Headstones · verified July 2026
How Much Does a Headstone Cost?
A headstone typically costs $1,000 to $3,000 for a standard granite upright with engraving and installation. Flat markers start around $200; large upright, companion, or bench monuments can run $5,000 to $15,000 or more.
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The stone is only part of what you're paying for. Material, size, engraving, and the cemetery's own fees all move the price , but so does who you buy from. A funeral home or the monument dealer parked next to your cemetery's office is rarely the cheapest option for the identical stone. Below is what headstones actually cost, by type and material, what drives that number, and how to buy one without paying more than you have to. If the cemetery only permits a flat marker rather than an upright stone, those are priced separately on the grave marker page.
Headstone cost by type
These are national ranges for the stone, standard engraving, and basic installation, actual prices vary by region and retailer.
| Type | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat / grass marker | $200–$1,000 | Lies flush with the ground; the least expensive option |
| Bevel marker | $500–$2,000 | Raised 6–12 inches off the ground, angled face |
| Slant marker | $1,000–$4,000 | Angled face on a base, single or companion |
| Upright headstone (single) | $1,000–$3,000 | The "traditional" standing granite monument |
| Upright headstone (companion) | $2,000–$5,000 | Wider base, room for two inscriptions |
| Bench memorial | $3,000–$10,000 | A functional stone bench as the marker |
| Ledger marker | $5,000–$15,000 | A single slab covering the full grave |
The flat marker at the top of that table is the cheapest option in the ground, not just on paper: it's also the style many cemeteries require in their memorial-garden or veterans' sections regardless of budget, so check your cemetery's rules before you fall in love with an upright design.
Headstone cost by material
| Material | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gray granite | Basic upright from ~$1,000 | The most popular and least expensive stone |
| Black or premium granite | 40–50% more than gray | Same size, darker or rarer granite color |
| Marble | $1,500, often $5,000+ | Softer stone; erodes and stains faster outdoors |
| Bronze marker (flat) | $800–$3,000 | Usually mounted on a separate granite base |
| Bronze-on-granite upright | $2,000–$6,000+ | Bronze plaque set into an upright granite monument |
Engraving and add-ons
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Extra engraved characters (beyond the base inscription) | $5–$35 per character |
| Shape or relief carving | $200–$1,000 |
| Laser-etched photo portrait | $200–$500 |
| Porcelain photo portrait | $200–$400 |
| Installation | $100–$500 |
| Foundation | $100–$300 |
| Cemetery setting fee | $50–$500+ |
What actually drives the price
Four things move a headstone's price more than anything else. Material, granite color and quality is the single biggest lever; a premium black granite monument can cost 40 to 50 percent more than the same size in standard gray. Size and shape, a companion upright, a bench, or a ledger marker uses far more stone than a flat marker. Engraving, the base inscription is usually included, but extra text, a second date added later, or custom artwork is priced per character or as a flat add-on. Who you buy from, a funeral home or the monument dealer with an office at the cemetery gate is rarely the cheapest route to the identical stone. Direct-to-consumer monument companies manufacture and ship the same granite without that middleman markup.
Your rights, and where they stop
Under the FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453), a funeral home is legally required to accept a casket or urn you bought from a third party, with no handling fee. That's federal law, and it exists because funeral-home markups on those items can run 300 to 500 percent.
Headstones work differently. The Funeral Rule covers funeral providers, it does not extend the same protection to cemeteries or monument dealers, most of which fall outside the Rule entirely. A cemetery can require monuments to meet its own size, material, and foundation specifications, and some restrict which vendors may install on their grounds. None of that means you have to buy from the priciest option, it means you should call your cemetery's office and get its monument requirements in writing before you order from anyone. See our full guide to your rights by product for the complete breakdown.
Where to buy
Once you know your cemetery's monument requirements, these are direct-to-consumer sellers worth comparing against whatever your funeral home or cemetery quotes. One thing to confirm with any of them before you order: a quoted price doesn't always include installation. Direct sellers typically cover design, engraving, and shipping, but the foundation and setting fee is often billed separately by the cemetery, usually another $100 to $500, so ask what's included before you compare two numbers that aren't actually apples to apples.
- Legacy Headstones , grave markers and headstones starting at $199, up to roughly $3,997 for a large companion black granite monument. Design, engraving, and shipping are included in the quoted price; installation is billed separately by your cemetery.
- ClearStream Monuments , mid-range to premium monuments, roughly $2,510 to $19,370, with standard engraving, shipping, and a warranty included.
- Pro Monuments , granite headstones shipped direct to the house, with engraved designs around $796. Sits between the budget flat markers and the premium monument houses, which is where most families actually land. They also carry engraved figurative designs if you want something other than plain lettering.
- Memorials.com , a whole-category resource if you want to compare styles and materials across many manufacturers before deciding.
Below $199, and the catch that comes with it
Under the cheapest direct seller there is a whole tier of personalised stones on Amazon: engraved marble memorial markers and 16 by 8 inch granite markers that cost a fraction of $199 and arrive in days.
The catch is the same requirement this section opened with. These are small flat stones sold without reference to any cemetery's rules, and most cemeteries specify minimum size, material, and a poured foundation. Assume one will not be accepted on a plot until your cemetery office says otherwise in writing. Where they genuinely work: a garden or home memorial, a pet's grave, a cemetery that permits small flat markers, or a temporary marker while you save for the permanent one. That last case is the common one, and nobody at a monument company is going to suggest it.
Two things that fit a stone you already have: a cemetery vase with a ground spike, and a stainless QR memorial plaque that links to an obituary or photo page. Check the vase against your cemetery's decoration rules too; many restrict what can sit on a plot and when.
RestingDove may earn a commission if you buy through the links above, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, RestingDove earns from qualifying purchases. See our disclosures.
