Handsome House Numbers

There are simple house numbers that quietly go about their job displaying your address, and then there are digits so striking they achieve the level of functional art, inviting the gaze of passersby. Just about any set can add a hit of texture or color to your home’s entrance, but carefully chosen ones also reinforce its architectural style and make a welcoming first impression.

Most house numbers come in all-weather finishes sealed with lacquer or glaze, but when it comes to choosing a style, the options are almost endless. Materials run the gamut from shiny brass and satin stainless to white clay and terra-cotta tile, with numbers (and, often, letters) rendered in a wide range of typefaces, both traditional and modern. Here we’ve zeroed in on 21 options that span three general time periods, so whatever era your home dates to, we’re sure to have your number.

Pro advice

“Most municipalities require numbers to be at least 4 inches tall so that safety personnel can see them easily from the street, but check local ordinances before mounting new ones.”

—Terry Talken, co-owner, Shop 4 Classics

19th Century: Hammered Look

Solid, from-the-forge-look numbers fit Cape Cod, Georgian, and Greek Revival–influenced homes, while ornate options make a good match for Queen Anne and other Victorian-era styles.

From: Atlas Homewares

Size: Up to 3½”W × 5½”H

Made of: Zinc with a lacquered copper finish

Cost: About $14 each; Atlas Homewares

Rustic Patina

From: Ashley Norton

Size: Up to 4″W × 6″H

Made of: Solid bronze with a dark oil-rubbed finish

Cost: About $23 each; Door Hardware USA

Filigree Flourishes

From: All Fired Up

Size: Up to 4″W × 8″H

Made of: Glazed ceramic

Cost: About $20 each; Habitatter

Stylish Slant

From: Ashley Norton

Size: Up to 2″W × 4″H

Made of: Solid bronze with a light finish

Cost: About $21 each; Door Hardware USA

Textural Twigs

From: Pottery Barn

Size: Up to 6″W × 10″H

Made of: Cast aluminum with a bronze finish

Cost: About $14 each; Pottery Barn

Classic Brass

From: Restoration Hardware

Size: Up to 3″W × 5″H

Made of: Polished solid brass

Cost: About $10 each; Restoration Hardware

Victorian Vines

From: Rocheford Handmade Tile

Size: Up to 4½”W × 6″H

Made of: Hand-glazed terra-cotta

Cost: About $25 each; Rocheford Handmade Tile

Exclusive TOH discount! 15 percent off. Details at This Old House Deals.

Bright Enamel

From: Ecco by Fuoriserie

Size: Up to 2½”W × 4¼”H

Made of: Crackled glass and ceramic

Cost: About $7 each; Historic Houseparts

Aged Look

From: Rejuvenation

Size: Up to 3¼”W × 5⅛”H

Made of: Hand-hammered steel with a weathered iron finish

Cost: About $20 each; Rejuvenation

Pre-War: Scroll Style

Hand-craftsmanship and nature motifs suit bungalows and early-20th-century revival styles. Stream-lined digits are a good match for Prairie and Art Deco architecture.

From: Mission Metalworks

Size: Up to 3½”W × 5″H

Made of: Recycled white bronze that will patina

Cost: About $25 each; Shop 4 Classics