Find the Right Style for Mom's Resting Place
The right style for mom's headstone depends mostly on what her cemetery section allows, not personal preference alone. Here is how the main styles compare in our catalog:
- Flat or flush markers sit level with the grass and are often the only option in lawn sections, like the 16″ x 8″ x 3″ Flat Headstone, priced from $199 to $299.
- Pillow markers rest on the ground with a gently sloped top, running from $699 to $1,649 depending on size.
- Slant headstones stand on their own base, commonly $1,799 to $3,649 with base and vase options, and read easily while walking the row.
- Upright monuments sit on a wide granite base and remain the most traditional and visible tribute families picture first.
Browse the full flat headstone, pillow headstone, slant headstone, and upright headstone collections above to compare what's available, then bring the final choice back to the grid once you know which style fits mom's plot.
Planning Ahead Together: Companion Headstones for Mom and Dad
A companion headstone lets you honor mom now while leaving space to add dad's name later, on one shared stone. Many families choose this route when mom has passed and dad is still living, so the second half of the stone stays blank until it's needed. In our design app you can select Companion instead of Single under stone type, and the layout will reserve room for a second name, date and epitaph from the start.
Browse our double headstones collection for two-name layouts, or look at options built specifically for married couples. If you'd rather keep mom's side complete now and add dad's inscription separately later, our single headstone for two names collection shows how that works on one stone, since lawn crypts and single plots are sized differently.
A Lasting Tribute: Photos, Engraving & Words for Mom
A ceramic photo portrait lets you add mom's likeness directly onto the granite, in black and white or color, so her face greets every visitor to the grave. These kiln-fired ceramic ovals are set into the stone during production and work alongside sand-carved or laser-etched lettering for her name, birth and passing dates, and any additional wording you choose.
For the inscription itself, many families center on a single word like Mother, Mom, or Beloved Mother and Grandmother, paired with a short epitaph. Lines that work well for a mother's memorial include Her love lives on in us, Forever in our hearts, A mother's love never ends, or a favorite line of scripture or poetry she loved in life. You can also add a religious emblem, a flower, or another image from the clipart library.
Our online design app shows you a live proof as you build the layout, so you see exactly how mom's name, dates, photo and wording will look on the finished stone before you approve it for production. You are not designing blind.
Choosing a Size and Stone Color
Size and stone color for mom's headstone should be chosen together, since cemetery rules on thickness often limit both. Our catalog spans flat markers as small as 16″ x 8″ x 3″ up to upright monuments at 36″ x 8″ x 36″, with slant styles sized at 20″ x 10″ x 16″, 24″ x 10″ x 16″, 30″ x 10″ x 16″, and 36″ x 10″ x 16″. If you already know the cemetery requires a specific footprint, browsing by size is often faster than browsing by style; our 30″ x 10″ x 16″ slant headstones collection is a good example of how that works.
On color, our stone options include grey, medium grey, black, bahama blue, blue pearl, pink, red, and mahogany. Grey and medium grey are the most traditional and widely used colors; black offers a striking, high-contrast look for engraving, shown in our black headstone collection; and red granite, in our red granite headstones collection, gives a warmer tone some families feel suits a mother's memorial. Our popular styles collection is a good starting point if you want to see what other families commonly choose.
Special Shapes That Say It Best
A heart-shaped or angel headstone can express the tenderness of a mother's memory in a way a rectangular stone cannot. These special shapes carry the same granite durability and engraving options as our standard styles, including photo portraits and custom wording, while the silhouette itself becomes part of the tribute.
Our heart shaped headstone collection includes single and double-heart layouts, useful if you are planning a companion stone for mom and dad in a shape rather than a traditional rectangle. The angel headstone collection pairs a carved angel figure with the inscription, a choice many families associate with comfort and protection. You'll also find both shapes alongside other options in our special shape headstones collection, where you can compare them side by side.
What to Confirm Before You Order
Before you place a permanent order for mom's headstone, confirm the essentials with her cemetery in writing so there are no surprises. Ask what style is allowed in her section (flat-only lawns are common), the maximum size and thickness, whether a poured foundation or granite base is required, whether a plot number must be engraved, and whether there are limits on stone color. Cemeteries set their own rules section by section; while they generally accept an outside headstone that meets those written requirements, each cemetery charges its own setting and foundation fee directly to you, separate from the price of the stone. The cemetery also determines who may install the monument, and many require their own crew or an approved installer to set it. Note that the FTC Funeral Rule governs funeral homes, not cemeteries or monument dealers, so it does not require a cemetery to accept an outside memorial.
If mom was a veteran or married to one, the VA furnishes a government headstone, marker, or medallion at no charge for an eligible veteran in any cemetery; setting fees at a private cemetery remain the family's responsibility, and spouses and dependents qualify for a VA-furnished marker only in a national or state veterans cemetery. Review eligibility and how to apply at VA.gov, or see full specifications from the National Cemetery Administration.
Headstone styles compared: size, base and visibility
Style: Flat / Flush
Typical Size (W x D x H): 16″ x 8″ x 3″ to 36″ x 14″ x 4″
Base: None, sits flush with the lawn
Visibility: Level with the ground, low visibility; required in many flat-only sections
Style: Pillow / Bevel
Typical Size (W x D x H): 20″ x 10″ x 6″ to 36″ x 12″ x 6″
Base: None, rests on the ground
Visibility: Low profile with a sloped, easy-to-read face
Style: Slant
Typical Size (W x D x H): 20″ x 10″ x 16″ to 36″ x 10″ x 16″
Base: 30″ to 52″ base
Visibility: Stands upright at an angle, easy to read while walking the row
Style: Upright
Typical Size (W x D x H): 24″ x 6″ x 20″ to 36″ x 8″ x 36″
Base: 36″ to 66″ base
Visibility: Tallest and most visible, traditional monument look
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of headstone for a mother's grave?
There is no single best style for every mother's grave, since cemetery rules determine what you can place in her section. Flat and pillow markers work well in lawn-mowing sections and tend to be the more budget-friendly choice, while slant and upright designs give more room for a longer epitaph or a photo portrait. If you are unsure which styles her section permits, call the cemetery office directly, then compare the matching collection against the grid above.
Can I put a photo of my mom on her headstone?
Yes, our ceramic photo portraits can be added to most headstone styles in black and white or color. The portrait is kiln-fired into a ceramic oval and set into the granite during production, so it becomes a permanent part of the stone. A photo pairs especially well with black or dark stone colors, which make the oval stand out, and you'll see the exact placement in your design proof before the order goes to production.
What size headstone should I choose for a single grave?
For a single grave, flat markers in our catalog start at 16″ x 8″ x 3″, with larger flat sizes up to 36″ x 14″ x 4″. Slant headstones for a single grave commonly run 20″ x 10″ x 16″ up to 36″ x 10″ x 16″ with a base. Larger stones are also heavier to move into place at the cemetery, so it's worth asking the cemetery office how they handle setting a bigger marker before you choose the largest size that fits.
Can I order a companion headstone now and add my dad's name later?
Yes, selecting the companion stone type in our design app reserves space on the layout for a second name, date and inscription. You can order mom's side complete now and leave dad's side blank until it's needed, which also lets you lock in the stone itself today and handle dad's engraving as a separate order later. Confirm with the cemetery that the plot is sized for a companion-width stone before you order.
How much does a headstone for a mother typically cost?
Across our catalog, headstones for mom range from $199 to $8,599 depending on style, size, stone color, and photo options. These prices do not include the cemetery's own setting or installation fee, which is billed separately by the cemetery, so it's worth asking for that figure in writing while you're still comparing styles above.
Does my cemetery decide whether I can have an upright or only a flat marker?
Yes, cemeteries set their own rules by section, and many lawn or garden sections allow only flat markers for mowing purposes. Always confirm the allowed style in writing with the cemetery office before you order, since this is the one detail that can change your whole shortlist.
How long does it take to receive a custom headstone for mom?
Signature Headstones offers a 30-day turnaround time on in-stock granite, with free standard shipping anywhere in the continental US. Delivery goes to the cemetery or a business address, since standard shipping does not include residential delivery. If you need the stone sooner, expedited shipping is available for an added fee based on distance, timing and stone availability; if you need shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or a residential address, an additional fee applies there as well.
What happens if I need to change the design after I've placed my order?
You can make changes at no charge any time before your order enters production. Once production begins, cancellations and returns are not possible, and any required change after that point carries a fee that scales with how far along the order is, as outlined in our refund policy. Report any delivery issue or error in writing within 10 days of receiving the headstone, with photos, so we can investigate.
Why Signature Headstones
Signature Headstones is a family-owned company built for exactly this moment: choosing a permanent memorial for your mother, online, without a showroom visit. Every headstone is cut and engraved from our own inventory of more than a million pounds of granite. Our online design app lets you build mom's layout, add a photo portrait, and see a live proof before anything goes to production, with free changes up until that point. Every headstone carries our 500-year guarantee that the stone will remain beautiful. Over 5,000 memorials and an average rating of 4.82 out of 5 across more than 437 reviews reflect families who trusted us with this same decision.
