Business & Office

Certificate Templates

Certificates are printed landscape and read from across a room, which changes what matters: the recipient's name has to be the largest thing on the page, and the border has to frame it without crowding it. These four use the same ornament library as our invitation cards, drawn as vector line work so they stay crisp at any size.

Two signature blocks are included; clear the second one and the first centres itself. Every design switches between award, completion, appreciation and participation wording by editing the title line.

These are for awards, courses and recognition. For a school leaving certificate with the institutional detail that goes with it, the diploma designs are the longer form of the same document.

Common questions

What wording goes on a certificate?

A title, a presentation line, the recipient's name, a short reason, the date, and at least one signature with the signatory's role. Keeping the reason to one or two lines is what stops a certificate reading like a paragraph.

What size should a certificate be printed at?

A4 landscape is the standard almost everywhere and fits ready-made frames. US Letter landscape is available in the editor for North America.

What paper works best?

Anything from 160gsm upwards - lighter paper curls in a frame and feels disposable in the hand. A lightly textured or laid stock suits the more traditional borders; smooth stock suits the modern ones.