Custom Detective Badges
Order Yours Online
When you earn the detective shield, your badge should carry the weight of the rank. Owl Badges makes custom metal detective badges built for plainclothes carry, personalized with your name, rank, and division, and finished in gold, silver, or two-tone. Single-badge orders welcome, from $45 to $150 per badge, produced in 8 to 14 weeks. Order yours below.
HOW IT WORKS
Creating a custom detective badge is easy with Owl Badges
Design your detective shield online, personalize it with your rank, name, and division, and order a single badge or your whole division. No design fees, no minimum order.
Discover professional detective badge styles
Browse our collection of detective badge designs — shield, star, oval, and eagle-top shapes in gold, silver, and two-tone finishes. Pick the style that fits your division and rank.
Customize your detective badge in real time
Add your detective rank, name, badge number, and division in the Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer and watch every change appear live before you order. Unlimited variations, no design fees.
Order instantly or request a quote
Order a single detective badge online, or request a quote for your whole division. Your mold stays on file for fast, free reorders.
What You Get With Every Detective Badge
Department-grade detective shields, built to order since 1999.
Design your custom detective badge with the Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer™
The Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer is the in-browser custom detective badge designer from Owl Badges. Officers, departments, and law enforcement agencies design their detective badge — shape, finish, seal, rank, and badge number — in real time, see live volume pricing, and order directly from the manufacturer. No software install, no account required to start, no dealer markup.
Need a custom detective badge? Request a quote.
Some agencies need a detective badge the TrueBadge Designer doesn't cover — a custom shape outside the standard catalog, a complex multi-layer department seal, hybrid metal-and-enamel finishes, inlaid stones, photographic memorial elements, or a one-of-a-kind department die. For these, the Owl Badges in-house design team builds your detective badge from scratch. There is no design fee, no mold setup fee, and no commitment to order.
- Fully custom shapes outside the standard catalog
- Complex multi-layer seals with raised 3D elements
- Hybrid finishes — antique, two-tone, enamel
- Inlaid stones & memorial badges with photographic elements
- One-of-a-kind department dies for unique shapes
Custom quotes typically returned within 4 business hours, Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM PST.
How to design your detective badge
Building your detective badge in the Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer takes three steps — choose your layout, add your rank and seal, then review and order. Here is exactly what you choose at each step.
Choose your style and panels
Start by picking your badge shape — shield, star, oval, or eagle-top — and the number of text panels. Detective badges usually carry a top panel for your department name, a center area for the department seal, and a lower panel for your rank and badge number. More panels give you room to add your division — Homicide, Robbery, Narcotics, or your own.
Add your rank, division, and seal
Fill each panel with your details: department name, detective rank, badge number, and division. Then set your seal — upload your department seal, choose your state seal, or add a custom emblem. Pick your finish: gold, silver, or two-tone to match your department standard. Every change previews on screen in real time.
Review in your cart and order
Add your finished design to the cart, where you can review every panel, swap a finish, edit your text, or duplicate the design to outfit your whole division. Confirm your quantities and total — volume pricing applies automatically — then check out. Your mold is kept on file at no charge, so reorders and replacements are fast.
Shop Detective Badge Styles
Browse our most-ordered detective badge styles. Personalize with your rank, name, badge number, and division — from $45 per badge in bulk.
Detective Shield · Gold (C10)From $45 in bulkCustomize →
Detective Shield · Gold (C15)From $45 in bulkCustomize →
Detective Shield · Gold (C11)From $45 in bulkCustomize →
Eagle-Top Shield · GoldFrom $45 in bulkCustomize →
Eagle-Top Shield · SilverFrom $45 in bulkCustomize →
Shield · SilverFrom $45 in bulkCustomize →
Oval Shield · GoldFrom $45 in bulkCustomize →
6-Point Star · GoldFrom $45 in bulkCustomize →Custom Detective Badge Pricing
Price per badge drops as your order quantity rises. No minimum order — single badges welcome. No setup fees, no mold fees.
| Quantity | Price per badge |
|---|---|
| 1–2 badges | $150 |
| 3–9 badges | $90 |
| 10–15 badges | $80 |
| 16–24 badges | $75 |
| 25–49 badges | $65 |
| 50–499 badges | $55 |
| 500+ badges | $45 |
Per-badge pricing varies with size, metal, plating, and customization. Volume discounts apply automatically at checkout. Pricing reviewed June 2026.
How many detective badges should you order?
Because production runs 8–14 weeks and we keep your die on file free, the best value is to order to your next price break rather than exactly to headcount — it covers turnover, new hires, and replacements without a rush reorder. Here is what we recommend by division size:
| Division size | We recommend ordering | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 detectives | Headcount + 2 spares | Covers a lost or damaged badge without a reorder. |
| 5–10 detectives | ~20 badges | Reaches the 16–24 break at $75/badge and covers turnover over the badge’s service life — the best value for most divisions. |
| 11–25 detectives | 25–30 badges | Hits the 25–49 tier at $65/badge with room for growth and replacements. |
| 26–50 detectives | 50+ badges | Reaches the 50–499 tier at $55/badge — the largest per-badge drop. |
| 50+ / multi-unit | 100+ badges | Deep volume pricing toward the $45 floor, with one consistent die across every unit. |
Detective Badges at a Glance
What we recommend for detective badges
Because detectives work in plainclothes, we recommend a die-struck solid brass badge in a gold finish, built for wallet or credential-case carry — a flat profile that sits cleanly opposite a photo ID rather than pinned to a uniform. A shield or eagle-top shape with your agency name, rank, badge number, and department seal reads as clear investigative authority. These are starting recommendations — every finish, shape, and carry format is fully customizable in the TrueBadge Designer.
Price Calculator
How much does a custom detective badge cost?
A custom detective badge costs $150 for a single badge and $90 each at three or more, die-struck and personalized for a sworn detective with name, title, number and seal. One badge is a real order — there is no minimum, no setup fee and no mold fee — and detective badges for sale to a division or agency drop to as low as $45 at volume. Production runs 8 to 14 weeks. Enter your quantity below.
No minimum · no setup or mold fees · 8–14 weeks · credential or license verified before production.
Detective badge price ladder
| Quantity | Price per badge | Typical order |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 badges | $150.00 | One detective — duty and spare |
| 3–9 badges | $90.00 | A small agency or unit |
| 10–15 badges | $80.00 | A division or bureau |
| 16–24 badges | $75.00 | A large agency |
| 25–49 badges | $65.00 | Department-wide investigator set |
| 50–499 badges | $55.00 | Agency or department rebadge |
| 500+ badges | $45.00 | Statewide programs |
Two badges cost $300. Three cost $270. Most investigators order a duty badge and a spare; a third for the case or a retirement piece makes the whole order cheaper. To price a badge to your own artwork, use our full-custom manufacturing price calculator.
Badges by Type
What does a detective badge look like, and which badge does each investigative rank wear?
A detective badge is usually a gold flat shield or oval carried in a credential case rather than pinned to a uniform — the same die-struck metal as a patrol badge, with DETECTIVE on the top panel, the department or city seal in the center and the badge number below. Detective badges differ by rank text and finish, not shape, so a police detective badge, a homicide detective badge and a detective sergeant badge come from one mold.
| Type | Typical finish | Typical shape & carry | Who carries it | Ordered when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detective | Gold | Flat shield or oval, wallet clip | Plainclothes investigators — the standard police detective badge | Assignment to an investigative division |
| Detective Sergeant | Gold | Flat shield, eagle-top | First-line investigative supervisors; the detective sergeant badge | Promotion within the division |
| Detective Lieutenant | Gold | Eagle-top | Division commanders | Promotion |
| Homicide Detective | Gold | Flat shield or oval | Homicide and major-crimes units; the homicide detective badge carries the unit name | Unit assignment |
| Narcotics / Vice Detective | Gold or subdued | Flat oval | Undercover and narcotics investigators; subdued finish on request | Unit assignment |
| Criminal Investigator | Gold | Shield, oval | Investigators in state and county agencies; the criminal investigator badge | Agency assignment |
| Sheriff’s Investigator | Gold | Star or oval | County investigators under a sheriff | Assignment |
| Peace Officer / Investigator | Gold or silver | Shield, oval | The district attorney investigator badge, state and special-jurisdiction investigators; the peace officer badge | Commission |
Gold is the detective convention in most departments, silver where the department runs silver for all sworn ranks. Detectives carry the badge in a case with the ID card, so most orders specify the wallet clip and a flat profile. Do detectives have badges of their own? Yes — the detective shield is issued on assignment, and this is the page to order yours — a custom investigator badge for any investigative title comes from the same mold.
Replacements
How do I replace a lost, stolen or worn detective badge?
A replacement detective badge costs $150 and is struck from the original mold if Owl Badges made it — the mold is retained free, so it comes back identical, with no setup fee and no minimum. Production runs 8 to 14 weeks; rush is available. Credential or license verification is repeated before any replacement enters production.
If we made your original
Reference your order or badge number; we pull the artwork and strike from the same mold, so finish, panel text, number and seal match.
If another maker made it
Send photos of the front and back plus your title and number. Our design team reproduces the pattern and cuts a mold that stays on file free.
Worn in the case
A wallet-carried badge wears at the edges and in the enamel from the case itself; thinned plating or a lifted seal is a replacement, not a repair — a plated badge cannot be re-plated without losing the die detail.
Title or license change
A new rank, a new license number or a second state means a new panel on the same mold. Order it as a reorder and keep the original as the spare.
Design Gallery
Detective Badge Design Gallery
Sample department badge patterns adapted for the detective shield — swap the department, DETECTIVE title and badge number in the TrueBadge Designer. A single badge is $150; division sets as low as $45 per badge.
Specs, Carry & Care
Detective Badge Specs, Carry and Care
A detective badge is carried, not pinned, so the specifications favor the credential case: a flat profile, a wallet clip, a gold finish that reads as rank, and a seal that survives a case opening a hundred times a day. A single custom detective badge is $150 with no setup fee and no minimum.
Detective badge specifications
| Shapes & sizes | Flat oval 2.25″ × 3.13″ · Flat shield 2.25″ × 3″ · Eagle-top shield 2.5″ × 3.46″ for detective sergeants and lieutenants. A detective shield badge in the flat profile is the standard. |
| Materials | Die-struck from raw brass, nickel silver, or zinc alloy — solid metal, never plastic. |
| Finishes | Gold (the investigator convention), silver, two-tone, antique, subdued. Antique and subdued suit surveillance and undercover work. |
| Enamel | Hard or soft enamel, color-matched to the seal. |
| Personalization | DETECTIVE (or Detective Sergeant, Homicide, Criminal Investigator), department or city seal, badge number, officer name optional. Detective insignia and the unit name go on the lower panel. |
| Backing options | Wallet clip standard for credential-case carry; safety pin or belt clip on request for dress and outer-carrier wear. |
| Price | $150 for one; $90 at three; as low as $45 on agency or division orders. |
| Minimum order | None. |
| Setup / mold fees | None — mold retained free. |
| Production time | 8–14 weeks from art approval; rush available. |
| Origin | US-based manufacturer since 1999. |
How it is carried, and which backing to order
| Backing | Where it is carried | Order it for |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet clip | Badge case with the department ID. | Detectives and investigators — the default. |
| Belt clip | Duty belt when displayed on a call-out. | Plainclothes with an outer carrier. |
| Safety pin | Dress uniform. | Ceremony and inspection. |
| Neck chain (case) | Badge case on a chain. | Warrant service and raids. |
Care for a case-carried badge
| Situation | Do this | Never do this |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday | Dry microfiber; mild soap on the cloth for heavier soil, dry completely. | Soak the badge. |
| Gold or antique finish | Microfiber only; the antique darkening is the finish. | Metal polish — it strips plating and removes the antique. |
| Enamel seal | Barely damp cloth along the raised lines. | Ultrasonic cleaners and solvents. |
| Case wear | Choose a case with a fabric or leather backing; check the clip seam monthly. | A case with a bare metal backing plate — it scratches the reverse. |
| Storage | In the case, or a lined box. | Loose with keys. |
Custom Detective Badges, Order for Your Division
Owl Badges makes custom detective badges for sworn detectives, from $45 to $150 with an 8–14 week build. Ordering for a whole department rather than yourself? The department hub covers agency-wide programs; individual patrol officers order their own shields; and K9 handlers order unit-specific badges. Compare options for agency-wide police department badges for full-department programs, individual sworn officer badges for the patrol-officer rank, and K9 unit handler badges for K9 handler assignments. Order your detective badge online, with your mold kept on file for fast reorders.
Shop Detective Badges by Category
Find the right detective badge for your rank, division, and department standard.
Detective Shield Badges
Classic shield-shape detective badges in gold, silver, or two-tone.
Detective Star Badges
Star-shape badges for departments that issue the star to detectives.
Oval Detective Badges
Clean oval detective badges sized for credential-case carry.
Eagle-Top Detective Badges
Eagle-top detective shields for a traditional command look.
Division-Specific Badges
Badges engraved for Homicide, Robbery, Narcotics, and other units.
Retirement & Commemorative
Commemorative detective badges to mark a promotion or retirement.
Detective Sergeant & Lieutenant Badges
Gold eagle-top or flat shield for investigative supervisors, personalized with rank, division and badge number.
Plainclothes Wallet Badges
Flat-profile detective badges with wallet clip, sized for a credential case beside the department ID.
Unlimited Customization Options
Every detective badge can be fully personalized in the Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer — our live, in-browser badge design tool. Set your rank, division, and badge number, choose your shape and finish, and see every change in real time before you order. No design fees, unlimited variations.
- Your detective rank and name
- Division (Homicide, Robbery, Narcotics, and more)
- Custom badge numbers
- Department seal or custom emblem
- Choice of metal finishes (gold, silver, two-tone)
Detective Badges for Every Sector
We make custom detective badges for sworn detectives across every level of law enforcement, built to your department standard.
Whatever unit you serve, your detective badge is built to order, personalized to your rank and division.
Start Your OrderHOW TO
How do I order a custom detective badge with Owl Badges?
Ordering your detective badge takes four steps — browse the styles, pick your shape and finish, personalize it, and order online or request a quote for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Owl Badges TrueBadge Designer work?
How much does a custom detective badge cost?
Is there a minimum order?
How long does production take?
Can I put my detective rank and division on the badge?
What metals and finishes are available?
What badge shapes do you offer?
Is the badge built for plainclothes carry?
Do you keep my mold for reorders?
Are there setup or mold fees?
Can I order a retirement or commemorative detective badge?
Can I see my design before ordering?
Do you make badges for an entire detective division?
Where are Owl Badges made?
How do I order a custom detective badge?
What does a detective badge look like?
Ready to Order Your Detective Badge?
Browse detective badge styles, personalize yours in the TrueBadge Designer, and order online — single badges welcome, no setup fees.
Shop Detective Badges
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