Why choose a bronze plaque when granite and stainless steel can cost less? Because a plaque goes outside once and is expected to stay readable for generations, through every freeze, thaw and road salt season a Canadian winter brings. Bronze has a long record of doing exactly that.

We cast bronze plaques for graves, gardens, buildings and dedications. You design yours online in Canadian dollars, approve a free proof, and we ship it across Canada.

What our bronze is made of

Bronze is an alloy, mostly copper with smaller amounts of metals such as tin and zinc. Ours is 85 percent copper, which gives a warm colour and a dense casting that holds sharp detail in the raised letters. Our comparison of 85 and 60 percent copper explains why the figure matters.

Patina, not rust

Rust is iron oxide, and bronze contains essentially no iron, so it cannot rust the way a steel sign does. Instead it forms a patina, a thin surface layer that slowly deepens the colour toward brown. That layer slows further change, so the metal underneath stays sound. If you prefer the original colour, a gentle clean brings much of it back, as our guide to cleaning a bronze memorial plaque explains.

Still legible after a century

In older Canadian cemeteries and town squares you will find bronze plaques more than a hundred years old whose lettering still reads clearly. Cast letters stand up from the background, so dirt and wear do not fill them in. Bronze is not porous either: water cannot soak in, freeze and work the surface apart. More on this in how long bronze memorial plaques last.

Bronze, granite or stainless steel for a Canadian winter

Granite is not harmed by frost, and polished stone does not readily deteriorate. Its strength is engraved or laser etched detail, including photographs on black granite, but it is heavy. See our bronze and granite comparison.

Stainless steel, in our case marine grade 316, passivated and marked with a YAG laser, is clean, modern and resists corrosion well. Its markings are flat, so it reads best close up. Our outdoor materials guide compares the metals.

Bronze is lighter than stone for a wall or post, its raised letters read from a distance, and it copes with snow, salt spray and summer heat. In a lawn cemetery it lies flush on a granite base, so mowers pass straight over it.

What a bronze plaque costs

Bronze costs more because each plaque is cast metal made to order. Design tool prices, October 2026, delivery across Canada included:

  • 6 x 4 in (152 x 102 mm): $478.72
  • 8 x 6 in (203 x 152 mm): $674.98
  • 10 x 8 in (254 x 203 mm): $889.05
  • 12 x 8 in (305 x 203 mm): $996.08
  • 16 x 12 in (406 x 305 mm): $1,580.02
  • 18 x 12 in (457 x 305 mm): $1,759.60
  • 20 x 10 in (508 x 254 mm): $1,759.60
  • 22 x 12 in (559 x 305 mm): $2,118.74
  • 22 1/16 x 15 3/4 in (560 x 400 mm): $2,456.76

For comparison, on 22 October 2026 a YAG lasered stainless steel plaque of about 12 x 8 in (300 x 200 mm) was $371.13 and a laser-etched black granite plaque of that size was $576.75. In a cemetery there may also be charges for a base, setting or permit. Those cemetery fees are a guide only, set and collected by the cemetery, can change, and are separate from our price.

Bronze plaque questions

Does a bronze plaque need regular polishing?

No. A light wash with mild soap and water now and then is usually enough.

Will my bronze plaque turn green?

Most plaques darken to brown first, and some go green over many years. The change is on the surface only.

Can a bronze plaque include a photo?

Yes. A vitreous enamel or ceramic photo can be set into the plaque. See bronze memorial plaques with photos.

If bronze sounds right, design a bronze plaque online and see the price in Canadian dollars before a free proof.