Custom Plaque Awards
A plaque is the recognition people keep. It goes on the wall and stays there long after the meeting where it was handed out. Pick a style, tell us the name and the dedication, and we engrave it free, send a proof before anything is made, and ship most orders in about six days. No setup fee, and you can order as few as one. We have made custom awards since 1985.
How to Choose a Plaque
Start with the achievement, then the size
Match the plaque to the moment. A 12-inch walnut plaque carries weight for a retirement or a 25-year milestone. A 7 or 8-inch one is right for a monthly winner or a team thank-you. Bigger is not always better, and an oversized plaque for a small gesture reads as trying too hard. Most of ours run 7 to 15 inches, and you can compare sizes on every product page before you commit.
Pick a material that fits the tone
Wood is the classic. Walnut, cherry, and rosewood look at home in any office and age well. For something more modern, glass and acrylic plaques catch the light and feel lighter in the hand. Metal and stone read as the most formal and the most permanent. There is no wrong answer here. It comes down to the look you want and how permanent it should feel.
One award, or one that keeps going?
If you are recognizing a single person for a single thing, any plaque on this page works. If you are building something that repeats, like Employee of the Month or an annual sales award, look at perpetual plaques instead. They hold a row of nameplates you add to over the years, so one plaque becomes a running record of everyone who has earned it. Want a photo on it? Photo plaques put the moment right on the award.
Types of Award Plaques
Whatever you are recognizing, there is a plaque built for it. Here are the main types, and where to go for each.
- Retirement plaques mark a full career with a lasting tribute, personalized with the name, years of service, and a message.
- Service award plaques honor work anniversaries and years-of-service milestones, from the first five years to twenty-five and beyond.
- Business award plaques suit corporate recognition, top performers, and client or partner appreciation, with room for your logo.
- Recognition wall plaques build a display of honorees in a lobby or breakroom, on their own or as a growing wall.
- Perpetual plaques add a new nameplate each cycle, so one plaque tracks Employee of the Month or an annual award over the years.
- Photo plaques put a picture of the moment or the recipient right on the award.
- Full-color plaques print a logo or artwork in full color alongside the engraving.
- Stone plaques read as the most formal and permanent, a fit for legacy honors.
Free Engraving, and a Proof Before We Make It
Engraving is included on every plaque: the name, the date, a line or two of thanks, whatever you want it to say. We can put your company logo straight onto the plate, and you choose from three fonts for the text. Keep the wording short and specific. "For 15 years of steady leadership" lands better than a paragraph nobody reads twice.
Before anything goes into production, you will see a proof of exactly how it will look and approve it. If something is off, we fix it then, not after it ships. You are only billed once it is on its way to you.
Not seeing the right fit? Our designers can build a custom award from scratch. Call 1-800-4-AWARDS ( 800-429-2737 ) and tell us what you are recognizing, and we will point you to the right plaque or design one for you.
Common Questions About Ordering Plaques
Can you put our logo on it?
Yes. We engrave your logo directly onto the plate, alongside the name and text. Logos work on most of our plaque styles and sizes, and full color is available on our full-color plaques.
Do you make business and corporate plaques?
Yes. Many of our plaques suit corporate recognition, top-performer awards, and client or partner gifts. See our business award plaques for pieces built for the office, and add your logo to any of them.
What should the inscription say?
Keep it short and personal. Name the achievement, add a line of genuine thanks, and stop there. Brief and specific beats long and formal almost every time.
Can I order one plaque, or is there a minimum?
Order as few as one. There is no minimum and no setup fee, whether you need a single award or a hundred.
How fast can I get it?
Most plaques ship in about six days after you approve the proof. If you are on a deadline, call us and we will tell you what is possible.
What if it arrives damaged or wrong?
Call customer care and we will make it right. Every order is backed by our 100% guarantee.