Companion Headstones for Graves: Styles, Sizes, and What to Budget

Companion headstones for graves mark a single burial space shared by two people, usually spouses, partners, or a parent and child laid to rest side by side. They differ from a single marker in width and wording layout, but the buying process is similar: choose a stone type, pick a shape, decide on engraving, and confirm cemetery rules before placing the order. Most families start with a granite slab because it tolerates weather, holds detail in sandblast engraving, and stays within a workable budget.

Companion Headstone Sizes and Common Shapes

Standard cemetery rules typically allow a companion marker between roughly 36 and 60 inches wide. Within that range, three shapes dominate. A flat companion marker sits flush with the ground, takes up a smaller plot footprint, and is the easiest to maintain. A bevel companion marker (also called a “pillow” or “hickey”) slants up about 6 to 8 inches at the back so the inscription is easier to read without standing over the grave. A slant or upright monument rises higher and gives the largest surface for detailed carving, family names, and a small scene. Most catalogs such as Legacy Headstones, West Memorials, and Black Monument publish measurements for each shape, and a quick call to the cemetery office confirms the maximum size your section allows.

Stone selection is mostly about color and grain pattern rather than durability, granite from any major producer (Georgia gray, Barre gray, Canadian mahogany, India black) is going to outlast the buyer. Diamond-cut lettering and etched designs are filled with paint or a contrasting epoxy so the inscription stays legible. For bronze-on-granite companion markers, a cast bronze plaque is mounted to a polished granite base; this style is common where cemeteries want a more formal, low-profile look. Some buyers add a flower vase integrated into the base, which removes the need for a separate ground vase.

Pricing, Vase Options, and What to Ask Before Ordering

Pricing varies by region, stone color, and finish. As a working budget for 2026, basic flat companion granite markers commonly land between roughly $700 and $1,800 installed. Bevel and slant companion markers in standard colors run from about $1,200 to $3,500. Upright double monuments with two bases and a die in the center typically start around $3,500 and climb past $8,000 with carving. Bronze-on-granite companion markers, like the cast pieces sold by Bronze Memorials, often fall in the $2,000 to $5,000 range depending on the size and finish of the bronze. Always get a written quote that breaks out stone cost, engraving, foundation, and installation.

Before signing anything, ask the cemetery for its rules in writing: maximum width, maximum height, foundation requirements, and any required finish (polished face, steeled top, rock-pitched edge). Confirm whether the cemetery requires a granite or concrete foundation under upright pieces, and ask who is responsible for setting the stone, your monument company or the cemetery’s preferred installer. Ask about vase style, since some cemeteries restrict ground vases within a few inches of the headstone edge. Finally, get the lettering proof in writing so spelling, dates, and nicknames are exactly as you want them.

References

• https://www.memorials.com/granite-headstones.php
• https://markersandheadstones.com/products/companion-flat-marker-with-symbol
• https://legacyheadstones.com/
• https://legacyheadstones.com/collections/companion-headstones
• https://www.headstonedeals.com/companion-bevel-markers/
• https://www.westmemorials.com/product-category/companion-headstones/
• https://www.bronzememorials.net/Companion-Grave-Marker.php
• https://www.romemonuments.com/upright_headstone_with_slants_base_st_james_cemetery_sewickley_pa_396
• https://blackmonument.com/flat-markers/companion-flat-markers/
• https://pacificcoastmemorials.com/companion-headstone-designs