A traditional engraved headstone carries deep cut names, dates and epitaphs in granite, marble or other durable stone. You design it online, approve a free written proof, and we ship it across Canada.
Lettering cut into the stone itself
A traditional engraved headstone is the memorial most people picture when they think of a Canadian cemetery: a name, two dates and a few chosen words cut deep into the face of the stone. Deep precision engraving keeps every letter clear, which matters on a stone that grandchildren and great grandchildren will still be reading long after the day it is set.
This headstone is made for gravesites, family plots and garden memorials. You choose granite, marble or another durable stone, then build the layout yourself in our free engraved headstone design tool, where you set the lettering, add an epitaph and place a religious symbol or your own artwork.
What sets this headstone apart
- Deep precision engraving: Each letter is cut into the stone so inscriptions stay legible for generations.
- Choice of stone: Granite, marble and other durable stones are available, so the headstone can suit a family plot or a cemetery’s material rule.
- Ready for Canadian winters: Granite is not harmed by frost, so years of freeze and thaw and months under snow leave the stone and its inscription intact.
- Fully personalized: Add names, dates, an epitaph, a religious symbol or custom artwork in the arrangement your cemetery allows.
- Suited to many settings: The headstone works at a cemetery gravesite, on a family plot or in a quiet garden memorial.
Start with your cemetery’s marker rules
There is no national standard for headstones in Canada. Every cemetery sets its own rules in a by-law, a diocesan regulation or a private rulebook, and those rules decide the size, the material and whether an upright stone is allowed at all. Many lawn sections accept flat markers only, so confirm the section before you design. The cemetery office issues a written marker specification and approves a drawing before anything is made. Our free written proof is prepared for exactly that step, so you can hand it to the office and get a clear yes or a short list of changes.
In British Columbia, section 41 of the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act says the operator must allow a memorial bought elsewhere if it complies with the cemetery’s rules. If the grave belongs to a Veteran, Veterans Affairs Canada’s Funeral and Burial Program, run by the Last Post Fund, supplies its own marker, and a private headstone needs the agreement of both the cemetery and the Fund. For other burial memorials, see our guide to cemetery memorial plaques and markers.
Price, cemetery fees and timing
In the design tool on 22 October 2026, a 600 by 600 mm (about 24 by 24 inch) traditional engraved headstone was $1,549.74 in Canadian dollars, and the price changes as you change the size and options.
The design tool shows the price in Canadian dollars as you work, and shipping across Canada is included in that price. The cemetery charges its own fee to set a memorial and may have foundation requirements. We do not install headstones or pour bases, so ask the cemetery office what it charges and what it needs from you.
Many Canadian cemeteries stop installing in winter: Calgary bars installation from September 30 to May 1, and Mount Pleasant Group in Toronto refuses deliveries from December 15 to April 1. A headstone ordered in late autumn or winter is usually set in spring. We confirm the delivery date for your headstone with the proof.
How to order
- Ask the cemetery office for its written marker specification, including the permitted size, stone and style for the section.
- Design the headstone online, choosing stone, lettering and artwork, with the price shown in Canadian dollars as you go.
- Review the free written proof we send you and give it to the cemetery for approval before production.
- Press Proceed to Purchase to place the order, or save the design and come back to it later from My Account.
Considering a flat bronze memorial instead? Compare our bronze grave markers, or browse every option on the memorial products page.
Frequently asked questions
Which stones can I choose for an engraved headstone?
You can choose granite, marble or another durable stone. The design tool shows the stones and sizes available for this headstone, and your cemetery’s specification may narrow the choice.
Will my cemetery accept a headstone bought online?
The cemetery judges every memorial against its own rules, and the office approves a drawing first, and our free written proof is made for that review. In British Columbia, section 41 of the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act requires operators to allow a compliant memorial bought elsewhere.
Do you install the headstone?
No. We make and ship the headstone. The cemetery or its contractor sets it and charges its own setting fee, which is separate from our price.
Can I order a headstone in winter?
Yes. You can design, approve the proof and order at any time of year. Many cemeteries do not set memorials over the winter, so a headstone ordered between late autumn and early spring is usually set once the ground thaws.
How long does an engraved headstone take?
Timing depends on the stone and the design, so we confirm the delivery date with your written proof.
