Buyer’s Guide to Gravestones & Markers

In the movies and TV or streaming shows, gravestones seem to appear in a cemetery immediately after a person is buried. Sometimes you even see a brand new stone placed at the grave before the graveside service begins, but this is the magic of Hollywood.

In reality, it takes quite a bit longer. And it can feel like a daunting process. 

Overview: Our Top Picks

• Stone grave marker (44.99+)
• Granite grave marker (124.99+)
• Bronze grave markers ($84.99)
• Infant gravestones ($259.95)

Jump ahead to these sections: 

• What’s a Grave Marker?
  
• What Are the Different Types of Grave Markers?
  
• What Are Some Key Features of Grave Markers?
  
• How Do You Choose a Grave Marker for Yourself or a Loved One?
  
• Best Online Stores for Gravestones and Monuments
  

Buying the best gravestone for a loved one doesn’t have to be intimidating. Follow the guide below to learn about what to keep in mind while shopping for the right stone (or another marker) and where you can make your purchase when you’re ready. 

What’s a Grave Marker?

A grave marker is exactly that—it’s a stone, metal, or other material used to denote the burial location of a person (or even a pet). They are usually placed at the head of a grave. Most include at least the name and birth and death dates of the individual interred at the spot.

Grave markers, like upright gravestones especially, make it much easier to locate a person’s burial location.

Most importantly, a grave marker is a tribute and a memorial to someone who has gone before us. A gravestone can tell a small story about the life of the person buried there. They represent a person by stating their name, the time in which they lived, and even symbols or words describing who they were and what they liked.

What Are the Different Types of Grave Markers?

When you start shopping for grave markers, you’ll find a variety of grave markers to choose from. The first thing you’ll note is that there are mainly two types of materials to choose from: granite or bronze. Granite comes in several colors, though, so you’ll have choices there.

As you’ll see below, the markers come in different sizes and shapes. Some stand upright, while others are flush to the ground. Others fall somewhere in between. 

Examples include classic upright headstones, flat grave markers, slant gravestones, specialty grave headstones, cremation headstones, cemetery benches, bronze markers, companion markers or headstones, infant headstones, temporary markers, and pet headstones or markers. Read on to learn more about your choices.

Headstone grave markers

The term “headstone” is a generic term for a grave marker. It’s usually placed at the head of a grave, thus the name. Headstones are upright grave markers that are usually made of stone (again, it’s in the name). 

Contemporary headstones are most commonly carved from granite. In the past—especially dating back to the mid-1800s—many were made of marble. Grave markers dating back to the 1600s and 1700s in New England were made from slate and occasionally sandstone.

Pros: 

• Upright, so they’re easier to locate in cemeteries

Cons: 

• May not be allowed in certain cemeteries or determined areas of a cemetery, like memorial parks

Flat grave markers

Flat grave markers are also known as flat lawn stones, lawn-level markers (or memorials), or grass stones (or markers) since they are even with the grass. They are generally the most affordable option when purchasing a grave marker.

They are often made of granite or bronze, which may be mounted on a granite, or sometimes concrete, base. 

Pros:

• Are easy for the cemetery caretakers to mow around them or over them

Cons: 

• Can be difficult to find—even if you have a map or guidance for locating them    

Granite grave markers

Granite is durable, so it should last a long, long time. It’s second in line for the hardest mineral—diamond is number one. It’s available in an array of colors, like gray (from light to dark), black, red (brickish in color), pink, green, beige, and blue. 

The most common gravestone color you’ll see is light gray. Highly polished black has gained in popularity because of its dramatic look. Granite grave markers are also expensive. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping for stone markers, especially if you are on a limited budget.

Pros:

• Very sturdy and long-lasting
• Come in a variety of colors
• Look stately and fit in well with the average modern cemetery, which is mainly full of granite gravestones

Cons: 

• Can be expensive
• Are very heavy. If they get knocked over by a fallen tree or vandals, etc., they won’t be easy to reset.                        

Bronze grave markers

The designs on bronze grave markers can be personalized and very intricate. These designs are raised rather than etched into the flat surface. Bronze markers are created from sand molds. The molten bronze is then poured into the mold and then goes through a cooling process. After that, any imperfections are removed, and details that didn’t go through are added.

The final steps are to add many coats of oxidation (often colored dark brown). Then they are polished, the oxidation paint is removed, and a coating (lacquer) is added to protect the finished product.

For flat lawn markers, a bronze plate is attached to a base of a different material, which is often of granite. 

Bronze sculptures are an option for grave markers. They are, of course, far more pricey than your average bronze plate. But they can be made in many sizes. Some are small, others are life-size, and still, others can be larger-than-life. 

Pros: 

• Can be very detailed and highly personalized
• Because they are often used as flat lawn markers, maintenance of the plot is simple – just mow over it
• Made modularly, so for a double-plot marker for a couple, it’s easy for the marker to be updated with a death date

Cons: 

• Can be quite expensive, so theft can be an issue. Some thieves may target them to break off pieces and sell them for scrap

Small grave markers

Small grave markers are pretty self-explanatory. They’re smaller than the average gravestone, which means they’ll usually cost less. But even though they are smaller, depending on their actual size and the number of characters you decide to use, there may still be room for some type of image or symbol.

Before you decide to purchase a small marker, check with the cemetery about their minimum and maximum size requirements.

Pros:

• Cost less, and they take up less space
• Are suitable for cremation burial sections and lots for infants

Cons: 

• If you want to use one in an area of the cemetery that usually features full-size markers, they may not be able to be used

Memorial plaques

Memorial plaques are usually made of bronze, though some may be made of aluminum. They come in small to large sizes, depending on their use. A plaque could be placed in an urn or cremains niche, by a sponsored tree or flower bed, on benches, or another place. 

Pros: 

• Can be very affordable 
• Look dignified and will last

Cons: 

• You’ll need to check with the cemetery to find out if you can use a plaque there and where they can be located. Can they be placed at a grave? On the outside of a crypt in a mausoleum? Does the cemetery have tree sponsorships? 

Temporary grave markers

As mentioned earlier, it takes time for a grave marker to get produced. Sometimes a temporary grave marker is included with your purchase of a headstone.

If not, you should be able to purchase one from about $20 and up. They can be made of metal, plastic, wood, etc. You may be able to make one yourself for a personal touch.

Pros: 

• Identify your loved one’s grave between the time of burial and the arrival of the permanent grave marker 
• Usually very inexpensive

Cons: 

• The cemetery will likely allow them, but check to see if they have guidelines for what can be used

Infant grave markers

Infant gravestones may appear within or near a family’s plot. They may also be placed in a children’s section of the cemetery. Oftentimes, markers for babies and children are smaller than the average stone, but they can be the same size or even larger, depending on preference.

Pros:

•  There are a variety of pre-made designs you can choose.

Cons: 

• You’ll need to check with the cemetery to make sure the grave marker you select fits with their requirements. This is especially important if you decide you want to buy something out of the ordinary size-wise or theme-wise. 

Pet grave markers

We love our pets. They’re part of our families, just a bit shorter and usually a lot furrier. If you decide to bury your pet, you will likely want a pet grave marker for them. They can be made of metal or stone. They can feature a photo or etching of your pet, if you like.

Pros: 

• Small and usually reasonably priced

Cons: 

• Can also be a costly expense you hadn’t saved for. While it is much, much cheaper to bury a pet in a cemetery, you’ll still need to pay for the grave, burial, and marker

Military grave markers

Military grave markers are obviously for those who have served in the military. They are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

These gravestones are available for the following people, pending they are in good standing with the military:

• United States veterans
• Active-duty service members
• National Guard members and Reservists
• Spouses and other family members

Each military headstone can only feature one person, the eligible person, and are available without charge to veterans. 

To apply for a military grave marker, you must contact the VA and fill out VA Form 40-1330.

Pros: 

• Free for veterans
• Easily spotted and recognized as they are uniform in their look—white headstones made of marble with black lettering
• May be placed in a specific military section of a cemetery, in general locations throughout a private cemetery (but always check with your chosen cemetery to make sure), or in a National Cemetery

Cons: 

• May not be as personalized as other types of grave markers

What Are Some Key Features of Grave Markers?

The key features of a grave marker are the traditional and not-so-traditional information imprinted or carved into the monument.

Name

The individual’s legal name. It may also include a nickname, maiden name, or birth name (if different from current name).

Dates

Dates of the person’s birth and death. Sometimes just years are shown, but usually, they include the month, day, and year.

Family relationship

Examples include mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, friend.

Marriage date

This may be included if it’s a double grave marker with the identifying information of a married couple.

Names of children

Some parents may want their children’s names listed along with theirs. For example, a married couple could have their wedding date between the two people’s information and list their children in their birth order on the lower front part of the marker. Sometimes they may be listed on the backside of the headstone.

Epitaph

An epitaph can be a simple phrase, a quote, a blessing, a song lyric, a Bible verse, a poem, or another message that is representative of the person buried there.

Symbols

Symbols are graphic images that have a special meaning. Sometimes the symbol has a special meaning for the person, like a dog (“She loved her dog, Mimi!”). Other images could include a rose, religious symbols like a cross or Star of David, flowers, a golf club, a needle and thread, a musical instrument, a cat, etc.)

The person’s photo

The photo option has been around since cameras became available. In the early 1900s, the photos were processed onto ceramic or porcelain, and then those were added to the monument. 

That process is able to be repeated now with porcelain or a metal piece. Laser etchings right into the stone itself is also a popular option.

Flower vases

Built-in or built-on flower vases are popular additions to grave markers. Even flat lawn stones can have one that’s accessible underneath a cap.

How Do You Choose a Grave Marker for Yourself or a Loved One?

Now that you know all about the different types of grave markers, you may be curious about the buying process. Here’s how it typically works.

Step 1: Select the cemetery

Before you start searching for what monument you want to buy, decide on the cemetery. Each cemetery has guidelines and regulations for grave markers.

If you have a cemetery in mind, find out what type of monument size or style will be approved. It will save you undue stress, not to mention money.

Step 2: Shop around

You don’t have to order a grave marker right away after a death. It’s going to take weeks or possibly months for the marker to get produced. Take time to look over your options. 

There are many online memorial or grave marker companies (like the ones listed here!) to help you decide which one is the right one for your loved one. 

Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to buy a grave marker through your selected cemetery. It’s definitely an option, but it’s not your only one. You can shop for headstones online, compare prices, and get your grave marker shipped to the cemetery. It’s definitely an option, but it’s not your only one.

Step 3: Decide on a point person

This step could actually take the #1 or #2 positions. Planning a funeral and burial or interment can be very stressful. If certain parts can be delegated to someone, that can ease the burden on the family, delegate away. 

This person does not have to make all the gravestone decisions. They just have to gather the information and narrow down the options for the family to discuss.

Step 4: Know who’s responsible for what 

Find out what the grave marker company is responsible for during the process and what your responsibilities are. Write all of this down, and make sure to work together with them as needed. 

You’ll also want to stay in contact with the cemetery in case any questions arise.

Step 5: Place your order and follow through on the details

A good memorial marker company will keep you informed during every step of the process. They will show you the design for your approval, and once that’s agreed upon, they will send you a proof of what the marker will look like. This proof is the critical piece. 

Quadruple check to make sure the names are spelled right, the correct dates are used, and the rest of the information or images are exactly what you want. If something is done incorrectly on the final product and it was the fault of the memorial company, they will fix it for you at no extra charge. But if it was a mistake on your part, it will come out of your pocket.

Best Online Stores for Gravestones and Monuments

The purchasing of a gravestone is unlike any other purchase you make. It’s a permanent memorial for someone you care about. Unless the person’s funeral and burial plans have been preplanned, it’s a decision family members may be making as they cope with their loss. On top of that, it’s a high-cost purchase. So, you may feel the pressure of selecting a fitting memorial that will literally be written in stone and will be a large expense.

To assist you as you make this decision, we’ve compiled a list of online gravestone and monument shops. One of the best things about shopping for an item like this online is that you can take your time and not feel pressured to make an immediate purchase. And you always have the opportunity to contact these sellers to ask any questions you have. This is an important decision and one you don’t need to rush into.

Below are some highlighted companies that are worth checking out.

Clear Stream Monuments

• Products offered: Angel headstones, classic headstones (upright), obelisks, crosses and other religious statues, scroll), cremation benches, memorial benches, child/infant headstones, column monuments, unique headstones, bronze markers, columbariums, and cremation urns.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes, they offer free standard engraving.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Yes.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? No.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Yes, a lifetime warranty.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to the cemetery.
• Cancellation policy: Orders may be canceled within 3 days for full refunds.
• Return policy: All sales are final.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: Will send free temporary gravemarkers upon request and will replace vandalized monuments.
• What makes them stand out? A lifetime warranty gives peace of mind.

If you’re concerned about the “life” of your monument, this family-owned business offers the best warranty in the group. 

“Every cemetery marker,” from headstones to mausoleums, has Clear Stream’s lifetime warranty. This means your monument is “guaranteed for life not to crack or fracture … [due to] exposure to outdoor conditions and weather. If it cracks or falls apart,” they will replace or repair it at no charge. Plus, they will even replace it for free if it becomes vandalized or harmed by an act of nature.

They will also check with the cemetery to make sure your monument meets their regulations, so that’s one less thing for you to worry about.

View Gravemarkers on ClearStreamMemorials.com

Grassmarkers

• Products offered: Granite, bronze, specialty, memorial accessories, upright, flush, bevel, slant, full grave ledgers, benches, infant, pet, statues, and mausoleums.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Offers a design preview.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Unsure.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Yes, a lifetime warranty.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes.
• Cancellation policy: Unsure, cancel as soon as possible if you make an order.
• Return policy: No returns on custom products, but if a stone is damaged, please notify the store within 24 hours so they can ship you a replacement.
• Customer service: Email, phone, and live chat.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Their best price guarantee.

Not only does Grassmarkers offer a “100% lifetime warranty and premium natural granite,” they also have a “100% best price guarantee.”

Of the sites reviewed, Grassmarkers is the most online-friendly. They are one of the only ones who offer live chat and accept payments via the usual credit cards as well as through PayPal and Google Checkout.

View Gravemarkers on Grassmarkers.com

Memorials.com

• Products offered: Classic upright headstones, flat grave markers, cremation pillars, slant gravestones, specialty grave headstones, cremation headstones, cemetery benches, basic granite benches, bronze markers, companion markers/headstones, infant headstones, ledger markers, and pet headstones/markers. Also keepsakes, cremation/memorial jewelry, caskets.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes, the first 25 characters are free, after that, it's $247 per additional letter of text.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Yes.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? No.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Only warranties are those of the manufacturer. 
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free ground shipping to mainland US states.
• Cancellation policy: You can cancel within 24 hours of purchase.
• Return policy: If work has been started, there will be no returns allowed. They will replace defective or incorrect products. Customers have 24 hours from the delivery date to report defective/incorrect or damaged items and a free replacement will be issued.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Lowest-price match plus 5%.

If you’re interested in purchasing a marker through Memorials.com, make sure you shop around at other sites, too. They offer a lowest-price guarantee and price match as long as you tell them about that better price before you make your purchase. On top of that, they will also give you an extra discount of 5% off. 

Another bonus they have is the “Headstones and Guidance on Cemetery Stones” page on their site, which offers some helpful information for buyers.

View Gravemarkers on Memorials.com

Amazon.com

• Products offered: Some classic upright headstones, flat lawnstones, memorial plaques, and pet grave markers.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Depends on the individual seller.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Depends on the seller, but usually no, you will need to do this yourself.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? No.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Depends on the seller.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Depends on the seller.
• Cancellation policy: Depends on the seller. 
• Return policy: Depends on the seller.
• Customer service: Message them through your account on Amazon.com.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Low cost.

On Amazon, a site where you can buy just about anything, of course you can buy gravestones. And at cheap prices. But the old adage “you get what you pay for” definitely applies here.

While you may be able to buy a flat lawn marker here for a couple hundred or so dollars, the quality is going to reflect that. The only way we saw to contact these sellers (they are not sold directly from Amazon) is through the site’s messages. There’s also very little selection.

View Gravemarkers on Amazon.com

Legacy Headstones

• Products offered: Flat (grass level), upright, slants, pillows, premium (teardrop, angel, heart, horse, benches, Heavenly French curve bac, butterfly), granite, bronze, companion, plaques, and memorial extras.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes, depending on the size or style of stone, extra words can be placed on the back of the stone for $199.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Make sure to check yourself. They will check, but say it's "ultimately the responsibility of the purchaser ... that it conforms to cemetery regulations."
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Yes.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Yes, lifetime guarantee on all customized memorials.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to mainland US and includes shipping insurance.
• Cancellation policy: You can cancel your order within 48 hours after payment is made, but there's a 10% service fee on cancellations.
• Return policy: All sales final.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Family-owned.

Legacy Headstones has been a family-operated business since 1920, so they truly are a legacy business. They are also proud to say their materials are made in America. Plus, they offer a “lifetime guarantee on all customized memorials.”

View Gravemarkers on LegacyHeadstones.com

West Memorials

• Products offered: Monuments, headstones, mausoleums, civic and war memorials, statues, and cemetery markers.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Yes, they will verify. They will also find an installer to place your memorial free of charge.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Unsure.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? They are responsible for the stone until it's delivered. If damaged, they will repair or replace it.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, but shipping is not free. 
• Cancellation policy: Unsure, follow up with customer service as soon as you want to cancel your order.
• Return policy: All sales final.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Highly customized memorials.

If you are looking for something unique—as in one-of-a-kind—go directly to West Memorials. They’ve won a number of awards since they opened, including top awards for individual grave markers in 2019. They also received the award for Winner of the Best Monument Designer of 2019. 

Because their memorials may not fit the typical mold, West will check with the cemetery ahead of time to verify the cemetery’s guidelines and restrictions.

View Gravemarkers on WestMemorials.com

The Headstone Guys

• Products offered: Flat (grass level), upright, bevels, slant; granite, bronze, companion, plaques, and memorial extras
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? If you ask them to, they will contact the cemetery for you to make sure the headstone meets cemetery requirements. They have a checklist for this on their FAQs list.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Unsure.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? If a marker gets damaged before it arrives, they will replace it at no charge.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to mainland US.
• Cancellation policy: Unsure, make sure to cancel your order as soon as you need to.
• Return policy: All sales final.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: Will beat any competitor's price.
• What makes them stand out? Headstone and weekly specials.

The Headstone Guys' site is friendly and informative. What a stress-reliever when you're shopping around for a gravestone! A bonus is that they have headstone and weekly specials, which may save you some money.

They will also beat any competitor’s price (conditions apply), and they offer weekly specials to keep people checking back. Also, the Guys will replace your monument at no charge if it gets damaged before arriving at its destination at the cemetery.

View Gravemarkers on TheHeadstoneGuys.com

Signature Headstones

• Products offered: Flat, pillow, slant, upright,  and special (angel, heart, floral, and religious).
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Unsure, make sure to follow up after you order.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Yes.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Yes, lifetime guarantee.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to mainland US.
• Cancellation policy: Items may be canceled until the payment has been processed.
• Return policy: All sales are final.
• Customer service: Email, phone, and live chat.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Online headstone customizer. 

While all the gravestone sites offer grave marker customizing, Signature Headstones has a customizer on their site.

They offer “thousands of designs” in 10 colors of stones, including blue pearl, desert pink, emerald pearl, and multiple grays. They also provide free unlimited engraving. If you have questions, they are available via live chat.

View Gravemarkers on SignatureHeadstonescom

American Headstones

• Products offered: Flat, slant, upright, custom, granite, memorial benches, and bronze.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? No, make sure to check this on your own.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Yes.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Unsure.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to mainland US.
• Cancellation policy: Unsure, make sure to cancel your order as soon as you can.
• Return policy: Returns are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• Customer service: Email and phone.
• Other special features: No.
• What makes them stand out? Headstone photos.

One thing that stands out about American Headstones is their work with memorial photos. Placing a photo on a grave marker adds an extra-special touch of personalization. 

They sell color porcelain as well as etched photos. The process of making the porcelain photos includes scanning a photo and firing the porcelain tiles. Etched photos are “engraved directly into the surface of the granite. This is done on black granite due to the high contrast of the etching against the dark color. 

View Gravemarkers on AllHeadstones.com

Headstones USA

• Products offered: Upright, slant, pillow, flat, bronze, companion, granite, memorial benches, bevel, special order, uniquely designed, angel, and heart-shaped.
• Is engraving included in the cost? If not, what's the starting price? Yes, until a certain number of letters, then $2 per letter after you reach the maximum.
• Offers a verification of the design before production? Unsure, make sure to check this on your own.
• Ability to pre-pay or pre-plan? Yes.
• Do gravestones come with a warranty? Will replace errors and anything with damage during shipping.
• Can you ship directly to the cemetery? Yes, free shipping to mainland US.
• Cancellation policy: You have 24 hours to cancel your order.
• Return policy: All sales final on customized markers, uncustomized markers have a 10-day full refund policy.
• Customer service: Email, phone, and live chat.
• Other special features: No.

Headstones USA offers distinctive memorial gravestone designs you don’t see just anywhere. While they are pre-designed, they will definitely stand out among the similar gravemarkers seen in cemeteries across the country. 

One example is called “Leaning Tree,” which features a tree that bends into the rounded-top line of the gravestone. The main part of the upright stone is in one color, while the tree is carved to show a lighter stone color. Another example is an upright monument with a lighthouse carved three-dimensionally on one side.

If you have any questions, you can talk to them via live chat.

View Gravemarkers on HeadstonesUSA.com

Time Is On Your Side

While there’s a lot of information to consider here, you have plenty of time to do so. Contrary to what people may think, you don’t have to purchase a grave marker right away after a death. 

It’s important to keep this in mind because it means you don’t have to rush into a decision. You may take your time and find exactly what you want on your loved one’s grave marker. After all, this marker will represent who this person was for decades, and possibly longer.

Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, you have more than just the gravestone to think about. Handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.