Can I install my own headstone?

It is technically possible for a family to install a flat or grass-level headstone themselves. Whether your cemetery allows it is a separate question — and one we cannot answer in general, because every cemetery sets its own rules.

The most reliable first step is a phone call to the cemetery office. Ask three questions: (1) Do you allow family installation of a flat marker? (2) If yes, what foundation requirements apply? (3) Who do I notify before bringing the stone on-site?

Most municipal and rural cemeteries permit family installation of grass-level markers. Most perpetual-care cemeteries do not, regardless of stone style. Veteran sections and church-owned cemeteries vary widely.

For upright stones, almost no cemetery permits family installation. The footing, base, and stone together can weigh several hundred pounds; installation requires specialized equipment, and an improperly seated stone is a hazard for visitors. We coordinate professional installation in any of the cemeteries we ship to.