A building dedication plaque is the permanent record of who built a place and when: the owner, the board or council, the architect, the contractor and the date. It is written into many construction contracts and unveiled at the ribbon cutting, so it has to be right and it has to be ready on the day. Facilities managers, architects and contractors use our online designer because it prices the plaque live, shows every name on a written proof before casting, and ships a solid cast bronze plaque with a drilling template.
Design a dedication plaque online
Set the size, type the names and the date, add the owner’s seal or logo, and see the price for cast bronze straight away.
Explore: donor recognition plaques · custom bronze signs · bronze historical markers
What goes on a dedication plaque
The order is a convention that architects and public bodies follow, and it is worth keeping because people expect it:
- The building name, in the largest letters, with the owner or institution beneath it
- Dedicated or Erected and the year, or the full date of the ceremony
- The governing body: the board of trustees, the city council, the school board or the parish, with the members’ names in office when the building was completed, and the chair or mayor first
- The architect and the general contractor, and often the engineer and the construction manager
- A seal, crest or logo cast in relief, and sometimes a dedication line such as In Honor of or To the Glory of God
Confirm every name and title in writing before you approve the proof; it is the only part of the job that cannot be fixed after casting.
Sizes and prices
Public building dedications are often specified at 18 by 24 inches or larger. Our online designer prices plaques up to 22 1/16 by 15 3/4 inches, which covers a plaque with a heading and twenty or so names in two columns; a larger plaque is quoted on request from your specification. Lobby and interior plaques, and plaques for a single room, a wing, a bridge or a park structure, usually sit in the sizes below.
| Size (inches) | Typical use | Designer price |
|---|---|---|
| 12 x 8 | Room, wing or small facility dedication | $796.86 |
| 12 x 9 | Dedication with a seal and six to eight names | $839.50 |
| 16 x 12 | Building dedication, two columns of names | $1,264.58 |
| 22 x 15 | Large lobby plaque or cornerstone plaque | $1,908.50 |
| Larger than 22 x 15 3/4 | Public buildings, bridges, campuses | quoted on request |
Prices from our live designer on August 31, 2026 for a standard rectangle with a classic border and leatherette background, shipping included.
Matching an architect’s specification
Architects’ specifications for cast bronze plaques are consistent across the country: a cast bronze alloy to the ASTM B584 standard, raised letters and border with a satin or polished face, a textured background such as leatherette or pebble finished in a dark oxidised bronze colour and sealed with clear lacquer, and concealed stud mounting. Our plaques are made to that description. If your specification names a background texture, a border style or a letter height, put it in the notes when you save the design and the proof will reflect it.
Cornerstone plaques
A cornerstone plaque is set into the masonry at the corner of the building, usually at the start or the completion of construction, and often carries only the year, the owner and the architect. Because it is built in, it is ordered early and fixed with lugs and studs set into the stone or the mortar joint. Allow for the casting lead time in the construction programme and give the mason the drilling template that ships with the plaque.
Interior and exterior mounting
- Masonry, stone and concrete: lugs with studs, concealed, set in epoxy or anchors
- Drywall and panelling: screws visible from the front with bronze rosettes, into blocking or anchors
- Glass or polished stone in a lobby: a flat back plaque bonded with a structural adhesive, with no visible fixings
Bronze is equally at home indoors and out. Outside it darkens slowly to brown; inside it keeps its colour for decades with an occasional wipe.
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
What should a building dedication plaque say?
The building name and owner, the word Dedicated or Erected with the date, the governing body and its members in office, the architect and the general contractor, and usually the owner’s seal. Keep titles consistent and confirm every name in writing before you approve the proof.
How much does a bronze dedication plaque cost?
In our designer a 12 by 8 inch plaque is $796.86, a 16 by 12 is $1,264.58 and a 22 by 15 is $1,908.50, shipping included, at prices taken on August 31, 2026. Larger plaques are quoted on request.
Can you make an 18 by 24 inch plaque?
The online designer prices plaques up to 22 1/16 by 15 3/4 inches. For an 18 by 24 or larger, send us the specification and the text and we will quote it with a drawing.
How long before the ribbon cutting should we order?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for casting after you approve the proof, plus delivery, and add time for the names to be confirmed. Six to eight weeks before the ceremony is comfortable; tell us the date and we will flag any risk.
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.
Put the names in bronze
Design the dedication plaque online, see the price, and approve a free proof before casting.
Explore: donor recognition plaques · bronze historical markers · bronze plaque prices
