SHARE YOUR VISION WITH US
Build Your Own Headstone
Not everyone knows where to start, and that's alright. This designer lets you try shapes, sizes, finishes, and lettering at your own pace. No appointment, no salesperson, no commitment. When something feels right, send it to us and one of our drafters will take it from there.
This designer lets you try shapes, sizes, finishes, and lettering at your own pace. When something feels right, send it to us and one of our drafters will take it from there.
HOW IT WORKS
How designing your own headstone works
1
1
Shape it
Start with the outline. A classic serpentine, a flat-top tablet, an apex peak, a book top. Then choose single or companion, and whether you want one inscription panel or two.
2
2
Finish it
Pick your polish, add vases if you’d like them, and choose the lettering style that best embodies the who you’re remembering. You can prepare in advance too!
3
3
Send it to us
Save your design, download a proof, or send it straight to our drafting team. We’ll come back with a to-scale drawing, honest pricing, and any cemetery requirements you’ll need to meet.
Choosing a headstone shape
Shape is mostly about feeling, but a few things are practical.
Serpentine, a gently belled top, is the most common upright shape in New England cemeteries and suits almost any lettering.
Tablets (flat top) read more traditional and formal. Apex and western slants give a stronger profile from a distance.
Book top is a favorite for teachers, readers, and clergy. Heart, shamrock, and custom silhouettes are all possible, though they may not be perfectly represented in our tool.
But if you can picture it, our drafters have likely carved it, and can do something similar for you.
Single or companion?
A single headstone marks one grave. A companion headstone spans two, usually with a shared family name across the top and individual inscriptions below.
Many families choose a companion stone when one spouse has passed, engrave the first name and dates, and leave the second side blank until it’s needed.
We return to the cemetery to add the final date when that time comes.
Finishes, and why they matter
Polished granite is mirror-smooth, holds color, and stays cleanest over the decades.
Steeled is a soft matte that reads quieter.
Frosted sits between the two and gives carved artwork a lot of depth.
Most memorials are polished on the front and back, and you can add polished sides or margins for extra sharpness.
Lettering that sounds like them
Serif and Roman lettering are timeless and read clearly from a distance.
Script feels personal and works beautifully for a first name or an epitaph.
Sans and condensed styles suit modern designs and longer inscriptions.
If you’re still deciding what to say, our epitaph examples page has hundreds of lines families have chosen before.
AFTER YOU FINISH DESIGNING
What happens after you send your design
A sales rep at one of our seven Greater Boston and South Shore showrooms reviews your design, checks it against your cemetery’s regulations for size, foundation, and installation, and sends back a to-scale proof with pricing.
Nothing is ordered until you’ve seen that proof and said yes. We’ve been doing this as a family since 1950, and we’ll take our time to ensure we’re 100% aligned with your vision.