Angel Headstone

Angel Headstone Styles & What They Symbolize

An angel carved into a headstone is a design choice layered onto an upright monument, a special-shape stone, or sometimes a slant marker, not a standalone product on its own. A guardian angel, often shown standing watch with wings spread, is traditionally chosen to represent protection and comfort for the person it honors. A mourning angel, usually depicted kneeling or with head bowed, is a common choice when the family wants to express grief and remembrance directly in the stone. A cherub, smaller and more youthful in form, is frequently selected for a child's memorial or to soften an otherwise formal upright design.

Because these figures are sculpted or sand-carved into the granite face rather than added as a separate statue, they work best on stone sizes tall enough to hold the detail: an upright monument or a special-shape marker. If you want to see the full range of non-rectangular options, including the Heart Shaped Headstone design and other shapes that pair well with an angel motif, the Special Shape Headstones collection is a good place to compare layouts side by side.

Choosing Granite Color, Size & Base

The granite color you pick for an angel headstone changes how much the carved detail stands out and how the stone will look decades from now. Lighter stones such as grey, medium grey, and Bahama blue tend to show fine sand-carved lines, feathers, and facial detail with more contrast, while deeper colors like black, imperial black, and mahogany give the engraving a sharper edge against the polished granite. Blue pearl, pink, desert pink, red, and emerald pearl are also part of the available stone choices, so you can match the family's preference or a cemetery's color restrictions for that section.

Base width matters just as much as color. Upright angel monuments in this collection are available with base widths from 36 inches up to 48 inches, and you'll find the full range, including the 36″ x 6″ x 24″ Upright Headstones and 42″ x 6″ x 24″ Upright Headstones, built to sizes a cemetery plot allows. If red or black granite is what the family has in mind, the Red Granite Headstones and Black Headstone collections narrow the options down by color instead of shape.

Single or Companion Angel Memorial?

A single angel headstone carries one name, one set of dates, and usually one carved figure, sized to fit a standard single plot. A companion layout, by contrast, places two names side by side on the same stone, often with the angel carved in the center or along one edge, and is the more common choice for a husband and wife or two family members sharing a plot.

If you already know you need two names on one stone, the Double Headstones and Married Couple Husband and Wife Headstones collections are built around that layout, and Single Headstones for Two Names covers the option of fitting both names on a single-width stone rather than a wider companion base. For a single name on an upright design, the Single Upright Headstones collection is sized and based for one plot rather than two.

Personalizing an Angel Headstone

Every angel headstone in this collection can be personalized with names, dates, and a short epitaph before it goes into production, using Signature Headstones' online design app. The app includes a clipart library with religious and memorial emblems you can place alongside the angel carving, so you're not limited to the figure alone if you also want a cross, a scripture verse, or a military emblem included.

If the family wants to add a face to the memorial, a ceramic photo portrait can be inlaid into the granite in black and white or color, in oval or other shapes, as a companion piece to the carved angel rather than a replacement for it. A vase can also be added to many upright and slant designs for fresh or artificial flowers at the base of the stone. Because every layout is proofed before it's cut, you can review the full design, angel, lettering, and any added elements, before production begins.

Cemetery Rules for Statuary & Upright Monuments

Before you order an angel headstone, confirm in writing with your cemetery that the section where your loved one is buried allows upright monuments or special-shape stones, since many lawn sections restrict markers to flat or flush designs only. Ask specifically about the maximum height, width, and thickness permitted for that plot, whether a poured concrete or granite foundation is required under an upright stone, and whether the cemetery places any limit on stone color or material for angel and statuary designs.

Most cemeteries also require the plot or lot number to be engraved on the back or base of the stone, and most will only allow their own crew or an approved installer to set the monument once it arrives, so setting and foundation fees are paid directly to the cemetery and are separate from the price of the stone itself. The FTC Funeral Rule protects consumers buying from funeral homes, but it does not require a cemetery to accept a headstone bought elsewhere, which is why getting the cemetery's rules in writing first matters so much. If the memorial is for an eligible veteran, the VA furnishes a government headstone, marker, or medallion at no charge; see the VA's eligibility and application details before ordering a private angel design in its place. Once you know your plot's rules, the Upright Headstones collection is sized and based to fit most standard monument sections.

Pricing, Shipping & the 500-Year Guarantee

Price mainly depends on stone size, granite color, base width, and whether you add a ceramic photo portrait or vase, which is why the collection spans the range shown above the grid. As general industry context, Monument Builders of North America describes a wide range of monument pricing nationwide, and dealers commonly price a comparable upright monument from roughly $1,000 to $5,000 or more before carving or add-ons, so it's worth comparing a stone's full build, not just its base price, against our popular headstone styles.

In-stock granite ships free to a business address anywhere in the continental US with a 30-day turnaround; shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, expedited service, and residential delivery carry an additional fee confirmed when you order. Signature Headstones backs every stone with a 500-year guarantee that it will remain beautiful. Design changes are free any time before production starts; once cutting begins, the order is final, and a change made afterward may carry a fee depending on how far along the order is. None of these prices include installation, since setting and foundation fees are paid to the cemetery separately.

Headstone Styles Commonly Used for Angel Designs

Style: Flat / Flush

Height: 4"

Footprint (W x D): 24" x 12" to 36" x 14"

Base Width: None (flush)

Typical Use: Lawn sections that require markers level with the grass

Style: Slant

Height: 16"

Footprint (W x D): 20" x 10" to 36" x 10"

Base Width: 34" to 36"

Typical Use: Slant-permitted sections, often with one or two vases

Style: Upright

Height: 20" to 26"

Footprint (W x D): 24" x 6" to 48" x 6"

Base Width: 36" to 48"

Typical Use: Monument sections tall enough for a standing or kneeling angel

Style: Special Shape (Heart)

Height: 26"

Footprint (W x D): 24" x 6"

Base Width: 36"

Typical Use: Single heart or special-shape sections where an angel is carved into the design

Frequently asked questions

Will my cemetery allow an angel headstone or statuary design?

Many cemeteries restrict certain lawn sections to flat or flush markers only, so an upright or special-shape angel design may not be permitted everywhere on the grounds. Before you order, ask your cemetery in writing which styles, heights, and materials are approved for your specific plot or section. Confirming this first avoids any issue with acceptance once the stone is cut and shipped.

What's the difference between an angel headstone and a standard upright monument?

An angel headstone is simply an upright monument or special-shape stone with an angel figure, such as a guardian, mourning angel, or cherub, carved or sculpted into the granite face. The stone itself still follows the same sizing, base, and foundation requirements as any other upright monument. The angel is a design element added during personalization rather than a separate category of product.

Can I add a ceramic photo portrait or a vase to an angel headstone?

Yes, a ceramic photo portrait in black and white or color can be inlaid into many upright and slant designs alongside the carved angel. A vase can also be added to hold fresh or artificial flowers at the base of the stone. Both options are selected and placed during the online design process before production begins.

Is a companion (two-name) angel headstone available, or only single?

Both layouts are available. A single angel headstone carries one name on a base sized for one plot, while a companion layout places two names on a wider base for two people sharing a plot, such as a husband and wife.

What colors and sizes are available for angel headstones?

Stone colors include grey, medium grey, black, Bahama blue, blue pearl, pink, desert pink, red, mahogany, and several others. Sizes range from upright monuments with bases from 36 to 48 inches wide up to special-shape stones like a single heart with a 36-inch base, so you can match the design to your cemetery plot's requirements.

How much does an angel headstone typically cost?

Prices in this collection range from $499 to $8,599, depending on the stone's size, color, base width, and any photo or vase add-ons. This price does not include the cemetery's installation or foundation fee, which is billed separately by the cemetery.

How long does it take to receive a custom angel headstone, and who installs it at the cemetery?

In-stock granite has a 30-day turnaround and ships to a business address anywhere in the continental US. Most cemeteries require their own crew or an approved installer to set the monument once it arrives, so installation is arranged directly with the cemetery rather than through Signature Headstones.

Can changes be made to my angel headstone order after I submit it?

Changes to the design, lettering, or layout are free any time before production begins. Once the stone enters production, the order is final, and any required change afterward may carry a fee depending on how far along the order is at that point.

Why Signature Headstones

Signature Headstones designs and engraves every angel headstone in its own studio, drawing from more than a million pounds of granite in stock. The online design app lets you place the angel carving, lettering, clipart, and any ceramic photo portrait yourself and review a full proof before production starts, so there's no showroom visit required. Customer support is available by phone and email seven days a week if you need help confirming your cemetery's requirements or finishing your layout. When you're ready, the full collection above is the easiest place to compare sizes, colors, and price points side by side.