What to Write on a Retirement Plaque

Creating a retirement plaque is a great way to celebrate someone’s hard work, dedication and the impact they’ve made over the years. Still, knowing exactly what to write on a retirement plaque can be tricky. We’ve put this handy blog post together to help you get your retirement plaque wording just right and share a few timeless plaque ideas to give you some inspiration.

Not Sure What to Write on a Retirement Plaque? Start Here 

When deciding what to write on a retirement plaque, make sure you include the following key elements:

• Name of the retiree: The full name of the individual who’s retiring should be the focal point of the plaque. You can include a professional title, nickname or any relevant honorific. 
• Years of service: Include the start and end dates of their service.
• Role or position: Mention the retiree’s job title or department to give context and recognise their specific contributions.
• Personal message: This is the heart of the plaque. It could be a message of appreciation, a farewell or a light-hearted note celebrating their next chapter. Keep reading for specific examples.
• Optional quote or saying: Some plaques include a retirement-themed quote or even a humorous line to fit the retiree’s personality.

Retirement Plaque Wording

Now that you know what the main elements are that you need to include on your retirement plaque, let’s look at some specific examples of retirement plaque wording:

Traditional Messages

• Congratulations on Your Retirement

• In Honour of Your Years of Dedicated Service

• Thank You for Your Outstanding Contributions

• Wishing You All the Best in Retirement

Personalised Appreciation Messages

• In grateful appreciation for [Name]’s 35 years of loyalty, wisdom, and unwavering dedication. Your legacy will not be forgotten.

• Thank you, [Name], for your years of hard work, humour and kindness. You made a lasting difference.

• For 25 years of excellence, mentorship, and leadership — congratulations on a well-earned retirement!

Poetic or Inspirational Messages

• ‘After climbing the mountain, you can finally enjoy the view.’

• ‘Retirement is not the end… it’s the beginning of the open road.’

• ‘May your next chapter be filled with adventure, rest, and joy. Your journey is just beginning.’

Warm & Friendly Messages

• • To a special friend and colleague — we’ll miss your presence and spirit every day. Enjoy every moment of your well-earned retirement.
  • The office won’t be the same without you — thank you for everything, [Name]. Wishing you joy and relaxation ahead.

• From all your colleagues at [Company Name], congratulations and best wishes for your next adventure!

Humorous Retirement Messages

• You’re leaving us?! Who authorised this?

• Retired: Under new management (see spouse for details).

• No more Mondays. No more meetings. Just naps and hobbies from here on out. Enjoy it, [Name]!

Complete Example of Retirement Plaque Wording

Presented to
Margaret Hughes
Head of Customer Relations
1990 – 2024

In recognition of 34 years of outstanding service, unwavering dedication, and the warmth you brought to every colleague and client alike. Your leadership, kindness, and humour have left a lasting mark on everyone who had the pleasure of working with you.

‘After climbing the mountain, you can finally enjoy the view.’

With heartfelt thanks from all your friends at Horizon Group.
Wishing you a joyful and well-deserved retirement!

Retirement Plaque Ideas

Once you’ve got your retirement plaque wording, it’s time to pick out a design. There are numerous options to choose from which, on one hand, can be great since you’re sure to find something to fit the retiree’s personality. On the other hand, however, it can be a bit overwhelming having to choose one single option. Below, we’ve picked out some of the most popular retirement plaque ideas to help you:

Years of Service Retirement Plaque

A years of service retirement plaque is a great way to honour a retiree’s commitment. These plaques’ design typically accentuates the start and end dates of their employment as well as the number of years served. It’s a powerful message for retirees who’ve been with a company for a long time.

Inspirational Retirement Plaque

If a retiree has made a lasting impact through mentorship, guidance or leadership, an inspirational retirement plaque can be the perfect fit. These plaques are designed to highlight a meaningful quote or goodbye message, maybe even a poem. Have a look at our poetic and inspirational message examples above for ideas.

Crystal Retirement Plaque

Crystal retirement plaques create a sense of sophistication and importance and are perfect for executive roles, formal settings or simply when you want to give a retirement plaque that looks a bit more premium. They’re also a popular choice for special recognition awards.

Custom Retirement Plaque

Maybe you have something quite unique or specific in mind for your retirement plaque and you’re not sure where to find a similar design. Well, with a custom retirement plaque, you’ll have the full flexibility to choose the design, layout, colours and even shape of your plaque. It’s a great way to add a touch of creativity and create something truly special. 

How to Get Retirement Plaque Wording Just Right

Here are some general rules of thumb that can come in handy when deciding what to write on a retirement plaque:

• Be brief: Plaques don’t offer too much space so try to keep the message short, but impactful.
• Match the tone to the person: Think about the retiree’s personality and your relationship with them. For some, a heartfelt message works best. For others, a bit of humour or a slightly more formal approach could be more fitting.
• Keep it easy to read: Your message should be easy to understand at a glance. Stick to warm, simple language.
• Think beyond the moment: A retirement plaque is likely something that will be kept and displayed for years to come. Write something that holds meaning not just now, but also in the future.

Custom Retirement Plaques From Badges Plus

If you’ve already decided what to write on a retirement plaque and you’re looking to have a custom retirement plaque created with excellent craftsmanship and advice, get in touch with our team at Badges Plus. Our laser engraving service is fantastic for inscribing messages, names and dates on personalised gifts, making it ideal for creating a custom retirement plaque.

If you already have a design in mind, just make an inquiry and upload it online. Our team will do the rest. If, however, you’d like us to help you create a design from scratch, that’s not a problem. Get in touch with our team today and we’ll be happy to make your vision a reality!