Key Takeaways:
- Production: Work begins once your design is approved, and engraving details and custom artwork influence how long the craft takes.
- Delivery: Arrival time depends on the distance from our Ohio and Florida manufacturing facilities, freight handling, and carrier schedules.
- Placement: Ground settling and cemetery regulations shape when a headstone can be set, so confirming requirements early helps keep plans on track.
Waiting for a memorial can feel especially hard when you are already carrying so much. So, how long does it take to get a headstone, and what happens between placing an order and seeing it set at the grave?
Legacy Headstones has made granite memorials since 1920, and the family members guiding our work today learned the craft from the three generations before them, with every memorial still made in the USA. Our family aims to please, as our great-grandfather did when he founded the company.
In this piece, we walk through each stage of the timeline, from design approval and crafting to delivery, cemetery waiting periods, and installation.
Understanding Headstone Production Time
Production begins once your design is finalized and approved, so the time spent choosing granite, lettering, and layout becomes part of the overall schedule. Reviewing the proof carefully before approving it helps avoid changes that could pause the work later.
Granite color and availability, the complexity of the engraving, and any custom artwork all influence how long crafting takes. For instance, a flat marker with names and dates generally moves faster than an upright monument with detailed etching or a special shape. For families working toward a firm date, such as an unveiling or anniversary service, the Optional 5-Day Rush Charge can shorten production time for eligible orders, though it does not apply to bronze or special-order headstones. Sharing your date early gives everyone the most room to plan.
What Affects Headstone Shipping Time
Once your memorial is complete and has passed our final inspection, it begins its journey to the cemetery or your home. Several practical details determine how quickly it arrives at its final destination. Understanding these factors helps families plan around services, unveilings, and cemetery schedules, so we explain the three most common ones below.
Shipping Distance From Our Facilities
Memorials ship from Ohio and Florida to destinations throughout the lower 48 states, so a cemetery in the same region will often receive its marker sooner than one across the country. Confirming the delivery address and any cemetery receiving instructions early helps avoid delays.
Weight And Handling Of Granite
Because granite is dense and heavy, most memorials travel by freight rather than standard parcel service. Each piece is packaged securely to protect the polished surface and engraving in transit, and freight scheduling can add time compared with a typical package delivery.
Carrier Schedules And Delivery Updates
Weather, holidays, and regional demand can disrupt carrier schedules and delay deliveries by a few days. Legacy’s Most Frequently Asked Questions page covers many common ordering and shipping questions that come up during this stage.
The Grave Waiting Period Before Placement
Even after a memorial arrives, it may not be set right away, since both the ground and the cemetery influence the timing.
Ground Settling After A Burial
After a burial, the soil needs time to settle before a heavy granite marker can be set safely. Many cemeteries ask families to wait several months, and some recommend six months to a year, depending on soil and climate. Frozen ground in colder regions can also delay placement until spring. Our guide covering When You Can Put a Headstone on a Grave explains these waiting periods in more detail.
Cemetery Rules And Approvals
Each cemetery sets its own regulations for marker size, style, material, and foundation, and some require a permit or written approval before installation. Confirming these details with the cemetery office before production begins helps keep a finished memorial from waiting on paperwork. Foundation requirements vary widely, and How to Set a Headstone outlines how the base is typically prepared.
Typical Headstone Installation Timeline At The Cemetery
Once the memorial arrives and the site is ready, installation is often completed in a single visit by the cemetery or a monument professional, with scheduling based on their availability and the weather. If a new concrete foundation is required, it generally needs time to cure before the headstone is placed. Where cemetery policy permits private installation, How to Set Up a Tombstone walks through the process for configurations with or without concrete.
Final Thoughts
The time it takes to receive a headstone depends on design approval, crafting, delivery, and cemetery requirements, and each stage moves at its own pace. Allowing room for all of them makes the process feel less rushed and leaves space for thoughtful choices about materials, lettering, and placement. Whenever questions come up, our family is here to help you plan a memorial that honors your loved one.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long It Takes To Get A Headstone
Can I order a headstone in advance?
Yes, many families pre-plan so decisions can be made calmly and in their own time. Ordering ahead can also leave more flexibility around cemetery approvals and placement.
What information do I need to start an order for a headstone?
You will need the full name, dates, and any epitaph or artwork you would like engraved. Having your cemetery’s marker requirements on hand also helps.
Can I change the headstone design after it's been approved?
Changes after approval may pause production and adjust the schedule, so reviewing every detail before final approval is worthwhile.
Can a second name be added later to a headstone?
Many families add a spouse’s details at a later date. Planning space for that inscription in the original design helps the addition look balanced.
Do I need to be present when the headstone is installed?
Attendance depends on the cemetery’s policies and is often optional, so it helps to ask the cemetery office in advance.
What if I am not ready to decide on a headstone design?
There is no need to rush such an important decision. Taking time to gather photos, dates, and wording often makes the final design feel more personal.
