Families searching for a brass memorial plaque, a brass grave plaque or a brass headstone plaque usually have a picture in mind: a warm gold coloured metal plaque with raised letters on a dark background, the kind seen on benches, church walls and graves across the country. Almost all of those plaques are cast bronze, not brass. The two metals look alike when new, but they age very differently outdoors, and that difference is the whole reason cemeteries and monument makers specify bronze. This page explains the difference and lets you design a solid cast bronze memorial online with the price shown as you work.
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Solid cast bronze with raised lettering, the plaque most people mean by brass. Set the size, add the words, see the price.
Explore: bronze memorial plaques · bronze grave markers · bronze plaques for headstones
Brass and bronze: what is the difference?
Both are copper alloys. Brass is copper mixed mainly with zinc. Bronze is copper mixed mainly with tin, with small amounts of other metals in the casting alloy. Zinc gives brass its brighter yellow colour and makes it easy to machine into sheet and fittings, which is why door hardware, instruments and engraved name plates are brass. Tin gives bronze its strength, its slightly redder tone, and the property that matters on a memorial: outdoors, bronze forms a stable brown patina that protects the metal underneath, while brass dezincifies, pits and goes patchy once its lacquer breaks down.
Why memorial plaques are cast in bronze
- Weather: bronze does not rust and does not need paint. Rain, frost and sun darken it evenly; the raised letters stay legible for generations.
- Casting: bronze pours cleanly into a sand mould and holds fine relief, so letters, borders and emblems come out crisp as one solid piece.
- Cemetery rules: most American cemeteries that allow metal markers specify cast bronze, usually on a granite base, and many will not accept a brass plate.
- Repairs: a bronze plaque that has darkened can be cleaned and relacquered decades later. A tarnished brass sheet usually has to be replaced.
Where brass is used, and where it is not
Brass is the right material for an indoor engraved plate: a plaque on a framed photograph, a pew number, a door sign, a trophy. It takes fine engraving and polishes to a mirror finish. It is the wrong material for a grave, a garden, a bench or an outside wall, where it will discolour within a few seasons. If you have been quoted a brass memorial plaque for outdoor use, ask whether it is solid cast bronze; if it is a thin engraved sheet, it is not the same product.
Sizes and prices for a cast bronze memorial
| Size (inches) | Typical memorial | Designer price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 x 4 or 10 x 3 | Name plate for a headstone, bench or niche | $455.70 or $498.34 |
| 8 x 6 | Small garden or wall memorial | $540.98 |
| 12 x 8 | Standard memorial plaque or grave plaque | $796.86 |
| 16 x 12 | Large memorial with a verse and a motif | $1,264.58 |
Prices from our live designer, standard rectangle with a classic border and leatherette background, shipping included; prices for the fixed sizes were taken on August 31, 2026. Every plaque is solid cast bronze with raised polished lettering, in rectangle, oval or circle shapes, with flowers, animals, religious symbols or a photo added in the designer.
Keeping the colour you like
If you want the plaque to stay the warm gold colour it has when new, wipe it with a soft dry cloth a few times a year and keep it lacquered. If you prefer the deeper brown of an older plaque, leave it alone; bronze gets there on its own. Either way the raised letters remain readable, which is the point of a memorial. Our guide on how to clean a bronze memorial plaque covers both approaches.
How to order
- Open the free design tool, pick the shape and set the size in inches. The price updates as you go.
- Add the wording, choose a border and background, and add an emblem, motif or photo if you want one.
- Pick the fastening: flat back, concealed lugs with studs, or screws visible from the front.
- Save the design and order it from My Account. We send a written proof, and nothing is cast until you approve it.
Frequently asked questions
Are brass and bronze memorial plaques the same thing?
No. Brass is copper and zinc; bronze is copper and tin. The gold coloured plaques with raised letters seen on graves, benches and memorial walls are nearly always cast bronze, because brass pits and discolours outdoors.
Can I order a brass plaque for a grave?
We cast in bronze, which is what most cemeteries require for an outdoor marker. If you have been told to buy a brass plaque, check with the cemetery; the specification is usually cast bronze on a granite base.
How much does a memorial plaque cost?
In our designer an 8 x 4 inch name plate is $455.70, a 12 x 8 inch memorial plaque is $796.86 and a 16 x 12 is $1,264.58, shipping included. The price updates on screen as you change the size and options.
Will the plaque stay gold coloured?
New bronze is a warm gold. Outdoors it darkens to brown over a few years unless it is wiped and kept lacquered. The raised lettering stays bright and legible either way.
How long does it take?
Allow about 3 to 4 weeks for casting after you approve the free proof, plus 5 to 10 days for delivery anywhere in the USA and worldwide.
Order the plaque that lasts outdoors
Design a solid cast bronze memorial in minutes, see the price, and approve a free proof before casting.
Explore: bronze memorial plaques · cast vs engraved bronze plaques · bronze plaque prices
