Slant Headstones

- 20″ x 10″ x 16″, our narrowest option, suits a single name and starts around $1,299 for the plain stone; see the full 20″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstones collection.- 24″ x 10″ x 16″ gives more room for a longer epitaph or a companion layout, shown in 24″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstones.- 30″ x 10″ x 16″ is often chosen for two names side by side, browsable at 30″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstones.- 36″ x 10″ x 16″ is our widest, also well suited to companion layouts, at 36″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstones.Once you've found a size that fits your plot and your budget, the design app above lets you try names, dates, and layout before you order.

Bases & Vases: Building Out Your Memorial

A base is the rectangular granite block the slant stone sits on, giving the memorial its footing and its finished look in the cemetery lawn. Our catalog offers base widths from 24″ up to 52″, so a 20″ wide slant stone can sit on anything from a close-fitting 24″ base to a wider 34″ base with room for flowers on either side; see the 20″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone with 24″ Base for an example.A few things to know about vases:- Vases mount into the base rather than the upright face.- You can choose a single vase or two, such as the 20″ x 10″ x 16″ Slant Headstone with 30″ Base & Vase, which pairs a wider base with one vase opening.- Adding a base and vases increases both the footprint and the weight of the finished memorial. A plain slant stone runs roughly 210 lb, while a stone set on a base with two vases can reach around 500 lb.That added weight is one more reason the base needs a proper foundation underneath it, which we cover below.

Granite Colors & Finishes

Slant headstones in our catalog are available in grey, black, bahama blue, pink, red, and blue granite, so you can match a family plot or simply choose the tone that feels right. Grey and black are the most traditional choices for a slant marker; browse options in Black Headstone or compare deeper tones in Red Granite Headstones. The inscribed face and top surfaces are polished to a smooth, reflective finish so lettering and any photo portrait stand out, while the sides are left in a rock-pitch, naturally textured finish that echoes quarried stone. Granite is a natural material, so some variation in veining and shade between pieces of the same color is normal and not a flaw.

Single or Companion: Memorializing One Name or Two

A single slant headstone is engraved for one name and inscription, while a companion slant headstone is laid out for two names on the same stone, usually a husband and wife or two family members memorialized together. The Stone Type option in our design app lets you choose Single or Companion when you select your size and color, and wider sizes like 30″x10″x16″ and 36″x10″x16″ give a companion layout the horizontal space it needs. If you're memorializing a married couple, our Married Couple Husband and Wife Headstones collection is built around that layout, and Double Headstones covers the style more broadly. Some families prefer a single, wider stone inscribed for two names rather than a traditional double monument; that option is gathered in Single Headstones for Two Names.

Cemetery Approval, Foundations & Installation

Before you order, call your cemetery office to confirm what your plot allows. A short checklist to run through with them:- Whether slant or bevel markers are permitted in that section.- The maximum size and base width.- Any color or granite restrictions.- Whether a plot number needs to be engraved on the stone.Most cemeteries require a poured concrete foundation under a slant headstone's base, sized to the base width you choose, and many only permit their own crew or an approved local installer to set the stone and pour that foundation. Ask directly who handles installation and what that fee runs; it's billed by the cemetery, separate from the price of the stone itself.The FTC Funeral Rule consumer guide protects consumers buying from funeral homes, but it does not cover cemeteries or monument dealers, so the cemetery's own written rules are what actually govern whether they'll accept an outside headstone. See Monument Builders of North America for broader industry standards. Eligible veterans may qualify for a government-furnished headstone, marker, or medallion at no cost through the VA in any cemetery, with setting fees at a private cemetery remaining the family's responsibility; details are at VA headstones, markers and medallions.Once your cemetery's rules are confirmed and your design is approved, custom slant headstones ship within our standard 30-day turnaround, with free standard shipping to a business address anywhere in the continental US. Shipping to a residential address, Alaska, or Hawaii involves an added fee, which we can quote by email. When you're ready, head back up to the product grid to select your size and start your design.

Slant Headstones Compared to Flat, Pillow & Upright Monuments

Style: Flat

Typical Height: Flush with the lawn

Footprint / Depth: Varies by marker size

Base or Foundation: Sits directly on an in-ground foundation

Typical Use: Lawn sections that require a low profile

Style: Pillow

Typical Height: Low, with a gently sloped face

Footprint / Depth: Varies by marker size

Base or Foundation: Sits directly on an in-ground foundation

Typical Use: Lawn sections wanting more visibility than flat

Style: Slant

Typical Height: 16″ tall

Footprint / Depth: 10″ deep, 20″–36″ wide

Base or Foundation: Optional granite base, 24″–52″ wide, on a poured foundation

Typical Use: Sections allowing more visibility than flat or pillow but not full upright

Style: Upright

Typical Height: Taller tablet style

Footprint / Depth: 6″ thick tablet on a separate base

Base or Foundation: Separate granite base required, set on a poured foundation

Typical Use: Traditional memorial sections where upright monuments are allowed

Frequently asked questions

What makes a slant headstone different from an upright monument or a flat marker?

A slant headstone has an angled, inscribed face mounted on a flat base, standing lower than a traditional upright monument but higher than a flat or pillow marker that lies at ground level. In our catalog, slant stones are 16″ tall with a 10″ depth, compared with flat markers that sit flush with the lawn and uprights that stand as a separate thick tablet on their own base. This makes slant markers a middle option for cemeteries that restrict tall uprights but still allow some vertical visibility.

Do I need a cemetery's approval before ordering a slant headstone?

Yes. Each cemetery sets its own rules for which styles, sizes, and materials are allowed in a given section, so it's worth calling ahead before you place a custom order. Ask specifically whether slant or bevel markers are permitted, what the maximum base width is, and whether a plot number must be engraved.

Is a poured concrete foundation required under a slant headstone with a base?

Most cemeteries require a poured foundation sized to the base width before a slant headstone with a base can be set, since the foundation keeps the memorial level and stable over time. Your cemetery will tell you their specific requirements and whether they pour it themselves or require an approved installer. This is arranged and paid for separately from the cost of the headstone itself.

Can I add one or two vases to a slant headstone, and does that change the base size I need?

Yes, our slant headstones can be configured with a single vase or two vases mounted into the base. Adding vases generally means choosing a wider base, since the vase openings need clearance on either side of the inscription; options in our catalog range from a 24″ base up to a 52″ base. A wider base with vases also adds to the overall weight of the finished memorial.

What is the difference between a single and a companion slant headstone?

A single slant headstone is inscribed for one name, while a companion slant headstone is laid out to hold two names, most often for a married couple or two family members memorialized together. You select Single or Companion as the Stone Type when customizing your headstone, and wider sizes like 30″x10″x16″ or 36″x10″x16″ give a companion inscription more room.

What granite colors are available for slant headstones, and can the sides be rock-pitched?

Our slant headstones come in grey, black, bahama blue, pink, red, and blue granite. The front face and top are polished smooth so engraving and any photo portrait are easy to read, and the sides are finished in a rock-pitch texture that shows the natural, quarried character of the stone.

How long does it take to receive a custom slant headstone, and how is it shipped?

Custom slant headstones ship within our standard 30-day turnaround once your design is approved. Shipping is free and standard to a business address anywhere in the continental US; deliveries to a residential address, Alaska, or Hawaii carry an added fee that we can quote by email.

Who installs the headstone once it arrives at the cemetery?

Installation is handled by your cemetery or an installer they approve, not by Signature Headstones, since most cemeteries require their own crew or a vetted local installer to set a monument correctly. Ask your cemetery office about their installation process and fee before your headstone ships so everything is ready for delivery.

Why Signature Headstones

Signature Headstones is a family-owned company that designs and engraves every slant headstone in our own studio, drawing from more than a million pounds of in-stock granite, which keeps sizes like these moving through production without long waits for material. Every stone we ship is backed by our 500-year guarantee that it will remain beautiful. Thousands of families have used our online design app to build a memorial without an in-person showroom visit, and our average customer rating sits at 4.82 out of 5 across more than 437 reviews. Our team is available by phone and email seven days a week if you have questions about sizing, bases, vases, or your cemetery's requirements. When you're ready, pick a size from the grid above and let the design app walk you through the rest.