The metal cup is the trophy. When a person pictures a championship, they picture a cup held overhead, and no other format has replaced it in a century. What has changed is the range. Cups now come in several constructions, two main metals, multiple finishes, heights from under 9 inches to well over 15, and configurations from a single completed piece to a kit with a perpetual base. This guide sorts through the options so you can choose the right cup for the occasion and the budget.
Constructions
Completed cups
A completed cup arrives assembled: cup, stem, and base as one unit with a plate ready for engraving. It is the simplest to order and the fastest to turn around. The 10″ Gold Completed Metal Cup Trophy, the 11″ Silver and Gold Star Completed Metal Cup, and the 12″ Silver and Gold Completed Metal Cup are all this format. For most league championships, tournament awards, and individual honors, a completed cup is the right choice.
Easy cup kits
A kit provides the cup and a base with the option to configure the stem, add a figure, or build up a perpetual base with additional name plates. Kits offer more flexibility for perpetual trophies and for organizations that want a signature look. The 12 1/2″ Gold Winged Easy Cup Kit, the 13 3/4″ Silver Winged Easy Cup Kit, and the 15 1/4″ Gold Winged Easy Cup Kit are the standard winged-handle kits.
Cups with plastic stems
A metal cup on a plastic stem and base, like the 10 1/4″ Gold and Silver Metal Cup with Plastic Stem, brings the cost down for larger orders while keeping the metal cup on top. The stem is less noticeable than you would expect. A good option for youth leagues that want cups rather than columns.
Metals
Metal cups are made from either a general “metal” alloy or zinc. Zinc cups are heavier, feel more substantial in hand, and hold a finish well. The 11 3/4″ Gold Completed Zinc Cup and the 11 3/4″ Silver Completed Zinc Cup are examples. Standard metal cups are lighter and less expensive and look essentially the same on a shelf. For a trophy that will be handled and passed around, zinc. For a trophy that goes home with a player, standard metal is fine.
Finishes
Gold and silver are the two finishes, with two-tone silver-and-gold combinations common on completed cups. Gold reads as first place and championship. Silver reads as second place or as a more understated championship look. Two-tone splits the difference and photographs well. Textured finishes, like the 11 3/4″ Silver and Gold Textured Completed Cup, add visual interest at close range.
For tiering first, second, and third, use the same cup in gold, silver, and a smaller size or bronze-toned finish. Keeping the style constant across the tier is what makes it read as a set.
Sizes
Cups start around 8 3/4 inches, like the 8 3/4″ Silver Completed Metal Cup, and run up past 15. The 9 3/4″ Gold Completed Cup and the 10-inch family are the workhorses. The 11 to 12 range is for featured first-place pieces. The 13 to 15 range is for championship and perpetual use. The trophy size guide compares heights across all styles.
Engraving
Cups engrave in two places: the base plate and the cup body. Base plate engraving is standard and fast. Cup body engraving is the traditional championship look, fits more text, and reads from a distance; it costs a little more and takes a little longer. Perpetual bases add a header plate and a grid of annual plates. The trophy engraving guide covers all three.
Perpetual cups
A cup on a tiered perpetual base with a dozen or more blank plates is the format that turns into a league institution. The cup stays with the organization or passes to each year’s winner, and a new plate is engraved annually. Easy cup kits are the usual starting point because the base can be configured with the plate count you need. Our perpetual trophies vs perpetual plaques guide covers when a cup is the right perpetual format and when a plaque is.
Choosing
For a single league or tournament championship: a 10 to 12 inch completed cup in gold, engraved on the base plate.
For a perpetual trophy: a 13 to 15 inch easy cup kit on a multi-plate base, header engraved with the award and founding year.
For youth participation in quantity: a 9 to 10 inch cup on a plastic stem, base plate engraved.
For a featured individual award: a 12 inch zinc cup with body engraving.
Cups by occasion
League championships take a 10 to 12 inch completed cup in gold, base plate engraved with the league, division, team, and season.
Tournament placement takes the same cup family in three heights or finishes for first, second, and third.
Perpetual awards take a 13 to 15 inch easy cup kit on a tiered base with a dozen or more plates.
Youth participation in quantity takes a 9 to 10 inch cup on a plastic stem, or medals.
Individual honors take a 11 to 12 inch zinc cup with body engraving.
Corporate and club recognition takes a 10 to 12 inch cup with a logo on the base plate, or a crystal piece if the setting is formal. The crystal awards catalog covers that alternative.
Fantasy leagues take whatever is largest with a perpetual base. See the fantasy football awards and trophies guide.
Handles, lids, and figures
Winged handles are the traditional cup silhouette and the most recognizable. Handle-less cups read as more modern. Lids add height and formality and are common on championship pieces; a lidded cup can carry a figure on top for sport-specific trophies. Figures, meaning a sport-specific casting on the lid or stem, turn a generic cup into a soccer, baseball, or golf trophy and are available on most kits.
Bases
Plastic bases are standard on completed cups and are fine for most uses; they are weighted and finished to match. Wood bases, usually walnut or a walnut finish, add weight and formality and are the usual choice for perpetual configurations. Marble bases add the most weight and the most formal look and are common on crystal pieces and premium cups. The base is where the plate sits, and larger bases carry larger plates.
Care
Metal cup trophies are finished with a protective lacquer and need only occasional dusting. Do not polish with abrasive cleaners, which remove the lacquer and expose the base metal to tarnish. A soft dry cloth is enough. Cups that will be handled at events and passed between winners hold up well; the finish is durable under normal handling.
Common cup-buying mistakes
Choosing by photo without reading the material. Zinc and standard metal look identical in a photo and feel different in hand.
Ordering a completed cup when a perpetual base is wanted. Completed cups have a single plate; perpetual configurations need a kit or a special base.
Mixing cup families across a tier. First, second, and third should be the same family.
Engraving the cup body on a first-year perpetual trophy before the text is certain. Body engraving is permanent; base plates are replaceable.
Underestimating the plate count. A league that has run five years will run fifteen. Order the base for the long horizon.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Are metal cups actually metal?
The cup is metal, typically a zinc alloy or a plated base metal. The stem and base vary by product and are listed on the product page.
Q. Do cups tarnish?
Not under the factory lacquer. Avoid abrasive cleaning and they stay bright.
Q. Can the cup be engraved directly?
Yes, on the body, for a traditional championship look. See the trophy engraving guide.
Q. How much does a metal cup trophy cost?
It depends on size and construction. The engraving cost guide explains how trophies are priced, and the trophy catalog lists prices by piece.
Q. What is the difference between a completed cup and a kit?
A completed cup arrives assembled with one plate. A kit provides the cup and base with configurable stem and perpetual options.
Quick reference by size
8 to 9 inches: participation and small individual awards. Standard metal, plastic stem, base plate engraving.
10 inches: the default. League and tournament placement, individual honors. Completed cup, gold or two-tone, base plate.
11 to 12 inches: featured first place. Zinc, gold, base plate or body engraving.
13 to 15 inches: championship and perpetual. Easy cup kit, winged handles, tiered base with plates, header engraved.
18 inches and up: statement and novelty. Perpetual base, body engraving.
The trophy size guide compares these heights across all trophy styles, not just cups.
Ordering
Viking Awards stocks every cup in this guide and engraves in-house, so cup, plate, and engraving arrive as one finished piece. Browse the trophy catalog, read the how to order custom trophies guide for the process, or call (630) 833-1733 with the occasion and count. Chicago-area buyers can pick up in Westchester; see the trophy shop guide.