Headstones and Grave Markers

Headstone and Grave Marker Styles

Every cemetery has its own rules about which styles of headstones and grave markers are permitted, so understanding the main types helps you make the right choice. Upright headstones are the classic standing monuments most people picture — they are available in single and companion sizes and offer the most surface area for custom engravings, photos, and designs. Flat grave markers sit flush with the ground and are required by many modern cemeteries for easier lawn maintenance. Slant markers rest at an angle on a granite base, offering a balance between the visibility of an upright monument and the low profile of a flat marker. Ledger stones are full-length ledger grave markers that cover the entire grave. Memorial benches serve as both a functional seating area and a lasting tribute, and mausoleums provide above-ground burial in a private or family structure. For a detailed comparison of these styles, read our guide to headstone vs. grave marker differences.

Bronze Headstones and Markers

Bronze is the premium material for cemetery memorials, and Memorials.com carries one of the widest selections of bronze headstones for graves anywhere online. Bronze grave markers are flat bronze cemetery markers cast in solid bronze and mounted on a granite base — they are the standard at many national and veterans' cemeteries. Bronze headstones feature bronze on granite headstone construction that pairs the warm finish of bronze with the strength of natural stone.

For families who want a photo embedded directly in the marker, our bronze headstones with pictures collection is our best-selling headstone line. Veteran grave markers honor military service with branch-specific emblems and are available as bronze veteran grave markers approved for VA and national cemeteries. We also carry double deep bronze headstones for companion plots, double deep cemetery bronze headstones in additional configurations, cemetery bronze headstones for standard plots, and infant bronze headstones designed with compassion for the smallest memorials. To learn how photos are added, see our guide on how to put a picture on a headstone.

Granite Headstones and Grave Markers

Granite is the most popular material for headstones and gravestones because of its natural beauty, exceptional strength, and resistance to weathering over decades of outdoor exposure. Our granite headstones include companion and double headstones for married couples, individual monuments, and custom-designed pieces available in black, gray, red, blue, and other granite colors. Flat granite grave markers are the most affordable option and are accepted at virtually every cemetery in the country — they sit flush with the ground and can be customized with laser-etched photos, emblems, and inscriptions.

For children, our children granite headstones and baby headstones are crafted with gentle designs including angels, teddy bears, and lambs. Granite memorial benches combine a permanent grave stone tribute with a place for visitors to sit and reflect, and are available in single and companion sizes with custom engravings on the seat, back, or legs. For more on how granite and other materials compare, read what are headstones made of.

Cremation Headstones and Memorial Pillars

Families who choose cremation still have many options for a permanent cemetery memorial. Cremation headstones are upright monuments with a built-in compartment to hold an urn, combining a traditional headstone with above-ground ash storage — they are one of the most popular alternatives to a traditional burial plot. Cremation grave markers are flat markers designed specifically for cremation plots and cremation garden sections, and they can accommodate a small urn vault beneath the surface. Memorial cremation pillars offer a distinctive column-style design that holds cremated remains inside a sealed granite or bronze pillar. All three options are available with custom engravings and cemetery-approved dimensions, and each one provides a permanent place for family and friends to visit.

Helpful Resources

Our Info Center has guides to help you through every step of the headstone buying process. Learn about cemetery headstone installation requirements, get inspiration from beautiful words to put on a headstone, explore headstone symbols and their meanings, or find out how much headstone engraving costs. You can also read about cemetery regulations for markers and how to buy a cemetery plot.

Free Shipping on All Headstones and Grave Markers

Every headstone and grave marker at Memorials.com ships free, with no hidden fees or sales tax. Our headstone prices include custom design, engraving, and direct delivery to your cemetery anywhere in the United States. We confirm all cemetery requirements before production begins, so your memorial is approved and ready for installation when it arrives. Whether you are searching for headstones prices near me or shopping online for the first time, our support team is available by phone and email to guide you through sizes, materials, design options, and cemetery approval.

Tips When Ordering a Grave Marker or Headstone

There is no doubt that there is a large variety of ways to memorialize a lost loved one, and this is, perhaps, what makes more than a few families feel intimidated when it comes to the final selection. It is very important to discuss the arrangements with the entire immediate family, and keep in consideration the wishes of the dearly departed. Needless to say, emotions can run high during this, understandably, difficult time, which can make the task all the more daunting. Actually, while many of the basic funeral arrangements must be arranged shortly after the passing, the selection of the final grave marker is usually one of the last to be worked through, and it is not uncommon for families to wait weeks, even months before actually purchasing the marker. It is good to know what options are available for the flat grave marker to be set in the cemetery, and many are not aware that purchasing a flat grave marker online is even possible, let alone very beneficial.

Helpful Steps to Purchasing and Designing Your Grave Marker

Here are some steps to take when thinking about purchasing a Memorial Bronze on Granite Grave Marker for your loved one:

• First Step:

  • Information about your plot: It is important before purchasing your grave marker you contact the cemetery and make sure you know what size of the bronze; size of the granite is allowed on your specific plot. Most cemeteries allow you have a variety of bronze and granite color combinations, but make sure you are aware if the cemetery is specific about the color of granite or bronze that is allowed. It is also important to know that we do not do any of the installation, usually the cemetery will charge you an installation fee to set and install the marker on the plot, be aware the fee is paid to the cemetery and ask them how much the fee is going to cost. If you need any help contacting the cemetery and getting this information you can call our Customer Service office and one of our marker specialists will be happy to assist you in obtaining that information.

• Second Step:

  • Picking your Grave Marker Design: Once you know the size you will be needing, you can now choose from over 65 bronze designs. We have designs for everyone from simple modest designs to temples and churches we also offer a variety of floral designs as well. Each marker will be customized with the personalizations that best represents your loved one. With optional ceramic photos and over 10,000 emblems to choose from to be added to the marker.

  • Filling out the Order form: Now that you have chosen a bronze design, and have selected the size you are needing. Follow each section starting with Grantie color, then bronze color, vase options, etc. until you reach the bottom. Once you have filled out the order for you may add it to the cart. Once the marker order if added to the cart then you can see the total price. If you need help filling out the order form or have any questions you can reach out to our Customer Service office and one of our maker specialists will be happy to assist you.

  • Paying for you marker: When you are ready to purchase your marker you can checkout online. If you checkout online it will charge you the full amount for the marker when you place your order. If you would like to make payment we do accept up to 3 payments before we put your maker into production. We also accept checks, if you need any further assistance with purchasing and payment questions please give our office a call.

• Third Step:

  • Cemetery Approval: Once your order is placed, we will work on getting cemetery approval. This is to verify that size and colors are approved by the cemetery. It is also to let the cemetery know that we will not be doing any of the installation. Usually, the cemetery does the installation and will charge you a fee to install the marker on the plot. We cannot produce your marker until we get cemetery approval.

  • Layouts: While working on getting cemetery approval we will also be creating a layout of the marker. We will email the layout to you; you may make changes to layout however we do charge after the 2nd layout if you would to continue to make changes. Our design team does wonderful work on spacing and placement of names emblems and dates, if you would like something specific done, please note that order form. This way we can try to get it perfect with the 1st layout. We will not produce the marker until we have your approval of the layout.

• Final Step: 

  • Shipping and Delivery: Once we have both approvals from you and cemetery we will put your marker into production. We will get an estimated ship dated, and sent that to you via email. Once your marker ships, we will send you tracking via email. It usually takes 1 - 2 weeks for shipping (this could change due to weather or other shipping delays). Once the marker arrives at the cemetery place allow them at least a week to install the memorial marker. You make keep in contact with the cemetery about delivery and installation.

What it the most popular granite color?

• Moonlight Gray: Quarried in Rockville Minnesota, Moonlight Gray is also known as Rockville, this unique natural granite has a pristine pebble variation in dark gray, light gray and even sometimes light pink hues.

• Sierra White: Quarried in Raymond California, Sierra White is the most common granite color for bronze and granite grave markers, its light gray color complements its surrounding and brings out the beauty the nature around grave marker.

• Texas Pearl: Quarried in Granite Shoals Texas, Texas Pearl has a unique and exquisite color of light orange/pink beige tones mixed with light gray and dark gray contrast each other and gives it a deeper appearance in terms of unique properties. 

• Royal Mahogany: Quarried in Milbank South Dakota, Royal Mahogany is a striking deep orange brown with variations of lighter bring streaks or spots of orange that may be vertical, horizontal or diagonal when quarried.

• Sunset Beige: Quarried in Marble Falls Texas, Sunset Beige is a unique and classic granite choice for headstones and grave markers, the shades of beige/taupe/pink and white contrasting with black hues give it a nice variation to complement brown or black bronze colors.

What is included with the price listed?

• Your choice between 9 Different Granite Colors.

• Your choice between 7 different Bronze Colors.

• Name, Date of Birth, Date of Death.

• Additional Lettering up to 15 letters (examples: In Loving Memory, Rest in Peace, Together Again, Together Forever, I Love You, Lasting Memories).

• 3 optional emblems with over 10,000 emblem options to choose from (example: cross, praying hands, Hummingbird, hearts, roses and more).

• Free shipping to all 48 Continental United states (we can ship to Alaska and Hawaii, even internationally but the does cost extra, call our customer service office for a quote).

What is not Included in the price listed?

• Premium Granite colors, prices are listed in the drop-down tab on the order form. If selected prices in the cart will reflect the total.

• Premium Bronze colors, prices are listed in the drop-down tab on the order form. If selected prices in the cart will reflect the total.

• Vases are not included; prices are listed in the drop-down tab on the order form. If selected prices in the cart will reflect the total.

• If additional lettering is more than 15 letters it will charge per additional letter. If selected prices in the cart will reflect the total.

• Additional Emblem. Please call for a quote.

• Additional Name, Date of Birth and Date of Death. Please call for a quote.

• Any non-English letter. Please call for a quote.

• Installation. If the Cemetery is installing the Memorial, please make payment to the cemetery. If a monument company is installing the Memorial, please make payment to them directly. Memorials.com does not do any installation.

What if the Cemetery doesn't install the marker?

If the cemetery installs their own markers, they cannot deny installing an outside vender's marker. If the cemetery does not do any installation, then we would have to find a local monument company that will accept the marker and do the installation. These questions can be asked to the cemetery directly. If you need help finding a monument company or contacting the cemetery one of our marker specialists would be happy to assist you in getting those answers.

Can we add a picture to the marker?

If you are looking to really personalize your memorial marker a ceramic or bronze would be a great way to do that.

• Ceramic Photo: You can add or purchase a ceramic photo the marker. If you are looking to purchase a marker with a photo added onto the marker, then the ceramic photo will have a customer bronze cast ring. If you have an existing marker and you looking to purchase a ceramic photo you will have to add it to marker yourself. We offer different ceramic photo sizes and shapes from oval, square, circle, rectangle and heart. When designing your marker, we can determine what size fits the best. The photos can be in black and white or color.

• Bronze Photo: With our expression in bronze portraits, you can capture your loved one's best moments with a detailed bronze photo. The bronze picture is cast into a solid bronze. You can see those memorial pictures on many headstones and grave markers in the cemeteries. The Memorial Pictures are available in four different sizes.