Headstone Inscriptions and Prices

Making arrangements following the death of a loved one can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps the hardest part is making decisions whilst also managing your grief.

However, some tasks can be therapeutic and enable you to honour your lost loved one. Picking a headstone and deciding what to have inscribed on it will be on your list of things to do.

To help you through the process of arranging the inscription and order of a headstone, we have created the following guide with all of the information you’ll need.

What to put on a headstone

The information that needs to be included on a headstone is;

• The full name of the departed
  
• The date of birth and date of passing
  

The rest of the inscription can contain lines such as;

• Beloved father, treasured son
  
• Gone but never forgotten
  
• Always in our hearts
  
• Rest in peace
  
• In loving memory of
  

If you are struggling to find the right words or don’t know which is the best order for inscription to follow on the headstone, have a search onlinefor headstone inscriptions and words.

The length of the inscription depends on the amount of space you have on the headstone. This will vary depending on what size and shape headstone you choose. So do keep what wording you want in mind before picking a particular shape. You want to make sure what you want to say will fit. Another important thing to note is that a lot of cemeteries will have restrictions on the size of headstone you can have, so do check before you buy yours.

There are a number of different types of headstone, with varying prices associated. Such as:

Upright Headstone

This is the most common form of headstone and in most cases they are rectangular or oval in shape and around 2/3 foot high and a foot wide.

As is the case with all of the descriptions of headstones to follow, the materials used can vary depending on what colour and texture you would like it to be.

Flat tablet and desk Headstone

Flat tablet and desk tablet headstones are laid down flat on the ground as opposed be being stood upright.

Ledger Slab Headstone

Ledger slab headstones are large pieces and cover the entire surface area of the grave with an upright headstone at the top of the piece.

These headstones are more expensive than the previous two as there is a significantly higher amount of work involved during an installation, however, there is a lot more space for you to create an inscription so more than one family member could leave a message if that is what they want.

Obelisk headstone

Obelisk headstones are tall and shaped with a point at the top which can vary in height significantly. Once more, the cost will depend on the material used and height of the headstone itself so make sure to talk to a headstone producer to get all of the options on the table.

There are a number of other options when it comes to headstones as a family plat may already have one, and a new inscription is simply required. This can be handled by the funeral director if required.

Remember that every type of headstone can have variations in price, as the materials used, length of inscription and size will have an influence on the total cost.

Headstone prices - how much do headstones cost?

You can get a very basic slant marker from around £400 but nowadays, most upright gravestones cost from £700 and can go up to £2,000 depending on what you want. There are ways you can save money on the cost of a headstone.

For example, you can opt for a cheaper material, though do keep in mind that some of the budget-friendly materials may not last as long. Some of the most common materials include white marble, granite and limestone. The number of words, shape, font and finish can also impact the price. When it comes to the shape of the headstone, simple rectangular shapes tend to be cheaper than hearts or books.