Buyer's Guide / Types of Plaques
Buyer's GuideCast bronze, aluminum, flash bronze, tooled, etched, and photo plaques: what each one is and when to choose it.
When most people picture a dedication or memorial plaque, they picture a dark background with raised bronze letters mounted on stone or brick. That classic cast bronze plaque is the most common choice, but it is not always the best fit. Here are the main types we make and when each one makes sense.
Raised letters, borders, and logos cast in solid bronze with a painted, textured background. The traditional choice for dedications, memorials, donor recognition, and historic markers, and usually the most expensive option.
The same raised-letter look in aluminum. It is much lighter and less expensive than bronze, and the letters are silver rather than gold. Aluminum often suits gray granite better, and it is a popular choice for monument and historical markers, which are usually painted in multiple colors, such as a dark green or blue background with white lettering.
A cast aluminum plaque finished with a bronze-colored coating. You get the look of bronze at the cost of aluminum. Flash bronze is for indoor use only.
Milled from a solid sheet of bronze, brass, or aluminum, with the background cut away to leave the letters raised. Tooled plaques hold fine detail and smaller text well, are generally less expensive than cast, and usually ship sooner. See Cast vs. Tooled for a side-by-side comparison.
When a design needs a detailed logo, a photo, or a lot of small text, an etched plaque is the answer. Etched plaques are made from solid bronze, brass, or stainless steel in 1/16″, 1/8″, or 1/4″ thickness. They have a reversed look compared to cast: a metal background with recessed, paint-filled letters. For an etched plaque that feels closest to cast, choose 1/4″. See Etched Plaques.
If you want a cast or tooled plaque but your logo or seal is too detailed to cast, we etch the logo separately and set it into the plaque. The finished piece is seamless and carries the same lifetime guarantee as the plaque.
From a hand-sculpted bas relief portrait to an etched or full-color printed photo, there are several ways to add a likeness. Photo etching is not available in aluminum, so on aluminum plaques we etch the photo on a stainless steel insert. See Photo Plaques.
Price is driven mainly by overall size: the bigger the plaque, the higher the cost. The amount of lettering usually does not change the price. Logos, photos, and some finishes add cost. If you are working to a budget, consider a smaller plaque or a different material, such as cast aluminum or precision tooled.
We hold strict guidelines on line thickness and letter size for cast and tooled plaques. Lines that are too thin will not hold up, and we never make a plaque that will fail. If your design pushes those limits, we will suggest an etched plaque or an etched insert instead.
Cast bronze: raised bronze letters on a dark, textured background.
Cast aluminum and precision tooled plaques are generally less expensive than cast bronze. Overall size has the biggest effect on price.
No. Flash bronze aluminum is for indoor use only. For outdoors, choose cast bronze or cast aluminum.
Bronze, brass, or stainless steel, in 1/16″, 1/8″, or 1/4″ thickness.
Yes. We can etch the logo separately and set it into the cast plaque as an insert.
Tell us about your project and we'll recommend the right plaque — and send a free design proof.
