Service Display Framing
Military Shadow Boxes, Flag Display Cases & Medal Displays
Built-to-order military shadow box frames with 2 inches of usable depth, enough room to pin medals, ribbons, and patches without touching the glazing. Color theme presets cover Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force veterans. Sized for medal-only displays, full military retirement shadow boxes, and folded burial flag display cases. Built in our frame shop in New Jersey.
Service Display Framing
Military Shadow Boxes, Flag Display Cases & Medal Displays
Built-to-order military shadow box frames with 2 inches of usable depth, enough room to pin medals, ribbons, and patches without touching the glazing. Color theme presets cover Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force veterans. Sized for medal-only displays, full military retirement shadow boxes, and folded burial flag display cases. Built in our frame shop in New Jersey.
Military Shadow Boxes for Retirement, Memorial, and Service Displays
Veterans and military families using our shadow box display cases for medal displays, military retirement gifts, memorial shadow boxes, and folded flag display cases. Every frame features 2-inch usable depth and color theme presets inspired by each service branch.
Built for Those Who Served
Built to Protect Your Medals
Custom frame shop quality matting and framer's grade acrylic keep medals, ribbons, and patches secure and dust-free behind a shatter-resistant surface. Every material meets professional framing standards.
Built by Hand to Your Layout
Every shadowbox is put together by hand. You pick the size, branch colors, and layout. Ships in 3-5 business days.
Guaranteed Craftsmanship
We stand behind every frame we build. If the craftsmanship ever falls short, we make it right at no charge.
How Military Shadow Boxes Work
Our shadow boxes hold your medals, ribbons, patches, and photos with 2-inch depth. You get a DIY frame that arrives ready to fill. Pick your service branch colors and size in our designer tool above.
2-Inch Depth Holds Your Medals and Ribbons
Shadow boxes need depth to hold medals without squashing them. Our frames give you 2 full inches of space inside. This lets you pin medals and ribbons without touching the glass.
Each frame uses 1-inch wide real wood in your choice of finish. Learn more about our shadowbox frame styles and sizes.
Need More Depth? Ultra Deep 3.5-Inch Shadow Boxes
Two of our shadow box profiles give you a full 3.5 inches of usable interior depth, almost double the standard 2 inches. They're built for displays that pack more volume than a flat medal-and-ribbon layout: stacked medal sets with display stands, folded burial flags grouped with a service cap or beret, sculpted unit challenge coins, helmet-and-patch groupings, and thick uniform components like rolled berets, garrison covers, or shoulder boards.
Pick from the Ultra Deep Matte Black Shadow Box or Ultra Deep Bright White Shadow Box, both built with a 1.25-inch wide solid wood moulding, reinforced corners, and heavy-duty backing rated for the extra weight of dimensional objects. Same suede backing and color theme presets as the 2-inch profiles; just more room front-to-back.
Switch to either Ultra Deep profile from the frame picker in the designer above. The Ultra Deep cross-sell card surfaces them inline when you're configuring the frame.
Color Theme Presets for Every Service Branch
The designer includes color theme presets inspired by the palettes commonly associated with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Space Force. You pick three colors (top mat, bottom mat, and suede backing) or override any preset with your own selections. CustomPictureFrames.com is an independent custom frame shop, not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. Armed Forces branch; the presets are not official color sets.
See all our custom mat colors for more options.
Display-Grade Suede Backing
The inside of your shadow box is lined with display-grade suede, not felt. Suede holds pins securely so medals and ribbons stay where you place them. Pin directly through the suede with no adhesive and no damage. Suede is available in colors that coordinate with the color theme presets inspired by each service branch.
Display-Grade Suede
Real suede, not felt. Richer texture, stronger pin grip, and a clean look behind your medals and ribbons.
Pin Directly. No Adhesive
Push pins straight through the suede. No glue, no tape, no damage. Remove and rearrange items any time.
2-Inch Depth for Full-Size Medals
Two full inches of interior space. Medals hang naturally without touching the acrylic front.
Solid Wood Shadowbox
Real wood frame with reinforced corners. Built to hold the weight of a full medal and ribbon display.
Three Sizes for Different Displays
Compact (11×14 inches) fits ribbons and small medal sets. Standard (16×20 inches) holds multiple medals, ribbons, patches, and photos. Large (20×32 inches) fits folded flags, complete medal sets, and large photo collections.
How to Mount Your Medals
Use pins to attach medals through the suede backing. Never use glue or tape on medals or ribbons. Pins let you remove items later without damage.
For photos, use corner mounts that don't touch the photo surface. This protects your pictures and lets you remove them if needed.
Keeping Your Display Looking Good
Keep your shadow box away from direct sun and damp areas to slow fading on ribbons. Clean the glazing once a year with a soft cloth.
Memorial, Retirement & Veteran Shadow Box Displays
The same shadow box build serves three common occasions: a memorial display for a fallen service member, a military retirement gift after a long career, and a veteran's own shadow box to keep a service history together. Sizing, mat color, and whether a folded flag is included are the main things that change between the three.
Memorial Shadow Boxes & Flag Display Cases
A memorial shadow box pairs a folded burial flag with the medals, ribbons, patches, and a service photo of the person being honored. Our Large (20×32") shadow box display case holds a standard folded burial flag with room left for the full medal and ribbon set; the Standard (16×20") works as a smaller memorial frame for a photo plus medals. Pin-mount through the suede backing so nothing is glued to the items themselves. A memorial shadow box is one of the more lasting memorial gift options for a surviving spouse or family.
Military Retirement Shadow Boxes & Gifts
A military retirement shadow box is the traditional alternative to a retirement plaque: a single display that gathers career medals, ribbons, unit patches, challenge coins, and a photo behind one piece of glazing. The Standard (16×20") fits most retirements; the Large (20×32") makes room for a folded flag if the retiree was presented one. Add an engraved nameplate to capture rank, dates of service, and the recipient's name, a common ask for a military retirement gift from a unit or command.
Veteran Shadow Boxes & Uniform Displays
Veterans building their own display usually want a shadow box for medals and ribbons plus a place for a unit patch and one or two photos. The 2-inch interior depth is deep enough for a folded uniform component (a beret, cover, or sleeve patch) alongside the medal set, a smaller-scale military uniform shadow box. For veterans displaying a personal burial flag or a flag received at retirement, the Large (20×32") doubles as a veteran flag display case.
Shadow Boxes for Every Service Branch
Veterans and military families have used our shadow box display cases for memorabilia from all six U.S. Armed Forces branches. The designer above includes color theme presets (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force) inspired by the palettes commonly associated with each service.
Army Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames
Used by Army veterans and Army families to display medals, ribbons, unit patches, and service photos. The designer's Army color theme combines a green top mat, gold accent, and beige suede backing.
Navy Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames
Used by Navy veterans for medal displays, retirement shadow boxes, and folded flag display cases. The Navy color theme pairs a navy top mat, silver accent, and navy suede backing.
Air Force Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames
Used by Air Force and Space Force veterans for ribbon racks, challenge coin displays, and retirement gifts. The Air Force color theme combines a cobalt blue top mat, gold accent, and dark gray suede.
Marine Corps Shadow Boxes & USMC Picture Frames
Used by Marine Corps veterans for full medal-and-ribbon displays, USMC retirement shadow boxes, and uniform-component displays. The Marine Corps color theme combines a red top mat, gold accent, and black suede.
Coast Guard Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames
Used by Coast Guard veterans for medal displays, patch racks, and retirement gifts. The Coast Guard color theme combines a flag-blue top mat, red accent, and light gray suede.
Space Force Shadow Boxes & Picture Frames
Used by Space Force guardians for ribbon, badge, and unit-patch displays. The Space Force color theme combines a deep navy top mat, silver accent, and dark gray suede.
Common Questions
What depth shadow box do I need for military medals and ribbons?
It depends on what's inside. Three depth tiers cover most military displays:
- Up to 1 inch: our picture frame profiles handle flat items like ribbons-only, certificates, patches without backings, and photos. Plenty of room without the bulk of a true shadow box.
- 2 inches (standard): fits the vast majority of medal-and-ribbon displays. Holds full-size medals pinned to the suede backing without touching the glazing.
- 3.5 inches (Ultra Deep): for dimensional displays: stacked medal sets with display stands, folded burial flags paired with a service cap or beret, sculpted unit challenge coins, or thick uniform components. Available in Ultra Deep Matte Black and Ultra Deep Bright White.
Can I pick mat colors that go with my service branch?
Yes. The designer includes color theme presets inspired by the palettes commonly associated with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Space Force. You choose three colors: top mat, bottom mat, and suede backing. CustomPictureFrames.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by any U.S. Armed Forces branch, and the presets are not official color sets.
What sizes are available for military shadow box frames?
We offer three sizes. Compact (11×14 inches) fits ribbons and small medal sets. Standard (16×20 inches) holds multiple medals, ribbons, patches, and photos. Large (20×32 inches) fits folded flags and complete medal collections.
What is suede backing and why is it used for military frames?
Suede is soft fabric used as the background in your shadow box. It looks better than cardboard and holds pins securely. Suede is available in colors that coordinate with the color theme presets inspired by each U.S. Armed Forces branch.
How do I mount medals and ribbons in the shadow box?
Use pins to attach medals through the suede backing. Never use glue or tape on medals or ribbons. Pins let you remove items later without damage. The 2-inch depth gives you plenty of room for pins.
Are these frames suitable for displaying folded flags?
Yes. Our Large (20×32 inch) shadow box fits standard burial flags when folded. The 2-inch depth holds the flag thickness. The Standard (16×20 inch) size works for smaller flags.
What is the best military shadow box for a retirement or service display?
The best military shadow box for a retirement or service display is a 16x20 standard military shadow box with suede backing chosen from the color theme preset inspired by the veteran's branch, a 2-inch interior depth for medals and ribbons, and an engraved brass nameplate. The 20x32 large military shadow box adds room for a folded burial flag alongside the complete medal and ribbon set. CustomPictureFrames.com is an independent custom frame shop and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by any U.S. Armed Forces branch.
How big is a military shadow box frame for medals and ribbons?
A military shadow box frame for medals and ribbons comes in three sizes. The 11x14 compact military shadow box fits ribbons and a small medal set, the 16x20 standard size holds multiple medals plus patches and a photo, and the 20x32 large military shadow box fits a folded burial flag with a full medal collection. All three give you 2 inches of interior depth so nothing presses against the acrylic.
What size military shadow box fits a folded burial flag and a full medal display?
The 20x32 large military shadow box doubles as a military flag display case. It holds a standard folded burial flag (the triangular 5x9.5 inch fold) with enough room left over for a full career medal and ribbon display and one or two service photos. The 16x20 standard size fits a smaller flag plus a medal display but is a tight fit for a full burial flag.
Do you sell Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force shadow boxes?
Our designer includes color theme presets inspired by the palettes commonly associated with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Space Force, so veterans of every branch can build an Army shadow box, Navy shadow box, Air Force shadow box, Marine Corps (USMC) shadow box, Coast Guard shadow box, or Space Force shadow box that suits their service. CustomPictureFrames.com is an independent custom frame shop and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by any U.S. Armed Forces branch or the U.S. Department of Defense.
What's a good military retirement gift or memorial gift?
A custom military shadow box is the traditional alternative to a retirement plaque or memorial plaque. The 16x20 standard size is the most common military retirement gift. It fits the medal and ribbon set plus a service photo and an engraved nameplate. For a memorial gift to a surviving spouse or family, the 20x32 large size pairs a folded burial flag with the full medal display in one frame, replacing the need for a separate memorial flag display case.
Do you have shadow box frames deeper than 2 inches?
Yes. Two profiles (the Ultra Deep Matte Black Shadow Box and the Ultra Deep Bright White Shadow Box) give you 3.5 inches of usable interior depth, almost double the standard 2 inches. They're built for displays that pack more volume than a flat medal-and-ribbon layout: stacked medal sets with display stands, folded burial flags paired with a service cap or beret, sculpted unit challenge coins, helmet-and-patch groupings, and thick uniform components like rolled berets, garrison covers, or shoulder boards. Both ultra-deep profiles use a 1.25-inch wide solid wood moulding with reinforced corners and heavy-duty backing rated for the extra weight.
What's the difference between a shadow box and a shadow box display case?
They're the same product. 'Shadow box display case' is just a longer way to say 'shadow box': a deep frame, usually 2 inches or more deep, with glazing on the front and a fabric-lined back panel for pinning medals, patches, or memorabilia. Our military shadow box frames are built with 2 inches of usable interior depth and a suede-lined back, so they function as a full shadow box display case for medals, ribbons, and folded flags.