How much does a headstone cost in Australia?
A headstone or memorial is often the last thing a family arranges, sometimes months after the funeral, and there is no need to hurry it.
Prices range widely. One Sydney mason, Binstock & Sons, lists a flat lawn plaque from $850 and a double monument from $15,000, with the material and each cemetery's own rules driving most of the difference. The cemetery charges its own fee, and most cemeteries only let approved masons install a memorial.
What types of headstone and memorial are there?
The right type depends partly on your taste and partly on what the cemetery section allows. A lawn section usually permits only flat plaques, while a monumental section allows upright headstones and full-length kerbing. The table below shows the common options with one Sydney mason's published starting prices, checked September 2026.
| Type | What it is | From (Binstock & Sons, Lidcombe NSW) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat lawn plaque | A flat granite or bronze plaque set level with the lawn | $850 |
| Desk or tablet | A small sloped stone on a low base | $1,500 |
| Upright headstone with base | The traditional standing headstone | $4,500 |
| Double headstone with base | A wider headstone for a shared or family grave | $7,000 |
| Full monument, single | Stonework covering the full length of the grave | $12,000 |
| Full monument, double | For a shared grave | $15,000 |
Other masons price differently. In Perth, Forever Shining lists a small laser-etched granite plaque from $388 and a small granite headstone from $3,232. These are starting prices for the memorial itself; the cemetery's own charge is covered below.
What are headstones made of?
Granite is by far the most common choice, because it is hard-wearing and holds an engraving well for decades. Marble, sandstone, limestone and concrete are also used, and bronze is common for flat plaques. The stone also moves the price: black and coloured granites and marble sit at the top, while a standard grey granite is the more affordable option. Within the one type of granite, the grade and colour still make a real difference to the cost.
How is a headstone made and installed?
There are a few steps between choosing a memorial and seeing it in place.
What are the cemetery rules and permits?
Every cemetery sets its own rules on what can be placed and where, and charges a fee to place a memorial. In Perth, one mason's installed headstone prices include a Metropolitan Cemeteries Board fee of $381; ask your cemetery for its schedule. Before you order anything, check two things with the cemetery: which memorials are allowed in your section, and whether your chosen mason is on their approved list. Getting this right first saves reworking a design that would not have been permitted.
Frequently asked questions
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This guide is general information to help Australian families, editorially reviewed by the Funerals Direct team from publicly available sources. It is not legal or financial advice. Every figure here is a working guide rather than a quote, because funeral prices change by provider, suburb, cemetery and crematorium. Before you sign anything, ask for an itemised written quote that separates the funeral director's professional service fee from third-party costs like the crematorium, cemetery, celebrant, flowers, notices and death certificate fees, and ask which of those items are legally required and which are optional. For prepaid funerals, bonds, or insurance, consider speaking with an independent financial adviser or a free financial counsellor on 1800 007 007.
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