A Brief on Headstones: Types, Costs and Where to Purchase

Headstones, also known as tombstones or gravestones, are stones that are placed over graves.  Headstones usually state the name of the person who died, the dates of his/her birth and death, along with other personal information. They may also contain images or quotes.

Types

Headstones come in many different types, including:

Flat markers: They lie flat on the ground at the head of the grave, flush with the grass.

Bevel markers: These types of markers also lie flat on the ground at the head of the grave but rise above the grass.

Slant markers: Slant markers usually sit flat on the ground with the front of the stone angled back.

Monuments: These are tablets, usually standing upright out of the ground.

Ledgers: These lie flat on the ground and cover the entire grave.

Costs

Costs of headstones are generally calculated by their weight. The larger the headstones, the higher is the cost. It is important to note that many times the costs do not include the price of additional features like engraving or addition of custom features like images. In addition, purchasing headstones from third parties or online retailers may cost more, as the shipping charges are commonly calculated by the headstone’s weight.

Where can one buy a headstone?

You can purchase headstones from cemeteries, funeral homes, third-party retailers, or online retailers. However, it is recommended that you buy headstones from cemeteries. This is because cemeteries are not covered by the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule and may not accept headstones purchased elsewhere or may charge extra fees for bringing in or installing headstones purchased from some other place.