When a loved one dies, the family honors their legacy through several memorial practices. One common way to mark someone’s final resting place is to engrave a custom headstone. Headstones have been used for centuries to honor the dead, and are a symbol of remembrance.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Does Walmart Sell Headstones?
- How Much Do Headstones Cost at Walmart?
- How to Purchase a Headstone at Walmart
- Walmart Headstone Frequently Asked Questions
Many people purchase headstones from their cemetery or funeral home, and some don’t realize it’s not the only option. If you’re wondering how much a headstone should cost, the most expensive options are usually found in cemeteries and funeral homes. But are a number of places you can find affordable headstones online, and one of these is the big-name box store Walmart.
The beauty of a headstone is in the message and significance behind it, not in the price tag. With large headstones costing several hundred or thousands of dollars, it’s important to find something that suits your budget and needs. An affordable place to start your search is Walmart. To help you begin the process, here is a step-by-step guide to finding the right headstone at Walmart.
Does Walmart Sell Headstones?
Many are surprised to find just how many funeral and burial products Walmart sells. Along with caskets and urns, Walmart is one of the most affordable places to find headstones online. Though you won’t find these items at your local Walmart store, you can find them online on Walmart’s website.
Walmart headstones come in a variety of styles and types, making them an excellent fit for many different individuals. If you’re looking for something more high-quality and personalized, a different headstone retailer is probably a better fit. It’s also important to note that Walmart only sells gravemarkers and flat stones, not standing headstones. However, for simple headstones at an affordable price, it’s hard to beat Walmart.
How Much Do Headstones Cost at Walmart?
There are a lot of different headstone options at Walmart. The specific price depends on the style, size, and material. Additionally, you might need to make customizations or engravings, and this costs an extra fee.
- Memorial stones ($20-$50): There are a variety of different memorial stones on Walmart’s online store, which are easily personalized. These are flat stone markers that rest on the ground, either of a cemetery, personal garden, or memorial space.
- Pet memorials ($10-$50): Pet memorial stones are also available on Walmart’s website. These headstones are small and designed to honor a pet’s memory in a pet cemetery or other outdoor space.
- Cemetery vases ($3-$25): Cemetery vases attach to headstones or rest nearby, allowing families to leave fresh or fake flowers. These prices are significantly less than you’ll find at traditional retailers.
- Headstone cleaner ($5-$20): Lastly, Walmart’s online store sells headstone cleaning products to keep headstones pristine year-round.
You can purchase a flat memorial marker or stone at Walmart, as well as add-ons starting at $20. This means you can find something worthwhile at a price you can afford. Everyone deserves a memorial that’s meaningful to them, and this shouldn’t be limited by budget.
How to Purchase a Headstone at Walmart
With so many headstone design ideas, it’s not always easy to know where to start your search. How do you purchase a headstone at Walmart? More importantly, how do you ensure your Walmart headstone can be used at your chosen cemetery? Follow the step-by-step tips below.
Step 1: Understand your cemetery’s requirements
Each cemetery has specific rules and requirements about what types of headstones can be used. These are typically material and size regulations, so make sure you understand the guidelines before making your purchase.
Each cemetery is required to provide this information upon request. Even if they have a preferred headstone provider, feel free to ask for their requirements to choose and purchase your own.
Step 2: Pick your engravings
Next, choose your engravings. There are a lot of headstone quotes and sayings ideas to choose from. Many families have a combination of the following:
- Names
- Birth and death dates
- Epitaph
- Quotes
- Bible verses
- Religious symbols
- Images
Not all cemeteries allow all types of engravings, so familiarize yourself with the specific requirements to guide your search. The more engravings you include, the more expensive the cost. For example, including a photograph of your loved one can cost a significantly higher fee than just listing their name and important dates.
Step 3: Calculate any added fees
Before you begin purchasing your online grave marker through a provider like Walmart, calculate any extra fees. It’s common for cemeteries to charge an additional fee for placing the headstone on the grave. Despite common misconceptions, this isn’t a free service.
In addition to the placement fee, you’ll also need to calculate any costs associated with shipping. Walmart ships many of the headstones on its website from third-party providers, and these costs can be steep depending on the size, shape, and weight of your grave marker.
Step 4: Visit Walmart’s funeral store
If you visit a Walmart store in person near you, it’s not likely that you’ll find any funeral products on the shelves next to home goods or gardening items. Funeral items are only available online through Walmart’s website.
To explore Walmart’s funeral items, navigate to the funeral panel on their website. You can search for specific products and see if any customers have left reviews in the past. You can search grave markers, cemetery decorations, and so on.
Step 5: Personalize your marker
Some markers on Walmart’s online store offer personalization for free or as an extra cost. When you check out, you’ll learn if you can personalize a product. Follow the website’s steps to enter your personalization and choose any materials or designs.
Before you submit, take extra time to check your spelling and design to make sure everything is correct. The last thing you want is for this important headstone to have a typo!
Step 6: Leave time for shipping
Last but not least, once you’ve submitted your order, leave extra time for shipping. While some of Walmart’s funeral products are available with Walmart+ Free Shipping, you will likely need to wait for shipping and processing for up to several weeks.
Unlike when you order at a local headstone provider or through your cemetery, shipping times for Walmart can be unpredictable. You will need to talk to your cemetery about this timeline so they can handle the installation of your headstone when it arrives.
Additionally, if you plan to hold a graveside service, you will need to keep shipping times in mind. Though you can get a better deal, you might not receive your order as quickly through Walmart as other retailers.
Walmart Headstone Frequently Asked Questions
Because ordering a headstone online can be intimidating, read through these FAQs before you place your order. Since you’re unable to see the headstone in person before you order, it’s reasonable to have some questions about the process.
What is Walmart’s return policy?
Walmart has a generous return policy for anything ordered online or in-store. You typically have up to 90 days to return your headstone or grave accessories after purchase.
You can return items by mail, schedule a pickup from your home, or in-store. You don’t need your receipt to complete this return as long as it’s from Walmart.com. Visit their support page to begin your return.
Does Walmart offer stone installation?
Some of Walmart’s headstones have add-on services. You can often receive expert help with your headstone purchase in the form of paver stone installation. This costs a flat fee of $99 and is a one-time paver stone installation.
This service includes up to 2 hours of installation or the setting of paver stones. During this service, the customer must provide pavers, edge restraints, and paving sands. The professional provides all additional equipment. After your purchase, Walmart’s professional service partner will reach out to schedule your installation.
Is there an engraving character limit?
There is an engraving character limit to consider when purchasing through Walmart’s products. For most products, this is between 38 and 60 characters. Planning your engraving in advance is the best way to target your search.
Find the Right Headstone for Your Needs
With headstone etiquette to consider, it’s not always easy to find the right headstone. This is especially true when you’re on a budget. With the average headstone costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars, it’s never been more important to understand all of your options. The right headstone doesn’t have to come from the fanciest, most expensive retailer. In fact, Walmart is a great provider of funeral products.
As long as you know exactly what you’re ordering, why not look at what Walmart has to offer? With competitive pricing, add-on services, and personalization, there’s a lot to love about Walmart’s selection and service. Like with all things legacy and memorialization, it’s the thought that truly matters.