A headstone can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars for a small flat marker to several thousand dollars for an upright granite headstone, and custom monuments cost more still. The final price depends mostly on the type of memorial, the material, its size, the engraving and the fees your cemetery charges to install it. Because prices vary by region and by dealer, the most reliable way to learn the cost is to get written quotes from two or three monument dealers.
Eligible veterans can receive a government headstone or marker at no cost, which is covered below.
Types of memorial, from least to most expensive
| Memorial type | Description | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flat (flush) marker | Lies level with the ground; required in many memorial parks | Lowest |
| Bronze marker on a granite base | Cast bronze plaque, common in memorial parks | Low to moderate |
| Bevel or slant marker | Low stone raised a few inches with a sloped or angled face | Moderate |
| Upright headstone | Standing tablet on a base, for one person | Moderate to high |
| Companion headstone | Wider upright stone with room for two names | High |
| Ledger | Flat slab covering the full length of the grave | High |
| Custom monument | Large, sculpted or architectural memorial, bench or statue | Highest |
Before you choose a style, check the cemetery's rules. Many cemeteries allow only flat markers in certain sections, and some limit size, material or color.
What drives the price
Material
Granite is the most common material in the US because it is durable and widely available. Gray granite tends to cost less than black, red, blue and other colors that are quarried in fewer places. Bronze is popular for flat markers and usually costs more than granite of a similar size. Marble is still available but weathers faster, so many dealers recommend granite for new memorials.
Size and thickness
Larger and thicker stones need more raw material, more cutting and more freight. A heavier upright also needs a larger foundation, which can raise the cemetery's setting fee.
Shape and finish
Straight-edged tablets with a polished face are the simplest to produce. Serpentine tops, hearts, custom cut-outs, all-sides polishing and carved edges add labor.
Engraving and design
Most quotes include a name and dates. Extra cost often comes from:
- Long epitaphs or extra names
- Etched images, portraits or laser-etched scenes
- Ceramic or porcelain photo inserts
- Hand-carved artwork or raised lettering
- Adding a second date of death to an existing companion stone later (a separate "final date" engraving charge)
Installation and cemetery fees
Many cemeteries charge a foundation or setting fee to pour a concrete base and place the stone, and some require their own crews to do the work. Some also charge a permit or inspection fee. These charges are separate from the dealer's price unless the quote says otherwise, so always ask.
Buying from a dealer, the cemetery or the funeral home
You can usually buy a memorial from:
- An independent monument dealer. Many have showrooms and can handle cemetery approval and installation. Find monument and headstone dealers near you.
- The cemetery. Some cemeteries, especially memorial parks, sell markers directly.
- The funeral home. Some arrange markers as a convenience.
The FTC has noted that cemeteries are not generally covered by the Funeral Rule unless they also sell funeral goods and services, so cemetery memorial pricing rules can differ. If a cemetery requires you to buy the marker from it, or charges a fee to install a marker bought elsewhere, ask for the policy in writing and check your state's consumer protection rules. The FTC's Shopping for Funeral Services has a section on headstones and monuments.
Free headstones and markers for veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a government headstone or marker at no cost for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran in any cemetery in the world. For a veteran whose grave already has a private headstone, the VA can furnish a bronze medallion to attach to it, or a headstone or marker in some cases. The VA supplies the memorial itself, but in a private cemetery the family or cemetery may still charge for installation. Rules and application forms are on va.gov, and our guide to veterans burial benefits explains the process. You can also browse veterans funeral services.
How long it takes
Ordering an upright headstone often takes several weeks to a few months, because the stone is cut, engraved and then installed when the cemetery approves the design and the ground conditions allow. Many families place the headstone months after the funeral, and some wait for the first anniversary. A temporary marker usually identifies the grave in the meantime.
Checklist for getting quotes
- Get the cemetery's memorial rules in writing: allowed types, sizes, materials and installers.
- Confirm whether the cemetery charges a setting or foundation fee, and how much.
- Ask two or three dealers for written quotes with the same size, material and lettering.
- Check that the quote states delivery, installation, permits and taxes.
- Review a proof of the layout and spelling before it is engraved.
- Ask about the warranty and what happens if the stone is damaged in shipping.
- For veterans, check eligibility for a free government headstone, marker or medallion.
Fitting the headstone into the overall budget
A headstone is usually not included in funeral home pricing, including the NFDA median funeral costs. If you are building a total budget, see how much does a funeral cost and how to pay for a funeral. Families who choose cremation may need only a small marker or a niche plaque, or none at all; see burial vs cremation.