Single Upright Headstones

Single upright headstones are granite memorials built and engraved for one name, with a matching granite base included in the price. In this collection, prices run $1,999 to $4,799 depending on tablet size, base width, and vase configuration. Compare sizes, vase options, and granite colors below, then move into the design tool to lay out the wording yourself, or browse the full range of upright headstones.

Finding the Right Size & Base for Your Cemetery Plot

The right size for a single upright headstone depends on what your cemetery's plot and section rules allow, not on personal preference alone. These granite upright headstones come in six tablet sizes: 24" x 6" x 20", 24" x 6" x 24", 30" x 6" x 20", 36" x 6" x 24", 42" x 6" x 24", and 48" x 6" x 24". Each tablet sits on a matching granite base, and base widths across the collection range from 36" up to 66" depending on the size and vase configuration you choose. Taller, wider tablets need a wider base for stability and a more generous plot allowance.

Before you order, call your cemetery office and confirm the style, maximum size and thickness allowed in your loved one's section, whether a poured foundation is required, and where the plot number must be engraved — the FTC Funeral Rule covers funeral homes, not cemetery acceptance, so only the cemetery's written confirmation counts. If your loved one was a veteran, the National Cemetery Administration furnishes a government headstone, marker, or medallion at no charge in any cemetery, though private-cemetery setting fees remain the family's responsibility.

If you already know your required dimensions, go straight to the matching size collection: 24" x 6" x 20" Upright Headstones, 24" x 6" x 24" Upright Headstones, 30" x 6" x 20" Upright Headstones, 36" x 6" x 24" Upright Headstones, 42" x 6" x 24" Upright Headstones, or 48" x 6" x 24" Upright Headstones. Or browse the full Upright Headstones collection to compare every size and base option in one place.

Single vs. Companion Uprights: Which Do You Need

A single upright headstone, sometimes called an upright grave marker for one person, is built and priced for one name, while a companion or double headstone is a wider stone built to hold two names side by side. This collection's Stone Type option is set up for one person, one inscription, and one design proof.

If you're memorializing a husband and wife, two siblings, or any two people together, look at a stone designed for two names rather than trying to fit a second name onto a single tablet. Visit Double Headstones for traditional two-name companion monuments, or a single-stone two-name layout if you'd rather keep both names on one upright tablet. Settle this decision before you open the design tool: once production begins, changing from a single to a companion layout means starting over, and change fees apply to any post-production correction.

Choosing a Vase: None, One, or Two

Single upright headstone prices in this collection change based on whether you choose no vase, one vase, or two vases, and that choice changes both the cost and the look of the memorial. Within the same tablet size, adding vases raises the price: the 24" x 6" x 20" Upright Headstone with 36" Base runs $1,999 to $2,499 with no vase, the same size with one vase runs $2,099 to $2,599, and with two vases and a 40" base it runs $2,399 to $2,899.

A vase holds fresh or silk flowers upright against the stone rather than laid flat on the ground. If you're not sure which to pick, no vase keeps the design simplest and the lowest cost within its size tier, while two vases suit families who visit often and want room for flowers on both sides of the inscription.

Granite Colors for Single Upright Headstones

Single upright headstones in this collection are available in five granite colors: Bahama Blue, Black, Grey, Pink, and Red. Black and Bahama Blue take the deepest polish and give engraved lettering or a photo portrait the strongest contrast. Grey remains the traditional cemetery stone, Pink offers a softer presence, and Red provides a warmer alternative to the more common grey or black.

If you've already settled on a color, go directly to Red Granite Headstones or Black Headstone to see those options.

What's Included: Base, Engraving & Design Proof

Every single upright headstone in this collection includes the matching granite base and your custom engraving in the listed price, with no separate charge for the base itself. Before anything goes into production, you'll approve a design proof showing your wording, font, and any emblem or photo, and changes are free right up until production starts. Once you confirm the layout, your order moves into engraving.

Shipping, Turnaround & Cemetery Installation

Signature Headstones ships every single upright headstone on free standard freight anywhere in the continental US, with a 30-day turnaround and a 500-year guarantee backing the stone's lasting beauty. Standard shipping is limited to a business address; residential delivery, and shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, carry an added fee, so reach out to our team if either applies to you.

Prices shown here do not include installation. Cemeteries typically charge their own foundation and setting fee and require their own crew or an approved installer to set the stone, so confirm that cost directly with your cemetery before you order. For general background on how installation and foundation requirements work across the industry, independent groups such as Monument Builders of North America publish consumer guidance.

Frequently asked questions

What size single upright headstone do I need for my cemetery plot?

This collection carries six sizes, from 24" x 6" x 20" up to 48" x 6" x 24", each paired with a base from 36" to 66" wide. Your cemetery office can tell you the maximum size and thickness allowed in your section before you order.

What's the difference between a single and a companion upright headstone?

A single upright headstone is designed and priced for one name and one inscription. A companion or double headstone is wider and built to hold two names side by side, either as two separate panels or one shared layout. If you need two names, look at a companion-style collection rather than resizing a single stone.

Can I choose one vase, two vases, or no vase on a single upright headstone?

Yes, each size in this collection is available with no vase, a single vase, or two vases. Vases add to the price and give you a place for fresh or silk flowers at the stone. Some cemetery sections restrict or require vases, so check before choosing.

What granite colors are available for single upright headstones?

This collection offers five granite colors: Bahama Blue, Black, Grey, Pink, and Red. Darker colors like Black and Bahama Blue show the strongest contrast for engraved lettering and photos, while Grey remains the traditional cemetery choice.

Is the granite base and engraving included in the listed price?

Yes. Every single upright headstone price includes the matching granite base and your custom engraving. The price does not include cemetery installation or foundation fees, which are billed separately by the cemetery.

How long does it take to receive a single upright headstone, and does Signature Headstones handle installation at the cemetery?

The finished stone ships to the cemetery or a business address on a 30-day turnaround with free standard freight in the continental US. The cemetery or an approved installer typically sets the stone and handles the foundation, not Signature Headstones.

Why Signature Headstones

Signature Headstones designs and engraves every single upright headstone in-house, drawing from a stock of more than a million pounds of granite already on hand, which keeps custom work moving without the long waits typical of smaller shops. Our team answers sizing, wording, and cemetery questions by phone and email seven days a week, because ordering a memorial online for the first time can feel unfamiliar. Every order moves through a free design proof before production begins, so you see the exact layout, font, and any photo or emblem before anything is engraved in stone.