How to Design Custom Hockey Pucks for Your Team

Your team deserves pucks that look as good as they play. Custom hockey pucks turn end-of-season gifts into keepsakes and make tournament giveaways memorable. But getting the design right can feel tricky when you're working on a 3-inch rubber disc.

Our design team is here to help create the best design for your custom pucks. Our team has years of experience creating the perfect layout for your team, simply send us your logo and we’ll provide a few design options to choose from.

However, if you want to design your own puck or have more input into the design, follow the below steps to get the best result.

Start with Your Colors

Team colors are your foundation. Most custom hockey pucks work best with 2-3 main colors that match your jerseys or logo. The black rubber shows through between your design elements, so plan for that contrast.

If your team wears dark colors like navy or maroon, you'll want white or bright accents to make your design pop. Light-colored teams can go bolder with their color choices since everything stands out against black rubber.

Choose What Goes on Each Side

You've got two sides to work with. Here's how most teams use them:

Side 1 (Top): Team logo, team name, or main design

Side 2 (Bottom): Player names and numbers, season year, or tournament info

Some teams put everything on one side and leave the other blank. That works fine if you're keeping things simple or watching your budget.

Player Names and Numbers

This is where custom hockey pucks really shine. Each player getting their own puck with their name and number makes the gift personal.

Your text needs to be readable. Names work best in bold fonts, capital letters, and sizes that don't cram too much on the puck. Numbers should be big enough to read from a few feet away.

Here's a layout that works: Player name arched across the top, number large in the center, position or year below. Keep spacing consistent so the whole team looks uniform.

Logo Placement Tips

Your logo is the centerpiece, so give it room. Center it on the puck and make it large enough to recognize instantly. Small details get lost on pucks, so simpler logo versions often work better than your full design.

If you're adding text around your logo, keep it to one line at the top and one at the bottom. More than that starts looking crowded.

What Makes a Design Work on a Puck

Pucks are small and round. Designs that work on jerseys or posters might not translate well. Here's what does work:

Bold, simple shapes: Fine lines disappear. Thick outlines and solid shapes print clearly.

High contrast: Light on dark or dark on light. Medium tones blend together and look muddy.

Centered designs: The circular shape means centered layouts look natural. Off-center designs can feel awkward unless you're intentionally creating a specific effect.

Limited text: A few words read fine. Paragraphs don't. Stick to team name, player name, number, and maybe the year.

File Formats and Artwork

Most custom puck companies want your logo as a high-resolution file. Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) work best because they scale without losing quality. If you only have a PNG or JPG, make sure it's at least 300 DPI.

Photos can work on pucks if they're sharp and well-lit. Team photos, action shots, or coach portraits all print well when you start with a good image.

Don't have your files ready? Many companies offer free design proofs. You send them your ideas, they mockup options, and you pick what looks best. This takes 24-48 hours but removes the guesswork.

Design Ideas That Teams Love

Classic team puck: Logo centered, team name arched on top, season year on bottom. Clean and timeless.

Player tribute: Individual photo of each player on one side, name and number on the other. Parents love these.

Championship commemorative: Tournament name and date on one side, team roster on the other. Great for playoff runs.

Dual logo: Team logo on one side, league or association logo on the other. Shows both identities.

Jersey design: Replicate your team jersey layout on the puck. Familiar and professional looking.

Common Design Mistakes to Avoid

Too much text makes pucks hard to read. If you're squinting at your design, cut something.

Tiny logos disappear. Make your main elements at least 2 inches across.

Too many colors can look busy. Stick to your team palette.

Low-resolution files come out blurry. Always use the highest quality images you have.

The Design Process

Most companies work the same way:

• Pick your puck quantity
• Upload your artwork or describe what you want
• Get a free proof within 24-48 hours
• Request changes if needed
• Approve and order 

The whole process takes about a week from initial contact to pucks arriving. Rush orders cost more but can cut that time in half.

Bulk Orders and Personalization

If you need 25 pucks with the same design, that's straightforward. If you need 25 pucks each with different names and numbers, that's personalization. Most companies handle both, but you'll need to send a roster or spreadsheet with each player's info.

Double-check your roster. Fixing a misspelled name after printing means reordering that puck.

How Durable Are Custom Designs?

Custom hockey pucks handle normal use fine. Display them, toss them around at practice, use them as awards. The design stays put.

Game pucks are different. Ice is abrasive. Slapshots compress the rubber. Skate blades scrape across. Logos on game pucks start showing wear within minutes at higher levels of play. At youth levels, a puck might last a full season.

If your pucks are for gameplay, order extras. If they're for memories, they'll last as long as the puck does.

Getting Started

Ready to design your custom hockey pucks? Here's your first step:

Gather your logo files and team colors. Write down what text you want on each side. Count how many pucks you need.

That's all you need to request a free proof. The design team handles the rest and sends you options to review. You approve what you like, and your pucks show up ready to hand out.

Your team put in the work all season. Give them custom hockey pucks that reflect that effort.