How Much Does a Companion Headstone Cost?

A companion headstone holds two names on one wider stone — usually a married couple. It costs more than a single upright because there's more granite, a wider base and more engraving, but it's usually less than buying two separate headstones. Here's what shapes the price.

The biggest cost factors

• Width — companion stones are typically 36–48 inches wide; every extra inch adds granite and weight.
• Granite colour — grey is usually the most affordable; Absolute Black, red and blue cost more.
• The base — companion bases are longer and heavier.
• Shape — serpentine and square tops are standard; heart, twin-crown and custom shapes add cutting time.
• Artwork — etched portraits, scenes and colour fills add to the engraving cost.
• Vases — one or two granite vases on the base.

Costs families often forget

Ask whether the quote includes:

• Delivery to your cemetery, not just to a depot.
• The foundation and setting fee, which most cemeteries charge separately — see setting fees explained.
• Care and maintenance contributions where regulated, as in Ontario.
• The second date later — when the surviving spouse dies, the final date is engraved on site for an additional fee.

One companion stone or two singles?

A companion stone is usually the better value for a couple in side-by-side plots: one base, one delivery, one setting fee and a single shared design. Two singles can make sense if plots aren't adjacent, if one partner remarried, or if the cemetery requires individual markers. See double plot headstone sizes.

Ways to keep the price down

• Choose grey granite and a standard serpentine top.
• Keep artwork simple — one emblem rather than a full scene.
• Pre-engrave the surviving spouse's name now so only a date is added later.
• Buy factory-direct to avoid layered markups — see buying direct.

Check your price instantly

For a live estimate, design your memorial in the Design Studio and use Check Price, or request a quote for an itemised, delivered price.

Questions to ask before you order a companion stone

A few questions settle most of the cost before you commit:

1. What width does the cemetery allow for a double plot, and must the base stay within the lot?
2. Will the surviving spouse's name be engraved now? Pre-engraving keeps fonts matched and leaves only a date to add later.
3. Who will add the final date, and does the cemetery require a permit for it?
4. Are vases included, and in which granite?
5. Is the price delivered and installed, or ex-factory?

Getting these answers in writing makes quotes comparable and avoids surprises years later when the second date is added.

Key Takeaways

• Width, granite colour, base and artwork drive the price.
• Confirm delivery, foundation and setting fees are included.
• A companion stone usually beats two singles on value.
• Grey granite and a standard shape keep costs down.

Next Step

See companion headstone buying guide and husband and wife wording.