House Name Plate Designs

This is the page we wish we could have handed people in 2019. Most of the questions we get before someone orders a house name plate are the same five, and they are all about choosing rather than buying. Here is how we would think it through.

1. Start with where it goes

A plate on a wooden front door wants to be smaller and quieter — 12x6 inches is right, and wood or brass sits better against wood than gloss acrylic does.

A plate on a gate or boundary wall is read from the street, often from a car, often at dusk. That argues for bigger and higher contrast: 18x9, 12x12, 16x16, or up to 2x2 and 3x2 feet. Black and gold or black and silver read furthest.

A house number that has to be found by a courier is a different job again. Individual stainless steel 3D numerals fixed straight to the wall beat any backing plate for legibility, because there is nothing around the digits to compete with them.

2. Then the material

Acrylic — the default, and the easiest to live with. We cut at 8mm so the letters stand off the face as raised 3D text. Takes colour well, does not fade or warp, wipes clean. If you are unsure, this is the safe answer.

Solid wood and Lasani — for older houses, wooden doors, and anyone who wants the plate to age rather than stay new-looking. Either engraved into the surface, or with 3D acrylic letters fixed on top. The second reads from much further away.

Brass — the formal one. Engraved, gold or silver finish, usually 12x6. This is what goes outside a doctor's or a lawyer's house, and it is the only material here that looks better after ten years than it did on day one.

Stainless steel — individual 3D letters and numbers, no backing plate. Modern facades, and house numbers that need to be read from the road.

LED — backlit acrylic, single or double sided, for gates and reception walls. Worth it only if the plate is genuinely hard to see after dark.

3. Size, honestly

12x6 inches is the standard and it is what most people should order. It is large enough to hold a full name comfortably and small enough not to dominate a door.

Go bigger when the plate is set back from where it will be read, when it carries a house number and a name, or when it is going on a wall rather than a door. 18x9 and 12x12 are the usual steps up. 2x2 and 3x2 feet are boundary-wall sizes and look oversized anywhere else.

Desk and cabin plates are smaller again — 12x4 to 12x6 — and sit on a stand rather than being fixed.

4. How it is fixed

Flat to the wall is the simplest. Standoff mounting holds the plate a few millimetres proud, which throws a shadow and looks considerably more expensive than it costs. Hanging suits wooden signs and porches. Desk plates come with a metal or wooden stand, and some have a pen holder built into the base.

Tell us which you want and the right fixings come in the box.

5. Urdu

We engrave Urdu Nastaliq as well as English, and it works particularly well cut into wood. One thing to be careful of: send us the exact spelling you want, written out, rather than describing it. In Urdu a single character changes the word, and the proof we send back is the moment to catch it — not after it has been cut.

What it costs and how long it takes

House plates start at Rs 1,699. Most land between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000. Solid brass and the larger solid-wood pieces run higher; LED and 3x2 feet pieces are the top of the range.

Delivery is Rs 399 flat anywhere in Pakistan, cash on delivery. Allow 3–7 working days for us to make your plate, then 3–7 working days for the courier. Nothing is cut until you have approved the design we send you.

Browse by what you have decided

Still deciding? Send us a photo of the door or gate on WhatsApp at 0348-0111117 and we will tell you what size to order. We design in-house and we do not charge for it.

Questions before you order

Still unsure? Message us and we will answer in minutes during shop hours.

How do I send you my photo, name or logo?

Upload it on the product page when you add the item to your cart, or send it to us on WhatsApp at 0348-0111117 after ordering — either works.

Will I see the design before you print it?

Yes. We always confirm the design with you before final printing. Nothing is printed or engraved until you've approved it.

What quality does my image need to be?

The higher the resolution, the better the print — that's the whole rule. PNG is our preferred format. Screenshots and images that have been forwarded around a few times lose detail, so send the original file where you can. If what you send isn't good enough to print well, we'll tell you before we print it, not after.

What if I spell a name wrong when I order?

The design confirmation is the moment to catch it, so read it carefully — names, dates and spellings especially. Once you approve it, that is exactly what gets made.

Can you engrave in Urdu?

Yes. We produce Urdu name jewellery, cufflinks and plates in Nastaliq. Send us the exact spelling you want and check it on the design we send back.

I don't have a design — can you help?

Yes, and we don't charge for it. Tell us what you have in mind and send whatever you've got — a photo, a logo, or just an idea — and we'll put something together for you to approve.

How long will my order take?

Everything is made to order. Allow 3–7 working days for us to print or engrave your item, then 3–7 working days for delivery.

Can I get it faster?

Sometimes — it depends on the product, as some are quicker to make than others. Message us on WhatsApp at 0348-0111117 with your date before you order and we'll tell you honestly whether we can meet it.

How much is delivery, and where do you deliver?

Rs 399 flat, anywhere in Pakistan, whatever the size of your order. We deliver nationwide, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar.

Do you deliver outside Pakistan?

No — we ship within Pakistan only. If you're abroad and sending a gift home, place the order to the Pakistani delivery address. You can pay by bank transfer, or the person receiving it can pay the courier in cash.

Can I collect from your office?

Yes. We're at Office S-186, 5th Floor, City Center, Bank Road, Saddar, Rawalpindi. Call 051 8442048 or WhatsApp 0348-0111117 first so your order is ready when you arrive.

How do I track my order?

You'll get a tracking number by SMS or email as soon as your order is dispatched.

Can I pay cash on delivery?

Yes, on every order, anywhere in Pakistan. No advance payment — you pay the courier when your parcel arrives.

What other payment methods do you accept?

Bank transfer and Easypaisa. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll send you the details.

What if it arrives damaged or printed incorrectly?

Contact us within 2 days of delivery with a photo or video of the problem and we'll replace it or refund you. That covers damage, the wrong item, manufacturing faults and printing or engraving defects. We can't process a claim without the photo or video, so send that first.

Can I return it if I change my mind?

No. Every item is made to order with your name, photo or message on it, so it can't be resold. Returns are for damaged, wrong or defective items only.

Can I cancel or change my order after paying?

No — we start work as soon as your order is confirmed. If anything needs changing, tell us before you approve the design, as that's the last point at which it can be altered.

Do you take corporate and bulk orders?

Yes, and it's a large part of what we do — branded diaries, pens, mugs and bottles, engraved name badges, desk and cabin plates, and award shields. Minimum quantities depend on the product. Call or WhatsApp 0348-0111117 and we'll quote you.

Do you make these yourselves?

Yes. Everything is printed and engraved in our own workshop in Rawalpindi — we don't resell or drop-ship. It's why the range is this wide and why we can help you with a design.

How do I contact you?

WhatsApp or call 0348-0111117, phone 051 8442048, or email support@designyourown.pk.