INFO CENTER · FONTS & LETTERING
Fonts & Lettering Options for Your Headstone
The lettering is where a stone becomes a person's memorial. There's more choice than most people expect, from the shape of the letters to how they're cut, colored, or gilded. Here it is, laid out simply.
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A memorial can use a single font throughout or combine a couple, for example a script family name over Roman dates. If you have no preference, our default is Regular Roman, the most-used and most timeless style. Whatever you choose, we prepare a proof so you see the exact layout, font, and finish before a single letter is cut.
How lettering is applied
Here are a few of the most popular ways to put lettering into stone. The right one depends on the granite and the look you want.
Sandblasting (V-sunk)
Each letter cut in a deep V-groove that holds shadow and reads clearly for decades, even without color.
Frosted / skin-cut
A shallower frosted letter that stands out sharply against a polished dark surface.
Raised lettering
The background is cut away so letters stand proud of the stone. The most monumental look.
Lettering finishes
Beyond the cut. Change how the lettering reads with beautiful, stylized finishes. Designed by our award-winning drafters and engraved by expert artisans.
Regan
Regular / incised
Classic sandblasted letter. Our default option.
Regan
Polished raised
Letters stand above the ground · #2202
Regan
Polished raised
Letters stand above the ground · #2202
Regan
Polished raised
Letters stand above the ground · #2202
Color & gilding
Lettering can be left natural or filled with color. It’s as much about contrast as style.
Natural
On lighter granite, a well-cut incised letter reads clearly on its own. No paint needed.
Lithochrome (stone paint)
Durable stone paint for high contrast. White on dark granite, black on lighter stone. Can be refreshed.
Laser etching
Genuine gold applied by hand, for a warm, luminous, dignified finish. Silver leaf available too. (see #2206)
On longevity: the cut itself is permanent. Color and gilding are surface finishes that can weather over many years, and both can be refreshed later at a modest cost.
Font styles
The lettering styles we work in most, shown on real memorials we’ve made. Regular Roman is our default and by far the most popular. We can show any of these on your actual stone before you decide.
All our lettering styles, at a glance
From our catalog, every style on a real memorial.
Common questions about fonts
Frequent font FAQs
What's the most popular font?
Regular Roman, by a wide margin. Clean, timeless, and reads well on any stone. It’s our default if you have no preference.
Can I mix more than one font?
Yes, and many families do. A script or Old English family name over Roman dates is a beautiful, common pairing.
Is gold leaf worth it, and will it last?
Real granite and color samples, design catalogs, and everything needed to plan the memorial at your table.
What shows best on a black or dark stone?
Frosted or white-filled lettering, and gold leaf, all pop beautifully on dark polished granite.
Can you letter a stone that's already in the cemetery?
Yes. We add names, dates, and inscriptions on-site, matched to the existing lettering. See Cemetery Lettering & Date Additions.
Does the font affect the price?
Lettering is priced mainly by the number and size of characters. A few finishes, like raised lettering and gold leaf, cost more for the added work. We’ll give you a firm price before we begin.