Good memorial plaque wording is simple: the person's name, their dates and one short line that sounds like them. The hard part is usually making it fit, so every example below shows its length in characters, with spaces included.
You have up to 75 characters on a plinth plaque, up to 150 on most casket plaques and up to 250 on a double casket. The numbers in brackets are the character counts.
What to write on a memorial plaque
Start with the name people used. If everyone called her Peggy, put Peggy, even if her birth certificate says Margaret.
- The name: a first name and surname, a nickname, or a title such as Mum or Grandad.
- Dates: the years alone (1941-2025) take 9 characters, while a full date such as 4th June 2025 takes 13.
- One line about them, which could be a phrase they used, something they loved or a short quote.
- If there's room, who it's from, such as "Love from all the family".
Leave out anything that would need explaining. The best plaques make sense to a stranger, while the family can still hear the person in them.
If you're stuck for the line, think about what they'd say as you left the house, the job or hobby they were known for, or the place they were happiest. A favourite saying often works better than any quote.
How many characters fit on each plaque?
| Where the plaque goes | Space for words | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Plinth plaque, for ceramic, porcelain, metal, glass, pet and small urns | Up to 75 characters | A name, dates and a short line |
| Casket plaque, on most solid wood caskets | Up to 150 characters | A name, full dates and a longer message or quote |
| Plaque on a double casket | Up to 250 characters | Two names, dates and a shared line |
| Engraved Wooden Urns | Words or a design carved into the oak | Something more personal, such as your own artwork |
Every character counts, including spaces and punctuation, so "Mum, always" is 11 characters. The text is centred for you automatically, and on casket plaques you also choose the font from a list.
With the engraved wooden urns, you send your words or artwork after ordering. You'll then get an email showing how the design will look, with any changes to the size suggested.
Short memorial quotes and phrases
These short lines leave room for a name and dates on a 75-character plaque:
- "Forever in our hearts" (21)
- "Always loved, never forgotten" (29)
- "Loved beyond words" (18)
- "In loving memory" (16)
- "Until we meet again" (19)
- "Your love lives on in us" (24)
- "Thank you for everything" (24)
- "Missed every day" (16)
- "Together again" (14)
- "Home at last" (12)
- "Gone fishing" (12)
- "Love you to the moon and back" (29)
- "Forever loved" (13)
- "At peace" (8)
Memorial plaque wording that fits 75 characters
Here's how a complete plinth plaque could read. Each example fits within 75 characters:
- For a mum: "Jean Carter 1948-2025. Mum, Nan and best friend. Forever loved." (63)
- For a dad: "Dad. David Hughes 1952-2024. Gone fishing, never forgotten." (59)
- For a husband: "Peter Walsh 1939-2025. My husband, my best friend, my everything." (65)
- For a wife: "Susan Clarke 1950-2025. Forty-six years together, and not long enough." (70)
- For a grandparent: "Grandad Joe 1936-2024. The kindest man we ever knew." (52)
- For a friend: "Sam Okafor 1979-2025. The best of friends and the life of every party." (70)
- For a baby: "Lily Rose, born sleeping 3rd March 2025. Loved for ever." (56)
- With faith: "John Peters 1940-2025. In God's keeping." (40)
- Without religion: "Kath Doyle 1945-2025. She loved her garden and a good laugh." (60)
If you'd like the words split across lines in a particular way, say so in the order notes.
Wording for a pet
Pets suit warmer, lighter lines, and their nickname is usually the right one to use:
- "Bonnie 2010-2024. The best girl. Forever by our side." (53)
- "Alfie 2012-2025. Our loyal friend and walking partner." (54)
- "Mittens 2008-2025. Asleep in the sunshine." (42)
Longer wording for a 150-character casket plaque
A casket plaque gives you room for full dates and a longer line, or a few words from a poem or verse. The quotes below, one adapted for a single person, come from Robert Louis Stevenson's "Requiem", Laurence Binyon's "For the Fallen", Thomas Campbell's "Hallowed Ground" and the Gospel of Matthew.
- "Margaret 'Peggy' Ellis. 14th May 1941 to 2nd June 2025. Mum, nan and friend, who filled every room with laughter. Always loved, never forgotten." (144)
- "David Hughes 1952-2024. Home is the sailor, home from sea, and the hunter home from the hill." (93)
- "Arthur Bell 1931-2025. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him." (93)
- "Rose Taylor 1944-2025. To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." (71)
- "John Peters 1940-2025. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4" (92)
Wording for two people
The Plain Solid Oak and Solid Oak Companion double caskets take up to 250 characters, enough for two names and a shared line:
- "Ted Morris 1935-2019 and Joan Morris 1938-2025. Married for 58 years and side by side again. Forever in our hearts." (115)
- "Mum and Dad. Pat Green 1947-2023 and Ron Green 1945-2025. Home together, where they belong." (91)
You'll find more on keeping two people's ashes together in companion urns explained.
A quick check before you order
- Check the spelling of every name against a document, such as the death certificate.
- Write dates the British way, day then month, or use the years alone.
- Read the wording aloud, because anything you stumble over will trip up a reader too.
- Show it to one other person in the family before you order.
- Count the characters in Word or Google Docs, spaces included.
- Proofread once more at the checkout, because engraving can't be undone.
Questions about memorial plaque wording
What do you write on a memorial plaque?
Usually the person's name, their dates and one short line, such as a phrase they loved or a few words from the family. Use the name people called them and keep the line short enough to read at a glance.
How many characters fit on a memorial plaque?
It depends on the plaque. You get up to 75 characters on a plinth, up to 150 on most wooden caskets and up to 250 on a double casket, with spaces counted.
What can you put on an urn for a pet?
Their name, their years and something about them, such as "Our loyal walking partner". A nickname or a phrase you always said to them works well.
Does the wording have to match the headstone?
No. A headstone in a churchyard may need approval under the diocese's rules, but the plaque on an urn at home is yours to word however you like.
When your wording's ready, you can add it to a plinth on ceramic urns and on metal, glass, pet and small urns, or to a plaque on wooden urns, where engraving is free. Every order has free UK delivery in 2-3 working days.
