Cemetery Directory USA
Free tool

Headstone Cost Calculator

Choose a memorial style and finish, add design extras and the cemetery's fees, and see what a headstone or grave marker is likely to cost in total.

Style of memorial
Material, size and finish
Stone with name and datesReplace with your dealer's quote$

Design extras

  • Laser-etched portrait or sceneOften a few hundred to over a thousand dollars$
  • Carved emblem or religious symbolEstimate; ask your dealer$
  • Longer inscription or epitaphEstimate; priced per letter or line by many dealers$
  • Ceramic photo insertEstimate; ask your dealer$

Cemetery fees

  • Foundation or setting feeAbout $200 to $1,000 or more$
  • Installation or permit feeOften $100 to $500; set to $0 if included$
Estimated total
$3,950
Stone
$3,250
Design extras
$0
Cemetery fees
$700
Before you order: ask the cemetery for its memorial rules in writing. Many memorial parks allow only flat bronze or granite markers, and some limit size, color or upright stones by section.

An estimate for planning, not a quote. Prices vary by region and dealer.

Where the numbers come from

Each style's range comes from our guide What Does a Headstone Cost? and covers the stone with basic lettering. The finish setting picks the low end (basic), the middle (mid) or the high end (premium) of that range. Extras marked "estimate" have no standard price, so treat them as placeholders and type in your dealer's figure.

What moves the price most

  • Style and size. More stone means more material, cutting and shipping. Companion stones and ledgers sit at the top of the range.
  • Material and color. Gray granite is usually the least expensive. Black, red and blue granites cost more, and bronze usually costs more than granite of a similar size.
  • Finish. Polishing every side costs more than a polished face with rock-pitched edges.
  • Artwork. Laser etching, hand carving and photo inserts add the most to a basic stone.

Check the rules first

A cemetery can refuse a memorial that does not meet its rules, so get those in writing before you order. Memorial parks often allow only flush markers, while historic cemeteries may have section-by-section limits. The differences between styles are explained in Headstone vs Grave Marker, and veterans should read How to Get a Veterans Headstone.

Updated November 7, 2026 · Built and reviewed by the Cemetery Directory USA editors.This tool runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to us or stored.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the cemetery charge a fee for a headstone I bought elsewhere?

Most cemeteries pour or approve the concrete foundation and oversee installation so stones stay level and safe. That work is billed as a foundation, setting or permit fee, whether you buy the stone from the cemetery or an outside monument dealer.

Is a flat marker always cheaper than an upright headstone?

Usually, because it uses less stone and needs a simpler base. A large bronze flat marker on a granite base can still cost more than a small, plain upright stone in gray granite.

Can a veteran get a free headstone in a private cemetery?

Yes. The VA furnishes a government headstone or marker for the unmarked grave of an eligible veteran in any cemetery, and a medallion for a privately purchased stone. In a private cemetery the family usually still pays the cemetery's setting fee.

When should a headstone be ordered?

Many families order a headstone a few months after the burial. Some cemeteries ask you to wait for the ground to settle before setting an upright stone, and production and engraving can take several weeks.