Grave Plaque – Types, Sizes, Materials and Mistakes Worth Avoiding

Short answer: a gravestone plaque is the surface carrying the inscription – most often the stone part of the gravestone on which the letters, cross and photograph are placed. It can be supplemented or replaced by stainless steel elements: openwork plaques (a pattern cut right through), engraved plaques (a lot of text on a small surface) and overlays covering the full height of the plaque. The choice depends on the amount of text, the space on the gravestone and the style.

Types of plaques and small plaques

Dimensions and prices of steel elements at Zecero

Ceny „od” to najniższe ceny w konfiguratorach na kartach produktów (zecero.pl, stan na listopad 2026). Tablice ażurowe i tabliczki mocuje się na bolcach (w cenie) albo na taśmie dwustronnej (+20 zł) – sposób montażu wybierasz w konfiguratorze. W opisach wielu wzorów tablic ażurowych znajdziesz montaż na tulejach dystansowych, które trzymają tablicę kilka milimetrów nad kamieniem – pod wzorem powstaje wtedy cień. Do każdego zamówienia dołączamy instrukcję w PDF.

How to choose? Three questions

1. How much text? A few words – letters or an epigraph; a short text with an ornament – an openwork plaque; several lines or more – an engraved plaque.
2. What character? Solemn and three-dimensional – an epigraph or letters; decorative and light – openwork; discreet and documentary – engraving.
3. What surface? A smooth, uniform slab will take any solution; on heavily veined stone an openwork pattern loses legibility; small surfaces and columbaria – engraving.

Legibility – minimum text sizes

• applied letters: no smaller than 2.5 cm, legible from the aisle;
• engraved text: finer, legible up close – good for biographies and columbaria;
• text in openwork: a step larger than intuition suggests, because the background shows through the pattern.

Before approving the design, print a section at 1:1 scale and hold it against the plaque. We have set out letter heights for different plaques in the guide gravestone dimensions.

The most common mistakes when choosing a plaque

• Text too small – an inscription that cannot be read from the path.
• Lack of contrast – silver on light stone, black on black (see tombstone letter color).
• Material not resistant to weather – plastics and painted sheet metal fade and rust.
• Too many elements – a plaque, an epigraph, several ornaments and photos all at once create clutter.
• Overlooking the cemetery regulations – some cemeteries limit the dimensions and form of elements.
• No room for the future – for family graves, plan space for further details or an additional plaque.

Plaque care

Clean a stone plaque with products intended for that type of stone (see granite care and sealing), and steel elements with lukewarm water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth, without scouring pads or abrasive pastes. Recessed engraving does not wear off or fade. Procedure for steel: how to clean stainless steel on a gravestone.

Frequently asked questions

What to write on a grave plaque?

Usually the first and last name, the dates and a short inscription. You will find examples and rules for the wording in the article gravestone inscriptions – sayings and epitaphs.

Can a plaque with the details of a second person be added to an existing gravestone?

Yes – an engraved plaque holds the full details in a small space and is fixed with pins or tape, with no need to alter the gravestone.

Can I order a plaque in an unusual shape?

Yes – we make unusual shapes, dimensions and inscriptions as custom orders.