red stripes, and clean modern interpretations.

Additional rounded variations include traditional heritage styles, options with black stripe accents, and decorative striped versions that add visual depth.

Eagle Top 5-Point Stars

Some departments combine the recognition of the 5-point star with the prestige of an eagle top. These designs work especially well for state police, highway patrol, and departments seeking federal-style authority. Available options include federal agency styling, traditional eagle and star combinations, and reverse enamel versions with colored fills.

6-Point Star Designs: The Sheriff Tradition

The 6-point star is synonymous with American sheriffs, particularly in Western states. This distinctive shape immediately identifies county law enforcement and carries significant historical weight. The additional point creates visual distinction from police badges while maintaining the star’s authoritative symbolism.

Traditional 6-Point Stars

Sheriff offices can choose from classic traditional sheriff stars, modern contemporary designs, heritage-style badges, and premium quality options.

Additional sheriff star variations include clean proportion designs, wide point versions, bold statement designs, circle banner models, and reverse enamel styles for department color display.

Rounded Point 6-Point Stars

For a more modern sheriff appearance, rounded 6-point stars offer contemporary styling while maintaining tradition. Options include round tip designs, fully rounded edge versions, alternative rounded styles, contemporary 6-pointed designs, and updated heritage models.

7-Point Star Designs: Unique Authority

The 7-point star represents the seven principles of law enforcement: wise governance, organized investigation, individual responsibility, logical presentation of evidence, objective analysis, respect for all persons, and dedication to justice. This distinctive design sets departments apart while conveying deep meaning.

7-Point Stars with Ribbon Accents

Ribbon elements add dimension and provide space for rank designation or department mottos. Available designs include bottom ribbon configurations, top and bottom ribbon combinations, top ribbon styles, pointed star top ribbon models, and alternate ribbon designs.

Standard 7-Point Stars

For cleaner designs without ribbon elements, departments can select traditional 7-point stars, alternate standard designs, or circle point accented versions.

Eagle Top Badges: Federal Prestige and Authority

The eagle—America’s national symbol—atop a badge conveys federal authority and prestige. Traditionally associated with US Marshals, federal agents, and state-level law enforcement, eagle top badges command immediate respect and are instantly recognized as symbols of high-level government authority.

Eagle on Shield Designs

The eagle-on-shield combination is the most common federal badge design, offering excellent space for department seals and text. Popular options include traditional shield designs, modern shield interpretations, heritage shield styles, compact shield designs, alternate shield configurations, and specialized shield variants.

Square shield variations offer distinctive profiles, including square shield style 1 and square shield style 2.

Additional eagle-shield designs include updated federal styling, classic model C12-4, traditional C12 design, C13 variation 2, C13 variation 3, C13 variation 4, C14 model 2, standard C14 design, C16 premium option, D2 configuration, and modern A1 interpretation.

Eagle on Circle Designs

Circular badges with eagle tops offer elegant symmetry and work especially well for inspectors and regulatory agencies. Options include large circle center designs, compact circle style F1, compact circle style F2, traditional eagle circle A1, eagle circle B2, and eagle circle C11 variant.

Eagle on Square and Specialty Designs

For distinctive profiles, square eagle top badges offer unique geometry that stands out from traditional designs.

Additional specialty eagle designs include corrections officer eagle top C15, federal style E17, eagle top F1 design, F2 variant, F3 configuration, and F4 premium model.

Oval Badge Designs: The Detective Classic

Oval badges represent the classic detective profile—sleeker, more understated, and associated with investigative work rather than patrol. These designs work beautifully for detectives, inspectors, investigators, and plainclothes officers who need authoritative identification without the bold statement of a star badge.

Oval with 5-Point Star Center

Combining oval elegance with star recognition, these designs include traditional oval with star, larger oval star design D22, premium oval star A1, reverse enamel oval star, pointed star oval D25, and enamel pointed star oval.

Oval with 6-Point Star Center

Detective divisions within sheriff offices often prefer 6-point star ovals. Options include oval 6-point design H14, D15 configuration, pointed 6-star oval F1, D15 variant B, and large oval 6-point D18.

Oval with 7-Point Star Center

Seven-point star ovals offer distinctive investigator identification, with designs including D16 style 2, E1 configuration, pointed 7-star D16-3, standard D16, and 7-point with flag accents F4.

Plain Oval Designs

For the most understated detective look, plain ovals without star centers offer maximum customization space. Available designs include large oval F1, large oval F2, compact oval D10, D12 variant, D4A configuration, oval with building detail, and line edge oval D20.

Oval with Eagle and Specialty Designs

Federal investigators and state bureau detectives often choose eagle-topped ovals, available in reverse enamel eagle oval and eagle on shield oval combination. For unique designs, 8-point starburst oval badges offer distinctive visual impact.

Specialty & State-Specific Badge Designs

Some jurisdictions require state-specific badge designs, while others prefer unique animal or geometric elements that reflect regional identity and heritage. These specialty badges ensure compliance while celebrating local tradition.

State-Specific Circle Designs

Certain states have unique badge traditions. Arizona peace officer circle badges meet state specifications, while Texas offers traditional Texas circle design TX1 and alternate Texas circle TX2.

Animal Top Badges

Wildlife, park, and conservation officers often choose animal-topped badges reflecting their jurisdiction. Options include bear top badges for wildlife officers, bison top designs for park rangers, and lion top badges for conservation departments.

How to Choose the Right Badge Design for Your Department

With over 100 professional designs available, selecting the perfect badge requires balancing tradition, jurisdiction requirements, role identification, and aesthetic preferences. Follow this systematic approach to narrow your options and choose with confidence.

Step 1: Identify Your Department Type

Municipal Police: Start with 5-point star police badges as your baseline. These are universally recognized and appropriate for patrol, detectives, and command staff.

County Sheriff: Explore 6-point and 7-point sheriff star designs which carry strong Western law enforcement tradition and distinguish county from city jurisdiction.

Federal Agency: Consider eagle top badges which convey federal authority and align with US Marshals, FBI, and other federal law enforcement traditions.

Security Company: Browse professional security officer badges that convey authority without mimicking sworn law enforcement designs.

Private Investigator: Review PI badge designs that meet state licensing display requirements while maintaining professional appearance.

Step 2: Check State and Local Requirements

Some states mandate specific badge elements, colors, or shapes. Always verify requirements with your state POST commission or licensing board before finalizing your design. Our team can help research requirements for your jurisdiction during the free design consultation.

Step 3: Consider Rank Differentiation

Some departments use different badge shapes for different ranks (e.g., oval badges for detectives, stars for patrol). This visual hierarchy helps the public and other agencies immediately identify roles and authority levels.

Step 4: Material and Finish Selection

All our designs are available in die-struck metal with your choice of gold, silver, nickel, or bronze plating. Standard badges feature raised metal text and design elements, while reverse enamel options allow colored backgrounds for department colors or American flag accents. Learn more about our metal badge materials and finishes.

Frequently Asked Questions