Etched headstones have become very common in memorial design in recent years. Before we get into our top 10 favorite etching designs, let’s answer a few common questions about etched headstones.

What is an etched headstone?

Headstone etching is a method used to create detailed designs on granite memorials. There are two main methods: artist etching and laser etching.

An artist etching is performed by a skilled artist who puts thought into the etching and can push or pull tones to create the best results given the unique characteristics of each stone. Laser etchings use a machine to etch the details.

All of the etched headstone designs in our list are artist etchings by either Dan Garrison or Bobby Garey. We prefer the results that artist etching produces over laser etching in most applications.

What is the difference between engraved and etched headstones?

Engraved Headstones involve cutting or carving the design into the surface of the stone - several layers of the stone are removed during the process to create physical depth. This process is most often done by sandblasting. The depth of the carved line will vary depending on the stone color and the size of the letter.

Etched Headstones often have much more detail than engraved headstones. Etching involves removing a thin layer of the stone's polished surface to create a highly detailed design - black granite is the best material for this process.

Do etched headstones last?

Etched headstones are made to be durable and long-lasting. The etching process permanently removes polish from the stone which creates the image. The image will last as long as the polish lasts which should be centuries in good conditions. Most etchings will have an additional “highlight” paint layer applied which creates more contrast, helping the etching pop from the stone. While the etching is permanent, the highlight layer is not and will fade in time. Re-applying highlight to the etching is a fairly simple process and can restore the etching to a like new result.

How much do etched headstones cost?

If headstone etching appeals to you, be prepared to spend hundreds or even thousands more than a standard engraved headstone. High grade black granite is the best medium for headstone etching and this material is more expensive than most other color granites. The etching itself requires more time and skill than a traditional engraving - often taking many days to complete one design. This specialized process commonly adds $1,000 - $2,000 to the cost of the granite headstone, but can be less for smaller, simpler etchings.

Now that you know a few things about etched headstones, let’s take a look at our top 10 favorite headstone etching designs.

For this list, we took more into account than just the etching. These unique headstone designs were chosen because they practice good overall memorial design. The headstone etching in each works in harmony with other design elements to create a beautiful, thoughtful, well-balanced memorial design.

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