Guide: Types of Headstone Stones

Headstones come in a variety of materials, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing a headstone. You may not notice it immediately when you visit a cemetery, but if you look around you’ll find that there are multiple types of headstone stones that you can choose from.

Read on to learn more about the types of headstone stones that are available to you.

Granite Headstones

The most popular type of headstone stone is granite. At HeadstoneHub, we specialize in granite headstones, and you can view our wide selection of colors, shapes, and customization options at our website. 

Granite is the most common headstone stone choice for a few reasons. First, granite is more affordable compared to other stone types. If cost is a large factor in your decision making process, granite is a great option to consider. Granite is also incredibly durable, so you can feel confident that your headstone will be able to withstand the elements and retain its appearance over time. In addition, granite is also very easy to carve and shape. If you’re interested in a more sculpted look for your headstone, granite is an excellent material for adding unique carving elements to your headstone. 

Marble Headstone

Marble is without a doubt a beautiful stone. One of the appeals of using marble for your headstone is its natural beauty, and its appearance of having tiny crystals running through it. If aesthetics are most important to you when it comes to your headstone decision, definitely be sure to explore the various marble options that are available to you. The main drawback of marble is that it is a very soft stone. As a result, marble headstones tend to not be quite as durable as their granite counterparts. If you live in an area that experiences lots of humidity and moisture in the air, marble may not be the best choice for a headstone as far as durability goes. That said, the soft nature of marble makes it a very easy stone to carve and customize, even more so than granite. 

Bronze Headstone

Bronze is a very popular choice for flat headstones (smaller headstones that sit flush with the ground). Because flat headstones are much smaller in size compared to upright headstones, a flat bronze headstone is a very timeless yet affordable option to consider if you are looking for something cost efficient. Bronze can also be used in the form of a plaque that’s epoxied onto a larger stone such as a rock or boulder. The bronze plaque would typically bear the name and living dates of the deceased, and possibly even a small epitaph. 

Natural Rock or Boulder

As we mentioned above, larger stones or boulders can serve as a more natural choice for a gravemarker. Using a natural rock is perhaps the most affordable option you could pursue for a headstone. If your property has boulders or rocks that are naturally built into the landscape, you can repurpose a rock or boulder from your private property for a headstone at no additional cost to you. Then, you can reach out to local headstone companies in your area for their help in fastening a custom plaque onto the rock or boulder. 

As with most aspects of a headstone, each type of headstone stone comes at a different cost and boasts certain advantages. It’s important to research what types of headstone materials are allowed in the cemetery that you are working with. As we explain in our headstone design guide, each cemetery has its own unique set of guidelines and restrictions when it comes to the size, shape and material of headstones that they permit on their grounds.