Married Couple Husband and Wife Headstones

Companion Stone or Two Single Stones?

A companion headstone is one wider marker engraved with both spouses' names, dates and often a shared epitaph. Two single headstones are matching markers placed side by side, each carrying one spouse's information. In our design app, most styles here offer a Stone Type option of Companion or Single, so you pick the layout before wording or clipart.

Companion stones make good use of a double-width plot and read as one unified memorial, which many couples prefer for a shared epitaph. Two single stones cost less individually and let each side be ordered at a different time, which matters if one spouse passes years after the other. The right call comes down to what your cemetery allows for the section and what feels right for your family.

For side-by-side browsing of true two-name layouts, see our double headstones and companion markers.

Styles That Work Well for a Couple's Memorial

Flat, pillow, slant and upright styles all have companion versions wide enough for two names, two dates and usually two vases, so the choice comes down to how much presence you want above the grass.

A flat or flush companion marker, like our 24″ x 12″ x 4″ Flat Headstone, lies level with the lawn and is often the only style modern lawn sections allow. Browse the flat headstones hub for companion-width options. A pillow marker adds a gentle beveled top, such as the 24″ x 12″ x 6″ Pillow Marker Headstone, giving more presence while staying ground-level. See the pillow headstones hub.

Slant markers stand at an angle and come in companion widths like the 36″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone, with room for two names and two vases. Explore the slant headstones hub. Upright monuments give the most room for a joint epitaph, portrait and emblems, sitting on a wide granite base. See the upright headstones hub.

Sizing a Headstone for Two Names

A headstone built for two names, two dates and an epitaph needs real width, which is why companion styles here run larger than single markers across every style. Our wider slant markers include the 36″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone and 30″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone, while companion uprights sit on bases from 48″ to 66″ wide, such as the 36″ x 6″ x 24″ Upright Headstone on its 54″ base.

Prices scale with size and stone: upright companions with wider bases run from $2,249 to $3,799, and slant companions run roughly $1,399 to $2,349.

Before ordering, confirm with your cemetery office what width their section allows, whether a poured foundation is required, any colour or material restrictions, and whether a plot number must be engraved. Rules vary cemetery by cemetery and even section by section, a point the Monument Builders of North America also raises for anyone buying a monument outside a cemetery's own office.

Ordering Ahead: One Name Now, One Left Open

It's common, and perfectly fine, to order a companion headstone while one spouse is still living. Many families engrave one name, birth date and part of the epitaph now, leaving the second date open until it's needed.

Changes are free any time before your order enters production, so review the proof carefully to make sure the open side is spaced correctly for later. If your cemetery requires a layout approval before purchase, that review carries a $50 layout fee, applied toward your order's balance.

Once the design is final, custom granite in this collection has a 30-day turnaround, and Signature Headstones ships free via standard freight anywhere in the continental US, with delivery to a business address (an added fee applies for residential delivery or for Alaska and Hawaii). Setting the stone is handled by your cemetery or their approved installer, not by Signature Headstones, so confirm that arrangement when you order.

If one spouse is a veteran, it's worth checking whether the VA will furnish a government headstone, marker or medallion at no charge. Spouses and dependents qualify for their own government marker only in a national or state veterans cemetery, so review VA eligibility for headstones, markers and medallions before deciding on a private double stone.

Personalizing a Shared Memorial

A shared memorial can hold more than two names. A joint portrait, shared epitaph, religious or military emblems, and two vases for flowers all fit comfortably within a companion layout's extra width.

Several companion styles already include two vases built in, such as the 24″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstone with 40″ Base & Two Vases and the 30″ x 6″ x 20″ Upright Headstone with 48″ Base & Two Vases. Our design app's clipart catalog includes religious symbols and military emblems to place beside each name, and a ceramic portrait can be added to most layouts for a shared photo centered above the names.

If a traditional rectangular companion stone doesn't feel right, a heart-shaped or other special-shape memorial can still carry two names and dates — browse special shape headstones, or see single headstone for two names if you'd prefer both names on a single-width stone instead.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a companion headstone and ordering two single headstones for a married couple?

A companion headstone is one wider marker engraved with both spouses' names and dates, usually with a shared epitaph. Two single headstones are separate matching markers, each carrying one spouse's name, set side by side. Companion stones read as one unified memorial, while two singles let each side be ordered or replaced independently. The right choice often depends on your cemetery's plot width and your own preference.

Can we order a husband and wife headstone now and add the second name and date later?

Yes — many families engrave one name, birth date and part of the epitaph now, leaving the second date open until it's needed. Design changes are free any time before the order enters production, so it helps to confirm the open side is sized and spaced correctly before then.

What size headstone do we need to fit two names, two dates, and an epitaph?

Most couples need a wider stone than a single marker to fit two names, two dates and an epitaph. Companion slant markers in this collection run up to 36″ x 10″ x 16″, and companion uprights sit on bases from 48″ to 66″ wide. The exact size also depends on how much wording, how many emblems and how many vases you want, so it helps to sketch the layout in our design app before choosing a size.

Can a companion headstone include a photo of both spouses?

Yes, most companion layouts can include a ceramic photo portrait centered above or between the two names. The portrait can be black and white or color, depending on what you select in the design app. Many couples use a single shared photo, though placement depends on the style and size of stone you choose.

Will our cemetery allow a companion or double headstone, and does it need a wider plot?

Every cemetery sets its own rules on style, size and plot width, so confirm requirements with your cemetery office before ordering — width, foundation requirements and material restrictions all vary by section. Signature Headstones cannot guarantee a cemetery's acceptance of any particular size or style.

How much does a husband and wife headstone typically cost, and is installation included?

Companion-ready headstones in this collection range from $499 to $8,599 depending on style, size and granite color. That price covers the headstone itself; cemetery installation and foundation fees are separate and paid directly to the cemetery, not included in the price shown here. It's worth asking your cemetery for an installation estimate before you order.

Why Signature Headstones

Every companion marker is carved from our own stock of more than a million pounds of granite and backed by our 500-year guarantee. We've helped build more than 5,000 memorials, with families rating their experience 4.82 out of 5 across 437+ reviews. Our team is available by phone and email seven days a week if you'd like help reviewing a companion layout before you approve it.