Cost To Install A Granite Slab On a Grave

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The choice of granite slabs to complement the eternal places is a good one. Granite is one of the natural stones with a reputation for construction. It is varied in color, shades, and appearance, and can be easily processed by stone craftsmen. The oldest burial objects were made of granite and lasted thousands of years. The funerary monuments made of granite are resistant, durable, and impressive in appearance. Farewell or tribute messages can be easily inscribed on granite slabs and granite monuments.

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Granite Slab On The Grave?

The cost of a granite slab is anywhere between $35 and $75 per square foot. Though, a cheap granite slab would be around $600, while for an expensive one you would have to pay more than $2,000.

You can find different types of granite slabs on the market, with different variations and colors. And as you would expect, all of these come at different prices. Below you will find the costs of granite slabs depending on various factors such as size, color, and quality.

Cost of granite slabs by color

There are different colors of granite slabs and the cost is influenced by this factor, as well. In the table below you will find the average cost per square foot for different colors of granite slabs.

As you can see, the cheapest option is the black granite slab, while the most expensive is the cream granite slab.

However, most people are not attracted by the black color and they choose brown, blue, or other colors. In this case, the costs will rise by almost $15 to $20.

Cost of granite slabs by size

The size of the coffin greatly affects the entire area of the dead body covering block. The cost of a regular-size granite slab would be anywhere between $1,000 and $3,700. This cost may be even higher if you would like to add a very high-quality material or a unique design.

In the table below you will find the average costs of granite slabs by size.

As you can see, there is a huge price gap between the low and high end. The reason is that the granite available on the market has distinct features and qualities.

A rich American family spends more than $1,000 for building the entire set of the grave. So, the costs of the grave slab depend not only on the size but also on other variables.

Less expensive granite slabs

$3,000 for a granite slab is a huge sum of money for a low-income family. Also, if you want to add other essentials the price would rise to a minimum of $5,100. But there are cheaper products on the market, with prices of $500 to $2,000.

In the table below you will find the average costs of some readymade granite slabs, that have lower prices.

How much does it cost to install a granite slab?

A granite slab is pretty heavy and an amateur is not able to perfectly attach it to the grave. Be prepared to spend anywhere between $300 and $2,100 for installing a granite slab for a grave, depending on the weight and the size of the slab.

You might also like our articles on the cost of cremation, an obituary in newspaper, or a mausoleum.

You can try to install the granite slab yourself, but in the end, it would cost you much more if you don’t have the necessary tools and knowledge. Moreover, a professional can do it in a shorter period of time and much easier. On the other hand, there are agencies that include the installation cost in the whole price of the granite slab.

How much does granite cost?

Granite is one of the finest materials in the world and it costs anywhere between $42 and $210 per square foot. It is not used only for the grave, but also for kitchen countertops or basin tables. Also, not all pieces of this material have the same quality.

In the table below you will find the average cost of granite by quality.

Also, the cost of granite depends on the type of design additionally added to it. For instance, on the grave slabs, people write some information about the dead person like the name, birth and death date, and others. All of these would increase the overall cost.

How much does a headstone for the grave cost?

The most vital part of a grave is its headstone because, without it, it would be hard to recognize a grave. Expect to pay anywhere between $510 and $1,000 for a headstone for the grave, depending on size, color, and design. Four different colors of headstone are available, including laser modern, black, gray, and red.

Below you will find the average costs of a headstone for the grave by size.

How much does the full monument cost?

The cost of the full monument depends on the number and area of the tomb. In general, you would spend anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000 for building a single-size memorial. So, expect to spend $9,600 to more than $20,000 for a double or triple size monument.

However, not all people afford to build a full-size monument in the grave area. Also, you will need permits from local authorities.

In general, a society of a country or a higher authority makes the decision to build a full-size monument for a dead person.

The cost of alternative materials to granite slabs

The cover block for a grave can be built not only from granite but this also marble, limestone, quartz, slate, and others.

In the table below you will find the average prices per square foot for different materials that can be used to build a slab for a grave.

As you can see, one of the most luxurious options would be the gemstone, with a price of anywhere between $120 and $350 per square foot. On the other hand, marble is affordable for most people, as it costs only $50 to $120 per square foot.

How long does a granite slab last for a grave?

The durability of a granite slab for a grave depends greatly on the installation process. In general, it would last more than a lifetime of a person. This is why most people are not interested in this aspect when buying a granite slab.

Final thoughts

Granite slabs are solid, safe, and durable. No other material is more suitable for use in the field of funerary monuments due to its resistance in time that can reach 500 years or more.

It is resistant to any external factor and is not at all affected by water or temperature change, which is proven by cultural monuments that have stood the test of time for hundreds of years.