How Much Should I Expect To Pay For A Headstone?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The average cost of a standard flat headstone is

around $1,000

. But more detailed, upright headstones can cost between $1,000 and $3,000, as you’ll see with this granite headstone and another at a higher price point.

How much does the average headstone cost?

The average cost of a standard flat headstone is

around $1,000

. But more detailed, upright headstones can cost between $1,000 and $3,000, as you’ll see with this granite headstone and another at a higher price point.

Do you have to pay for a headstone on a grave?

In most states,

you do need permission to put a headstone on a grave in a public cemetery

. You need a document called the “Grant Deed”. The Grant Deed must have your name on it for you to put up a headstone. For putting a headstone on private plots of land, it is up to the owner of the land/plot.

Can you install a headstone yourself?


Yes

, you can put your own headstone on a grave in almost areas in The States. The major factor if you are allowed to put and/or make your own headstone, would be the cemetery that you choose. Some cemeteries will allow any type of headstone, many don’t for aesthetics.

How much does headstone engraving cost?

Headstone engraving costs an average of about

$20 per letter

for inscriptions up to 20 or 30 letters in length. Additional lettering often costs less–around $10 per character. If you order a standard headstone with your loved one’s name, birth date, and death date, the cost will average around $500.

Do you own your cemetery plot forever?

Generally speaking, when

you purchase a cemetery plot, it does not expire

, and it will always be yours. … While the cemetery retains ownership of the land, you are purchasing the right to use the land for a burial.

How long should you wait to put a headstone on a grave?

You should wait a

minimum of 6-12 months

before erecting a headstone. The time gap between the actual burial and the erection of a headstone will vary. Soil settlement time, the climate of the site, the traditions of the families, and the period of aggrievement are all important considerations.

Why do some cemeteries not have headstones?

Remember that because

cemeteries are not covered by the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule

, the cemetery may not accept a headstone purchased elsewhere or may charge a fee for bringing in or installing a headstone you purchased somewhere else.

What is the difference between a tombstone and a headstone?

is that

headstone is a gravestone, a grave marker

: a monument traditionally made of stone placed at the head of a grave while tombstone is a headstone marking the person’s grave.

Why do headstones sink?

Headstones have

a tendency to sink into the ground and become overgrown with grass

. This is because these grave markers can weigh 100 pounds or more. This causes the gravestones to sink further and further into the ground as time goes on.

Is granite or marble better for headstone?


Granite is a much harder material and lasts considerably longer than marble

. Marble is softer and will likely deteriorate over time by cracking, chipping, and eroding, especially in outdoor elements. It is common to see marble tombstones that are decades or centuries old that are very difficult to read.

Can you pay for headstones monthly?


MemorialFunding.org

supports families by easing the financial burden of up-front costs for the purchase, installation and engraving of any Headstone, Monument or Grave-marker.

How much is the cheapest headstone?

The cheapest headstone can cost

as little as $500

– this would include a granite, flat lawn-level marker, with a 30-character engraving. The most expensive headstones can end up costing families as much as $10,000 or more (on the higher end they include things like obelisks or grand family tombs and mausoleums).

Do graves get dug up after 100 years?

By

the time a body has been buried for 100 years

, very little of what we recognize as the “body” is left. According to Business Insider, you can’t even count on your bones being intact by year 80. After the collagen inside them breaks down completely, bones essentially become fragile, mineralized husks.

What does a body look like after 1 year in a coffin?

As hours turn into days, your body turns into a gory advertisement for postmortem Gas-X, swelling and expelling reeking substances. … About three or four months into the process, your blood cells start hemorrhaging iron, turning your body

brownish black

.

How long does a coffin last?

Eventually these too will disintegrate, and after

80 years

in that coffin, your bones will crack as the soft collagen inside them deteriorates, leaving nothing but the brittle mineral frame behind. But even that shell won’t last forever. A century in, the last of your bones will have collapsed into dust.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.