Choosing a headstone is more than picking out a piece of stone. It’s creating a place people can come back to.

You want something that reflects who the person was, while meeting the cemetery’s rules and staying within what your family can comfortably spend. That means working through material, size, engraving, artwork, cemetery requirements, foundation, and installation — a lot to hold during an already difficult time.

This guide walks through the whole process, start to finish.

Why the choice matters

The right memorial balances meaning, practicality, and cost. Granite is the most common choice and for good reason: it holds up over decades and comes in a wide range of colors, finishes, and lettering styles.

Whether you’re drawn to a traditional upright monument or something quieter, the goal is the same — a tribute that still feels right years down the road. And if budget is the main concern, a simpler memorial can still be personal without unnecessary extras.

What types are available

Which style makes sense depends on your cemetery’s rules, the look you’re after, how much personalization you want, and your budget.

Upright monuments are the traditional, most customizable choice. They give you a much larger surface for names, dates, inscriptions, artwork, portraits, and symbols — the right option for a detailed, prominent tribute.

Flat and grass markers sit level with the ground for a simple, clean appearance. They’re among the more affordable options and work well in cemeteries with specific landscaping or placement rules.

Slant markers give you a raised, angled face without the full height of an upright — a middle ground between visibility, personalization, and cost.

Companion monuments hold two names on one stone, with each person given their own space within a single design.

For a closer look at how these compare, read our guide to grave marker types in Wichita.

What affects the cost

Cost comes down to material, size, design, engraving, artwork, and installation. Flat markers start lower; larger custom monuments require more material and more production work.

With granite, the color, dimensions, finish, and amount of engraving all shift the final price.

Engraving matters more than people expect. Standard lettering takes far less work than detailed artwork or a portrait. Impact etching gives strong contrast on darker granite, while laser etching captures more detailed imagery.

Cemetery charges and setting should always be their own line item. Some cemeteries charge separately for foundations or placement. We quote setting on its own and never mark up direct cemetery fees.

A trustworthy monument company should hand you an itemized estimate so you know what you’re paying for. That matters most when you’re comparing on price, since a low advertised number doesn’t always include installation or cemetery costs.

For a full breakdown, see what a headstone costs near Wichita.

Comparing a local company with an online seller

Online monument sellers make price comparison feel simple, but the advertised number often isn’t your final cost. Shipping, installation, and cemetery requirements can all add complexity you didn’t expect.

Working locally keeps things direct. You talk through the design, review a scaled proof, request changes, and coordinate installation with the cemetery — all with the same people.

Questions worth asking any company:

• What type and color of granite is included?

• Is engraving included in the price?

• Will I see a proof before production starts?

• Is the foundation included?

• Who performs the installation?

• Are cemetery fees kept separate?

• What’s the timeline, and what happens if the design changes?

The lowest initial price isn’t always the lowest total once everything is added up. Weigh communication and installation support as heavily as material and design.

How the process works

Four steps.

1. Consultation. You share your preferences, cemetery details, timeline, and budget. Bring photographs, inscriptions, or artwork if you have them. This is the moment to ask questions and work out what matters most.

2. Design. We turn it into a scaled proof showing layout, lettering, artwork, and proportions. You’ll have room to revise, and we ask for written approval before moving forward. Take your time — names, dates, spelling, and every detail should be checked carefully before engraving begins.

3. Production. Once approved, the memorial moves into production: polishing, engraving, etching, and finishing. Custom work takes more preparation time than a stock design.

4. Installation. We coordinate the foundation and installation directly with the cemetery, so your family isn’t juggling several contractors.

Timeline: a stock memorial may take just a few weeks. Custom designs generally run about two months from approved design.

What veteran families should know

Eligible veterans may qualify for a government-provided headstone or marker through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including upright and flat markers in approved materials. It’s worth confirming eligibility and your cemetery’s requirements before deciding.

We also offer a minimum 10% veteran discount and can walk you through the VA marker program step by step.

A good monument company should help you understand the real difference between a government-issued marker and a privately designed monument, so your family can choose what fits. If you’d rather have something customized, we’re happy to talk through design preferences and veteran benefits together.

Cemetery requirements to check first

Cemetery rules can affect size, style, foundation, placement, and installation. Checking before production starts saves costly changes later.

Requirements vary considerably from one cemetery to the next — a memorial that’s fine at one may need adjustment at another. Many memorial parks permit flat markers only.

Share your plot details and we’ll confirm what’s permitted before finalizing a design. A lower-cost memorial only helps if it can actually be approved and installed where you want it.

Getting value from your budget

Start by separating what’s essential from what’s nice to have. The name, dates, stone, required dimensions, and cemetery specifications come first.

From there, choose which personal touch matters most — a portrait, a favorite quotation, a religious symbol, a military emblem, or a piece of artwork — rather than fitting in several decorative elements at once.

Ask for a complete estimate rather than comparing one advertised price against another. A proper itemized estimate spells out the stone, design, engraving, artwork, production, foundation, setting, and cemetery fees. We provide itemized pricing before any work begins.

Simple doesn’t have to mean impersonal. A well-written inscription paired with one meaningful symbol makes a dignified tribute without unnecessary cost.

Why choose Legacy Stonework & Monument

We’re a family-run company based in Goddard, serving Wichita and the surrounding communities. We work directly with families through every stage — design, production, and installation.

Direct communication makes the difference. You’ll talk through your cemetery, timeline, design preferences, and budget with the same people handling your memorial from start to finish. When something needs changing, you know exactly who to call.

Every estimate is itemized so you can decide where personalization matters most, without pressure to add upgrades you don’t need.

Before you order

The most meaningful memorial isn’t necessarily the largest or most elaborate. It’s the one that reflects your person and gives your family a lasting place to remember them.

Take time to compare materials, styles, engraving, cemetery requirements, installation, and the full cost picture. Review every detail on the proof carefully before production begins.

There’s no deadline on this. Some families order within a month, others wait a year.

Get a personalized quote

Legacy Stonework & Monument provides itemized estimates, personalized design guidance, cemetery coordination, and support throughout. Veterans receive a minimum 10% discount along with assistance through the VA marker program.

Call 316-670-6350 or email Vincent@LegacyMonumentKS.com

Serving Wichita, Goddard, Derby, Haysville, Maize, Andover, and the surrounding communities.