Double Headstones

A double headstone, also called a companion headstone, is one wider granite marker built to hold two names, two sets of dates, and often two vases, rather than two separate stones side by side. Catalog prices run $499 to $3,799 depending on style, size, base width, and vase count. Browse the companion-ready styles above (flat, slant, and upright), then use our online design tool to lay out both names before you order.

What Makes a Headstone a "Double" or Companion Headstone

A double or companion headstone is one wider granite marker, built from the start to hold two names, two sets of dates, and often two inscriptions side by side. That's different from a single headstone that simply has two names engraved on it: the footprint and lettering stay sized for one person, so two names and two epitaphs end up sharing space meant for one.

For couples, a true companion stone gives each name its own clear half of the face, often with matching or mirrored layouts. If you'd rather keep a smaller footprint and simply add a second name to a standard-size marker, that's a different product with its own sizing logic.

Our Married Couple Husband and Wife Headstones collection gathers companion-ready pieces built for that purpose, and our Single Headstones for Two Names collection is the better starting point if you'd rather use one standard-width stone carrying both names.

Styles, Sizes & Cemetery Requirements

Flat, slant, and upright companion stones differ mainly in height off the ground, and that height is usually decided by your cemetery section's rules rather than personal preference alone. A flat companion marker lies flush with the lawn and suits lawn-only or flat-only sections; browse the full range in Flat Headstones. A slant companion stone rises with an angled face that reads easily from a distance while staying low enough for many garden and slant-designated sections; see Slant Headstones. An upright companion monument stands tallest on its own base and suits traditional monument or memorial-park sections that allow standing markers; those options are in Upright Headstones.

Sizing starts with width, since two names, two dates, and often a shared line of text need more room than a single marker. Companion-ready pieces run from a 28" x 16" x 4" flat stone up to a 36" x 14" x 4" flat, with slant stones at 24", 30", and 36" wide (each 10" deep and 16" tall), and upright stones at 24" and 30" wide sitting on bases of 30", 34", 36", 40", 42", 48", 52", or 54".

Before you settle on a size or style, get your cemetery's requirements in writing. Cemeteries control, section by section, which styles they allow, the maximum width, depth, and height for that plot, whether a poured concrete or granite foundation is required under a slant or upright base, whether the plot number must be engraved on the stone, and whether any colors or materials are restricted. These rules vary by cemetery and even by section within the same cemetery, so we can't guarantee a given size or style will be approved; the cemetery office has the final word. For general background on monument standards, the Monument Builders of North America is a useful independent resource. If you're placing a companion marker for a veteran and spouse in a national or state veterans cemetery, government-furnished markers follow their own specifications and eligibility rules, which VA.gov explains in detail.

Once you know your allowed footprint, our size-specific collections make comparison easier: 24″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstones, 30″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstones, and 24″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstones.

Vases & Granite Colors for Companion Headstones

A companion headstone can be ordered with no vase, one vase, or two vases, and the choice usually comes down to whether the family wants a single shared spot for flowers or a mirrored spot for each name. The 24″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstone with 36″ Base & Vase ($2,099–$2,599) gives one vase centered above the two names, while the version with a 40" Base & Two Vases ($2,399–$2,899) places one vase on each side so both names have their own. The same logic carries into slant styles: the 24″ x 10″ x 16″ Serp Top Slant Headstone with 34″ Base & Vase ($2,399–$2,749) carries a single vase, and the 24″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone with 36″ Base & Two Vases ($2,599–$2,949) and the 30″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone with 42″ Base & Two Vases ($2,699–$3,049) both offer a vase for each side.

Start from a specific product like the 24″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstone with 36″ Base & Vase or the 24″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone and compare base and vase options in the design tool.

Companion headstones also come in eight granite colors: grey, medium grey, black, bahama blue, blue pearl, pink, red, and mahogany, so a family can match an existing family stone or choose a shade that feels right. Grey and black are the most common choices because they read clearly in both polished and rock-pitch finishes and are widely accepted across cemetery sections; browse options in Black Headstone. Bahama blue and blue pearl carry natural mineral flecking for more depth and contrast, while red and mahogany lean warmer; the Red Granite Headstones collection shows the red options on their own. Every color is natural granite, so expect some variation in veining and grain from stone to stone, which is normal and not a defect.

What a Double Headstone Costs

Across our catalog, companion-ready headstones run $499 to $3,799, with the price moving on size, base width, vase count, and granite color rather than a single flat companion surcharge. A basic companion-width flat stone sits at the lower end of the range, while an upright monument with a wide base and two vases sits toward the top; compare a starting point like the 24″ x 12″ x 4″ Flat Headstone against the larger 36″ x 14″ x 4″ Flat Granite Headstone to see how width moves the price.

These prices don't include cemetery installation. Setting a stone, pouring a foundation, and any plot-number engraving the cemetery requires are handled and billed by the cemetery, not by us, so confirm those fees with your cemetery representative before you order. The FTC Funeral Rule protects families shopping at funeral homes, but it doesn't govern cemeteries or monument sellers, which is part of why each cemetery sets its own installation charges and approval process.

Once production starts on your order, changes, cancellations, and returns are no longer possible, so review your proof carefully first.

Shipping, Timing & Installation

Standard shipping is free on every companion headstone to a business address anywhere in the continental US; Alaska, Hawaii, and residential deliveries require an added fee, which our team can quote by email. Typical turnaround on in-stock granite runs about 30 days, and every stone carries our 500-year guarantee that the granite will hold its finish. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee based on distance, timing, and stone availability.

We ship the finished stone to the cemetery or a business address; the cemetery or their approved installer sets the stone and builds any required foundation, and those fees are paid directly to the cemetery, not to us. Inspect the stone's packaging carefully on delivery and note any damage before you sign, since that inspection protects your ability to file a damage claim.

Companion-Friendly Headstone Styles at a Glance

Style: Flat

Height: 4"

Width x Depth: 36" x 14"

Base Width: No base, flush with grade

Typical Placement: Flat-only lawn sections

Style: Pillow

Height: 6"

Width x Depth: 30" x 12"

Base Width: No base, sits on grade

Typical Placement: Garden sections allowing a slightly raised marker

Style: Slant

Height: 16"

Width x Depth: 30" x 10"

Base Width: 30"-42" base

Typical Placement: Garden or slant-designated sections

Style: Upright

Height: 20"

Width x Depth: 24"-30" x 6"

Base Width: 36"-42" base

Typical Placement: Traditional monument or memorial-park sections

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a double (companion) headstone and a single headstone engraved with two names?

A double or companion headstone is a single wider stone, often on a wider base, engineered from the start to hold two names and two dates with room to spare. A single headstone with two names keeps the dimensions sized for one person, so both names and any epitaph share the space normally used for one. If legibility and a clear half for each name matter most, a true companion stone is the better fit; if a smaller footprint matters more, a single stone with two names can work.

Can a companion headstone be placed over two separate burial plots?

Many cemeteries do allow a companion stone to sit across the shared line between two adjoining plots, treating it as one marker for both graves. Placement, orientation, and foundation requirements are set entirely by the cemetery, not by us, so confirm this with your cemetery office before ordering. Some cemeteries instead require the stone to sit fully within one plot regardless of how many names it carries.

What sizes and base widths are available for double headstones?

Companion stone sizing depends on width, base, and your cemetery's plot allowance, as covered in the sizing section above. In general, wider flat and slant styles accommodate two names and dates more comfortably than a standard single-width stone. Confirm the maximum footprint your cemetery allows before choosing a specific size.

Can a double headstone include one vase, two vases, or none?

Yes, companion uprights and slants are available with no vase, one shared vase, or two vases, one per name, as shown in the vase options above. Adding a vase, or choosing two, increases the price somewhat over the same stone without one.

How much does a double headstone typically cost before installation?

Across our catalog, double-ready headstones run $499 to $3,799 depending on style, size, base width, color, and vase count. That price covers the stone itself only; cemetery installation, foundation work, and any plot-number engraving are billed separately by the cemetery.

Will my cemetery allow a companion headstone, and who installs it?

Most cemeteries accept an outside companion headstone as long as it meets their section's rules for style, size, thickness, and foundation, but each cemetery sets and enforces its own requirements. We ship the finished stone to the cemetery or a business address; the cemetery or their approved installer typically sets it and builds any required foundation, and those fees are paid directly to the cemetery. Confirm the process and cost with your cemetery office before you order.

Can both names on a companion stone include separate photos or portraits?

Yes, portrait styling is available in our design options, and a companion stone can be laid out with a separate photo or portrait beside each name. Exact placement and sizing depend on the stone you choose and the space left after both names, dates, and any epitaph. Our online design tool lets you preview both portraits on the stone before you finalize the order.

Can we make changes to the layout before the stone goes into production?

Yes, changes to text, layout, or engraving are free any time before production begins on your order. Once production starts, the order is final, and any required change afterward carries a fee that depends on how far along production is, as outlined in our policies. If your cemetery requires a formal layout before you purchase, a $50 layout fee applies and is credited toward your final order total.

Why Signature Headstones

Signature Headstones is a family-owned business that engraves every companion headstone in our own studio, from more than one million pounds of in-stock granite. Every stone carries our 500-year guarantee that the granite will hold its finish, with direct, published pricing and no showroom markup. If you're ordering online for the first time while planning a memorial for two people you love, our team is available by phone and email seven days a week to help with sizing, layout, and any question your cemetery raises.