Headstone Types Explained: Flat, Bevel, Slant, Upright, Bench and Ledger

What are the main headstone types at a glance?

Sizes and listed prices below come from the 177 products on capitalgravemarkers.com as of October 10, 2026.

What is a flat headstone?

A flat headstone, also called a flush marker, is set level with the lawn. It is the most widely accepted type in memorial-park sections and the most affordable. The VA’s own flat granite marker measures 24 × 12 × 4 inches. See Flat Grave Marker Sizes for dimensions.

What is a bevel marker?

A bevel marker is a low granite block, usually 4 to 6 inches high at the back, with a gently angled face. It is easier to read than a flush marker and is often allowed where upright stones are not. Examples include the Military Eagle Bevel Grave Marker from $505.

What is a slant headstone?

A slant headstone is a wedge-shaped stone, typically 14 to 16 inches tall, whose face slopes back so it can be read standing up. It sits between a bevel and an upright in height and price; the Cross & Landscape Slant Granite Headstone starts at $755.

What is an upright headstone?

An upright headstone is the traditional vertical tablet set on a granite base. It offers the most room for names, epitaphs, symbols and portraits and comes in serpentine, heart, cross and sculpted shapes. The VA’s upright granite headstone is 42 × 13 × 4 inches and weighs about 230 pounds. Our upright designs start with the Classic Serpentine Top Granite Headstone at $1,058.

What are bench and ledger memorials?

A bench memorial is a granite seat inscribed with the family name, giving visitors a place to sit. The Granite Memorial Bench with Engraving is listed from $1,918.

A ledger is a flat granite slab that covers the whole grave, often paired with an upright headstone. Ledgers in our catalog run from $2,757 for a half ledger to $5,819 for a full 72 × 36 in slab.

Which headstone type should I choose?

Choose in this order: what the cemetery allows, how much you want to say, then what fits your total spend.

• Lawn or memorial-park section: flat or bevel markers are the usual options.
• Traditional section: slant or upright headstones give more presence.
• Two people: consider a companion stone — see our companion headstone guide.
• Family plot: a ledger or bench can mark the space for several generations.

How do you compare grave marker designs beyond the photo?

Compare grave marker designs by shape, size, text area and cemetery fit. A photograph can help a family choose a style, but the listed dimensions and written scope explain what is being ordered. Capital Grave Markers groups designs by type and shows available options on each product page. Check those details before choosing art or assuming a pictured accessory is included.

Begin with the outline that the cemetery permits. A flat stone, raised bevel, slant and upright create different viewing angles. Then consider how many people will be named. A companion layout needs enough space for two sets of details and any shared words. A single-person layout may use that space for a larger name or an image.

Look closely at the areas that can hold engraving. A carved border, shaped edge or relief design can reduce the plain surface. The overall width is not the same as usable text width. Keep the intended inscription with your notes while comparing designs, and ask for a proof based on the actual text rather than a sample verse.

Use the catalog search to narrow the collection by name, type or shape. Keep a shortlist with product names instead of saving unidentified screenshots. Ask about any size or artwork change that is not listed as an option. The strongest choice is a design that the family likes, the cemetery accepts and the written quote describes clearly from stone through any separate services.

Which memorial headstone styles suit different inscription plans?

Memorial headstone styles differ in profile, outline and the space available for words or art. Flat, bevel, slant, upright, bench and ledger designs serve different layout needs. No style is right for every plot. Check the cemetery’s rules first, then compare how each approved design can hold the family’s names, dates and chosen tribute without crowding the face.

A flat marker presents the inscription from above. A bevel raises the profile slightly, while a slant provides an angled face. An upright offers a vertical panel that may include a shaped or carved top. Those differences affect how a person views the memorial, but the actual dimensions remain specific to the product.

Think about the reading order. A family name across the top, two individual names below and a shared verse require a different layout from one name with a portrait. Decorative edges should support that order rather than make the text hard to follow. Ask to review the whole inscription in the digital proof before production begins.

The product collection includes category filters that help compare real options. Open each shortlisted product to check the size, color and base price. If the cemetery excludes a favorite style, ask which approved form can preserve the most important part of the tribute. Do not assume that changing the outline, adding a base or combining pieces is covered by the starting price of another design.

How are granite monument types grouped in the catalog?

Capital Grave Markers groups granite monument types by their physical form and intended layout. The catalog includes flat, bevel, slant, upright, shaped, companion, bench and ledger options. A design may appear in more than one group. Use the category as a browsing aid, then read the individual product’s dimensions and options before treating two listings as equivalent purchases.

Form and family layout answer different questions. Upright describes a vertical form, while companion describes a memorial planned for more than one person. A companion design can therefore also be upright, flat or another style. Religious and cultural categories describe available artwork or design themes, not a different set of cemetery permissions.

Accessories also have their own role. A vase, ceramic photo or portrait engraving is not a complete headstone simply because it appears in the same store. Read the product name and scope carefully when comparing prices. A low-priced accessory should not be used as the starting price for a full memorial installation.

The catalog comparison table shows current groups and their base price ranges from the same product data. Counts can overlap because one design may belong to several groups. Save the selected product name, size and color when asking for help. That record lets the team discuss a real option instead of guessing which type a family means by a broad word such as monument or marker.

When should you consider granite bench memorials rather than upright stones?

Consider granite bench memorials when the site permits a bench and the family wants that form of tribute. Compare the footprint, inscription area and setting requirements with an upright stone before choosing. Capital Grave Markers lists bench designs with their own options and prices. A bench is not simply an upright headstone with a seat added at the same cost.

The intended location matters. A cemetery plot, memorial garden and private property can have different owners and approval rules. Ask who has authority to approve the placement. Confirm the dimensions that the site allows and whether a foundation must be provided by a particular installer. Keep that information separate from the family’s choice of words or artwork.

Look at where the inscription will appear. A panel, support or seat edge may provide a different viewing angle and amount of space. Ask to see the exact text in the selected design’s proof. Do not assume every photograph shows all the engraving included in the price or that a long verse can fit on every surface.

Compare the complete written scope with the bench catalog. Include delivery, unloading and setting in the discussion rather than leaving those steps until the stone is ready. If the site cannot accept a bench, an approved upright or flat design may still carry the chosen tribute. The form should work with the location, not create an unresolved installation problem after purchase.

What planning is different for granite ledger memorials?

Granite ledger memorials require careful planning because the slab covers a larger part of the grave than a small marker. Check the cemetery’s permission for that form, the exact plot dimensions and the required support. Capital Grave Markers separates ledger products from combined upright-and-ledger designs. Read the selected listing and written quote to identify which stone pieces are actually included.

The larger surface can provide room for text and art, but placement should still be deliberate. Decide where the name, dates and tribute will be easiest to read. If the design includes an upright element, ask which wording belongs on each face. A proof should make that distribution clear so the family does not assume the same text appears twice.

Site preparation is a separate question from inscription design. Ask the cemetery who may prepare the foundation and set the slab. Confirm how the memorial will be received and moved into place. Do not treat delivery to the property as completion of the installation; those activities can involve different people and written scopes.

Use the ledger category to compare listed dimensions and colors. Keep the full set of size labels when asking for a quote, especially where a product describes a base or additional stone. Review the cemetery approval questions before production. A clear plan should cover the pieces, inscription, site approval and setting responsibilities rather than only the overall appearance in a catalog image.

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