Headstone
Also called: grave marker, monument, gravestone
The stone that marks a grave and carries the inscription. Often dramatically cheaper bought from an independent monument dealer than from the cemetery or funeral home.
Markers range from a flat granite or bronze plaque set flush with the ground to a full upright monument. Flat markers typically run $500–$1,500; upright monuments $1,000–$5,000 and well beyond for large or custom stones. The price depends on stone, size, and the amount of engraving.
Independent monument companies usually beat cemetery and funeral-home pricing by a wide margin for the same stone. You buy direct and have it installed at the grave.
Cemeteries may charge a “setting” or “foundation” fee to install a marker you bought elsewhere, and some try to require you to buy through them. They can charge a reasonable installation fee, but watch for rules designed to block outside purchases.
- Cemetery plot— The piece of ground you buy for a burial. Paid to the cemetery, entirely separate from funeral-home charges.
- Perpetual care— A fund that pays for the ongoing upkeep of a cemetery — mowing, landscaping, repairs. Financed by setting aside a portion of every plot sale, and often charged as a separate fee.
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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