Adding a Year
Just the four digits of passing.
TypicalCarving "2026"
4 digits≈ $360
When the headstone already has the name and the first date carved, and you need the second year added. The most common cemetery lettering job.
Learn more →Cemetery Lettering · Full Inscription
The full inscription, designed and carved.
A complete carving from scratch; names, dates, an epitaph, a symbol. We design the layout, proof it to you, and carve it onto the stone, on site or in our workshop depending on what the job calls for.
$300+$15per letter
Typical · Full layout with epitaph and symbol~50 to 80 letters × $15 + $300≈ $1,050; $1,500
- One complete inscription, designed from scratch
- One basic carved symbol included
- Layout proof before any cutting
- Names, dates, epitaph line
- Cemetery permit handled if applicable
- Same day photo of finished work
Free. No obligation. Reply within 24 hours.
What's Included
Names, dates, epitaph, symbol. One formula.
A full inscription covers everything that goes onto a finished headstone: the carved text, one carved religious or memorial symbol from a standard set, the layout proofing process, the cemetery engraving permit (filed by us), and the finished work photograph emailed to you the day of the install.
Most full inscriptions in New England involve a single person's name, their full birth and death dates, and a short epitaph (typically four to eight words). A typical layout looks like this:
O'BRIENMARY CATHERINE1942; 2026Beloved Mother and Grandmother
62 characters. $300 + 62 × $15 = $1,230
Religious or memorial symbols included at standard cost: cross, crucifix, Celtic cross, Star of David, dove, praying hands, open Bible, shamrock, simple rose, simple lily, simple wheat sheaf. Custom relief carving (family crests, intricate artwork, photo etching) is quoted as an add on with the price disclosed in writing before any work begins.
The Process
Three steps. Layout first. No surprises.
- 1
You tell us what to carve
Use the quote form to add a photo and send your request. Names, dates, epitaph if any, symbol if any, cemetery, and photos of the existing stone or context.
2 minutes - 2
We send a quote and a layout proof
Within 24 to 48 hours. Letter count, total, and a scale mockup showing where each element will sit on the stone. You revise as needed.
1 to 3 days - 3
We carve and photograph
On site or in shop depending on the stone. Same day photo of the finished work emailed to you.
3 to 5 weeks out
Common Questions
What families ask us most.
- How much does a full headstone inscription cost?
- Our formula is $300 plus $15 per letter, for any cemetery lettering job. A typical full inscription; name, both dates, a short epitaph, one carved symbol; runs 50 to 80 characters and comes to roughly $1,050 to $1,500. We send the exact letter count and total in your written quote within 24 hours.
- What counts as a full inscription?
- Anything beyond adding a year or a single name to a layout that's already partly carved. A full inscription typically includes the family name, individual names, full dates, an epitaph line, and one carved symbol (cross, Star of David, dove, simple flower). It can be on a new stone or on a stone that's been waiting in the cemetery for a complete inscription to be designed.
- Can you carve a religious symbol or simple artwork?
- Yes. Basic carved symbols are included in the standard letter count: cross, crucifix, Celtic cross, Star of David, dove, praying hands, open Bible, shamrock, simple rose or lily. More intricate relief carving, custom artwork, or photo etching is quoted as an add on, disclosed in writing.
- Do I see the layout before you cut?
- Always. Before any work begins in the cemetery or in our workshop, we send you a layout proof showing exactly where each line of text and each symbol will appear on the stone, at the correct font, size, and proportion. You sign off in writing. Nothing gets cut until you've approved the layout.
- How long does it take?
- Six weeks from order, April through October. Off season orders are scheduled for the first spring window in writing. More complex inscriptions involving multiple symbols or custom relief carving may quote a longer timeline up front.
Our Services & Pricing
A clear price for the work you need.
Lettering is $300 plus $15 per letter. Cleaning is $450 per stone. Restoration is custom quoted after we review your photos.
Lettering
$300 + $15 per letterAdding a Name
A new name and dates next to the original.
TypicalAn example inscription with 25 carved characters
25 carved characters≈ $675
When a spouse passes and the full new inscription, including the name and both dates, needs to be added to the stone that's already in the cemetery.
Learn more →Full Inscription
A complete new carving from scratch.
TypicalA full layout with epitaph and symbol
~50 letters≈ $1,050
For a stone with no existing inscription, or where the whole inscription is being designed from scratch. Names, dates, an epitaph, religious or memorial symbols.
Learn more →Stone Care
Restoration by custom quote · Cleaning $450 per stoneRestoration
Care for weathered stones and inscriptions.
Custom quoteStart with a photo of your stone
Quoted for the work your stone needsCustom quote
Every restoration is different. Send a photo so we can assess the condition, discuss the work, and prepare a custom quote.
Learn more →Headstone Cleaning
Lichen, moss, weathering removed.
PriceOne stone, one visit
$450 flat, per stone$450
A dedicated cleaning visit at the cemetery, with the approach chosen for the stone's material and condition.
Learn more →For lettering, a panel extension to create additional space on the stone costs extra. Cemetery permit fees, if your cemetery requires one, are passed through at the cemetery's actual cost (typically $50 through $200) and disclosed in writing on your quote before any work begins.
Tell us what you'd like carved.
A name, dates, an epitaph, a symbol. Tell us the cemetery. We'll send a written quote and a draft layout within a day or two.
Get a Written Quote