When to order a custom trophy: count back from your event
Add the time to make the trophy, the shipping days and one spare day so it arrives before the event. The table counts from the slowest ground states in the contiguous U.S.; closer states can order a few days later.
| Order | Making | Shipping | Approve and pay by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard order, shipped by ground | 4–6 weeks | 1–5 business days (more to Alaska and Hawaii) | 7 weeks and 1 business day before the event |
| Standard order, next-day shipping | 4–6 weeks | 1 business day, $100–$200 for most trophies | 6 weeks and 2 business days before the event |
| Plated or complex trophy, shipped by ground | 6–8 weeks | 1–5 business days | 9 weeks and 1 business day before the event |
| Rush order, next-day shipping | 1–2 weeks | 1 business day, $100–$200 for most trophies | 2 weeks and 2 business days before the event |
| Rush order in New York City | 1–2 weeks | None: pickup by appointment or local delivery | 2 weeks and 1 business day before the event |
In New York City there is no shipping day: you pick up by appointment or we arrange local delivery, so local orders get that day back. The fastest any trophy can be made is about 3 business days, one full day to print and one full day to paint, and only as an exception.
When do I need to order?
Pick where it ships, your event date and the kind of order. The estimate uses the top of each lead-time range and the slow end of the ground range for the state.
Ground shipping days by state from New York
Typical business days by ground from our Queens studio (ZIP 11385), from the FedEx Ground service map for New York City. A range means the state spans more than one zone. These are carrier estimates, not guarantees, and they skip weekends and holidays.
| State | Ground, business days | Next-day air |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2–3 | Yes |
| Alaska | 6–7+ | Most addresses; remote areas 2 days |
| Arizona | 4–5 | Yes |
| Arkansas | 2–3 | Yes |
| California | 4–5 | Yes |
| Colorado | 4 | Yes |
| Connecticut | 1 | Yes |
| Delaware | 1–2 | Yes |
| Florida | 3 | Yes |
| Georgia | 2–3 | Yes |
| Hawaii | 6–7+ | Most addresses; remote areas 2 days |
| Idaho | 5 | Yes |
| Illinois | 2 | Yes |
| Indiana | 2 | Yes |
| Iowa | 2–3 | Yes |
| Kansas | 3–4 | Yes |
| Kentucky | 2 | Yes |
| Louisiana | 3 | Yes |
| Maine | 2 | Yes |
| Maryland | 1–2 | Yes |
| Massachusetts | 1 | Yes |
| Michigan | 2–3 | Yes |
| Minnesota | 3 | Yes |
| Mississippi | 2–3 | Yes |
| Missouri | 2–3 | Yes |
| Montana | 4–5 | Yes |
| Nebraska | 3–4 | Yes |
| Nevada | 4–5 | Yes |
| New Hampshire | 1–2 | Yes |
| New Jersey | 1 | Yes |
| New Mexico | 3–4 | Yes |
| New York | 1–2 | Yes |
| North Carolina | 2 | Yes |
| North Dakota | 3–4 | Yes |
| Ohio | 2 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | 3 | Yes |
| Oregon | 5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | 1–2 | Yes |
| Rhode Island | 1 | Yes |
| South Carolina | 2 | Yes |
| South Dakota | 3–4 | Yes |
| Tennessee | 2 | Yes |
| Texas | 3–4 | Yes |
| Utah | 4–5 | Yes |
| Vermont | 1–2 | Yes |
| Virginia | 2 | Yes |
| Washington | 5 | Yes |
| West Virginia | 2 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | 2–3 | Yes |
| Wyoming | 4–5 | Yes |
Next-day air reaches every state. In Alaska and Hawaii it reaches most addresses, and the carriers say some remote areas take a day longer.
What next-day shipping costs
Next-day shipping runs about $100–$200 for most trophies. Bigger pieces cost more, and we quote them. You pay for shipping; trophy prices are plus tax and shipping. Ground shipping costs less and is quoted to your ZIP code.
Next-day shipping is how fast a finished trophy travels. It does not make the trophy faster: that is what a rush order is for.
What a rush order means, and why it costs more
Our standard turnaround is 4–6 weeks, and 6–8 weeks for longer, complex or plated pieces. A rush order in 1–2 weeks is possible for many projects, depending on the design, your budget and where it ships.
To rush a trophy we set other work aside and make yours first. That is why a rush carries a rush premium on top of the trophy price and shipping. The premium depends on the project and is in your written quote. Jobs faster than our rush are exceptions we take when the schedule allows.
What can and cannot be rushed
- Painted resin trophies can. Most rush orders are painted, including metallic paint: a fintech company’s 32 gold-painted awards were made on a rush for its awards night.
- Metal plating cannot. Plating takes 6–8 weeks after the 3D model is approved. On a tight date, ask for a painted metallic finish instead.
- Big pieces take longer. A brand asked for a 30-inch trophy three weeks before its event; to meet the date we recommended 24 inches in a single solid color. A smaller size or a simpler finish is often how a tight date stays possible.
- Nothing is made overnight. Every trophy needs a full day to print and a full day to paint, so next-day production is not possible.
Common questions about trophy shipping and rush orders
Can I get a custom trophy by this Friday?
Usually not. A custom trophy takes at least 3 business days to make, because it needs a full day to print and a full day to paint before it is finished and packed. Our rush is 1–2 weeks. If your date is closer, ask anyway: a very rushed job is sometimes possible as an exception, with a rush premium quoted for your project.
How long does it take to make a custom trophy?
Standard turnaround is 4–6 weeks, and 6–8 weeks for longer, complex or plated pieces. Rush orders in 1–2 weeks are possible for many projects, depending on the design, your budget and where it ships. We count from the day you approve the design and pay, and your written quote confirms the date.
Do you offer next-day shipping on trophies?
Yes, to any state. Next-day shipping costs about $100–$200 for most trophies, and more for large pieces, which we quote. You pay for shipping; it is not included in the trophy price. Next-day shipping is how fast it travels once it is finished, not next-day production.
How long does ground shipping take from New York to California or Texas?
By the carrier’s ground map, about 4–5 business days to California and 3–4 to Texas. These are typical carrier estimates, not guarantees, and they do not count weekends or holidays.
Can you ship a trophy to Alaska or Hawaii in time for my event?
Yes. Ground takes about 6 to 7 or more business days, so most Alaska and Hawaii orders go by air. Next-day air reaches most addresses there, and remote areas usually take a day longer, so plan an extra day.
Is there a rush fee for custom trophies?
Yes. A rush job means we set other work aside to make yours first, so it carries a rush premium on top of the trophy price and shipping. The premium depends on the project and is in your written quote.
Can a gold or plated trophy be rushed?
Metal plating takes 6–8 weeks after the 3D model is approved, so it does not fit a rush. On a tight date, a painted metallic finish is the usual answer: a fintech company’s gold-painted awards were made on a rush for its awards night.
When does the lead time start?
When you approve the design and pay. The free concept mockup and the 3D model approval come before that, so send your date with your first message and we will plan backwards from it.
Can I pick up my trophy in New York?
Yes. Pickup is by appointment at our studios in Glendale, Queens and Brooklyn, or we can arrange local delivery in New York City. With no shipping day, New York orders get that day back.
Is shipping included in the trophy price?
No. Trophy prices are plus tax and shipping. Ground shipping is quoted to your ZIP code, and next-day shipping runs about $100–$200 for most trophies.