Types of Headstones and Grave Markers: A Visual Guide

Your Cemetery's Rules Decide Which Type You Can Use

Before choosing a headstone style, request the cemetery's written section-specific guidelines. Many cemeteries divide their grounds into sections that each permit only certain monument types — a flat-marker-only lawn section, a traditional upright section, a veterans section with government specifications. Ordering a beautiful upright monument for a flat-only section means starting over with a new stone and losing your deposit.

Here are the six main types you'll encounter.

Flat (Flush) Markers

A flat marker sits level with the ground, flush with the turf. Typical dimensions: 24" × 12" × 4" for a single grave, 36" × 12" for a companion. Materials are usually granite or bronze mounted on a granite base.

Best for: modern lawn-plan cemeteries, families on a tighter budget, plots in flat-marker-only sections. They're the easiest type to maintain and mow around, which is why many cemeteries prefer them.

Drawback: limited surface area for inscriptions and designs. You're working with roughly two square feet of engraving space.

Cost range: $500–$1,500 for granite; $1,000–$3,000 for bronze on granite.

Bevel Markers

A bevel marker is a low-profile, slightly angled slab — thicker at the back than the front, rising 3–6 inches above ground. It gives more visual presence than a flat marker while still fitting in sections that don't allow tall monuments.

Best for: families who want something more visible than a flush marker but whose cemetery restricts upright stones.

Cost range: $800–$2,000.

Slant Headstones

A slant headstone angles backward at roughly 45 degrees, mounted on a rectangular granite base. Total height is usually 16–20 inches. The angled face provides a generous engraving area and good readability from a standing position.

Best for: sections that allow mid-height monuments; a practical middle ground between flat markers and uprights.

Cost range: $1,500–$3,500.

Upright Headstones

The traditional upright headstone — a vertical slab on a horizontal base — is what most people picture when they think of a gravestone. Standard single-grave dimensions run roughly 24" wide × 6–8" thick × 24–36" tall, but custom sizes go much larger.

Best for: traditional cemetery sections, families wanting maximum inscription space, monuments with portraits or detailed carving.

Drawback: requires a deeper concrete foundation (often 3+ feet to clear the frost line in northern climates), which adds $200–$800 in foundation costs. Heavier stones on unstable or recently-dug soil need longer settling time — at least 4–6 months after burial.

Cost range: $2,000–$5,000 single; $3,500–$8,000 companion.

Companion (Double) Headstones

A companion headstone marks two graves side by side, typically for spouses or partners. It can be flat, slant, or upright — the "companion" designation refers to the double-width layout, not the shape. The second person's dates are engraved after their passing.

Best for: couples who want a unified memorial. Planning ahead avoids font-matching problems years later.

Cost range: varies by style — roughly 60–80% more than the single-grave equivalent.

Ledger (Full-Grave) Markers

A ledger covers the entire grave, edge to edge, like a stone blanket. Dimensions are usually 6' × 3' or larger. These are the most expensive option but make a dramatic visual statement and provide maximum engraving space.

Best for: above-ground burial styles, prominent family plots, sections that allow full-grave coverage.

Cost range: $3,000–$10,000+.

How to Choose the Right Type

The decision usually narrows itself once you check three things:

1. Cemetery rules: which types your section actually allows.
2. Budget: flat and bevel markers cost a fraction of uprights.
3. Inscription needs: if you want a poem, portrait, or detailed carving, you need the surface area of a slant, upright, or ledger.

The Headstone, Gravestone & Memorial Marker Guide walks through each type with section-rule checklists and a vendor comparison worksheet so families can match the right style to their cemetery's requirements without guessing.