topic Re: How much should a headstone cost? in Community Chat

How much should a headstone cost?

Oostende — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:36:24 GMT

Does anyone have any recent experience?

I am looking at a 27" tall, marble headstone on a 36" base for one of my loved ones.

I have no idea how much is too much.

The price for engraving and setting comes to just under $4,000.

That sounds reasonable to me but what are your thoughts?

The marble is about a thousand more than the granite but it does not wear as well.

Would you care about that?

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

RedTop — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:52:25 GMT

$4000 is an average price for that size stone, base, engraving, and setting.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Oostende — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:54:09 GMT

Oh, good! Thank you @RedTop!

My family was wondering.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

RedTop — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:58:52 GMT

@Oostende

I help care for our family cemetery, and currently have 2 marble headstones that are cracked and need repaired. I urged the family to pick out a granite marker, but "the marble one was so pretty"! So here we are now........

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Oostende — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 22:32:24 GMT

Oh dear, @RedTop !

I was also going to get marble because it is so pretty.

I guess you would recommend granite then?

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

RedTop — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 22:55:50 GMT

I just know the granite stones in our cemetery have held up better.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 23:31:16 GMT

The way I was brought up, visiting loved ones' graves wasn't something we did. I've already told my kids they can cremate me.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Duckncover — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 01:31:26 GMT

We bought granite for my mother's gravestone. It has dark gray and tiny bits of pink in it. I think it was around $4K and I tend the grave regularly and it is standing up to the elements perfectly after ten years. Her grave is on a large cemetery so I see lots of different stones....of those made from marble don't weather well and will deteriorate eventually. I recommend granite.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

mspatmac — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 02:25:10 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
The way I was brought up, visiting loved ones' graves wasn't something we did. I've already told my kids they can cremate me.

I'm with you @JeanLouiseFinch I told mine I would haunt them if they spent more then the bare necessities.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Icegoddess — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 02:44:25 GMT

I have no idea on pricing, but my local news had a segment today saying there is currently a granite shortage causing a big backup in getting headstones. They didn't say what the cause was. I'm sure it's not a shortage of granite, but probably the labor to cut it.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

hckynutjohn — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 07:14:24 GMT

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
The way I was brought up, visiting loved ones' graves wasn't something we did. I've already told my kids they can cremate me.

@JeanLouiseFinch

Same here. Both my wife and I agree on cremation. I visited my mom's grave regularly the first few years after she died. The cemetery was closed to work, far from my home, so I would stop after work a couple times a week.

Since I am frugal and want no particular type of service, an urn it will be.

Almost all of furry family members that died, we have had cremated. We have them all together in their own cabinet separated by the year they died.

hckynut

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

AngelPuppy1 — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:24:14 GMT

About 4 years ago we purchased a small flat one, granite, and it was, I believe $1,500 engraving included. I can't say for sure, but I would imagine that the price you printed would be about right.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

ScrapHappy — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:51:23 GMT

I know that when my father passed, the stone (all in) cost a little over $2000. It's large, probably about the measurements you mentioned and has a moutain scene depicted on one side and name on the other (dates on front). It's a double stone (my Mom on other side). When my father passed she wanted it all taken care of, even the engraving. Now the company that does the engraving charges an extra fee for engraving.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

ScrapHappy — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 11:52:43 GMT

P.S. Should of mentioned. That was 15 plus years ago.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Oostende — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:06:36 GMT

Thank you all so very much.

I'm sorry I did not see many replies until this morning. I fell asleep in my chair at 7 last night.

This has been an exhausting time for me.

I guess marble is a poor choice but it is my favorite. The grave will be in a very old part of an old cemetery and the stark newer granite choices just feel kind of modern, although they are very very beautiful as well.

Thanks to you all again. You've been very helpful and I appreciate it.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

PamfromCT — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 13:07:35 GMT

Just thought I would mention that while my faith allows cremation, ashes are to be buried in a cemetery. That’s what I personally would want.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

patbz — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 01:05:56 GMT

DH and I will be cremated and probably scatter our ashes by a lake near where we live. My parents were both cremated as they wanted to be interred at Arlington. They were both beautiful and meaningful services and there was no charge by Arlington, including a flat ground level marker.

Re: How much should a headstone cost?

Pearlee — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 01:29:07 GMT

@hckynutjohn wrote:

@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:
The way I was brought up, visiting loved ones' graves wasn't something we did. I've already told my kids they can cremate me.

@JeanLouiseFinch

Same here. Both my wife and I agree on cremation. I visited my mom's grave regularly the first few years after she died. The cemetery was closed to work, far from my home, so I would stop after work a couple times a week.

Since I am frugal and want no particular type of service, an urn it will be.

Almost all of furry family members that died, we have had cremated. We have them all together in their own cabinet separated by the year they died.

hckynut

@hckynutjohn You don't have to be frugal when you die. You can't take it with you!