Headstone Materials & Granite Colors, Explained

Granite is the modern standard for headstones. It holds deep sandblasted engraving, stands up to weather for generations, and comes in a full range of colors — from blacks through grays to warm earth tones. We also craft cast-bronze memorials mounted on granite for the memorial parks that require bronze. Marble, the pale stone of historic cemeteries, is largely a thing of the past for new memorials because it weathers and slowly surrenders its lettering.

Why is granite the standard for memorials?

Three reasons: durability, engraving, and choice. Granite is among the hardest stones used in memorial work, which is why the inscriptions we cut are made to be read by great-grandchildren. Its density also suits sandblast engraving — the abrasive cuts crisp, deep letterforms and artwork directly into the stone rather than sitting on its surface. And because we source granite from quarries around the world, families can choose from a wide spectrum of colors and grains rather than settling for whatever a single quarry produces. Every style we make, from flat markers to upright monuments, begins as quarried granite in our Reno shop.

What granite colors are available?

Our standard color is Sierra White — a light granite that is included in every starting price we publish. Beyond it, the range runs from deep blacks through grays to earth tones, sourced from quarries worldwide. Premium colors change the cost of the finished memorial, and because the difference depends on the size of the stone and the design on it, we quote color upgrades per design rather than from a price chart. The table below shows what each style starts at in Sierra White; our pricing page and headstone cost guide break these figures down further.

Each starting price includes one name, dates, a verse, and a catalog design. Sales tax and the cemetery's setting and endowment fees are separate.

How does granite color affect engraving contrast?

Color is not just a matter of taste — it changes how the inscription reads. On light granites like Sierra White, sandblasted letters read through the shadow the carving casts, a soft, classic look. On darker granites, the freshly cut surface tends to appear lighter than the surrounding polish, so lettering and artwork often stand out more sharply. Many families pair darker stones with painted lettering for even stronger contrast; painted surfaces carry a 10-year warranty, and we repaint older memorials as well. Ceramic and porcelain memorial photos — which carry a lifetime warranty — add a portrait in full detail on any color, and we can merge photos or remove and replace backgrounds before firing. During our design process, ask to see your proof rendered on the actual color you are considering.

Should you choose granite or bronze?

Often the cemetery decides for you: many memorial-park cemeteries require bronze, in which case we cast a bronze memorial and mount it on a granite base — see our bronze markers page. Bronze is also the traditional material for dedications, plaques, and civic memorials. Where your cemetery accepts either, granite gives you the widest freedom of shape and style — everything from a flush marker to a full upright monument or bench — while bronze offers cast lettering and emblems in a wide selection of standard sizes. Bronze work is quoted individually; call and we will walk through your cemetery's requirements with you.

How does granite compare to marble and other stones?

Walk through a cemetery's oldest sections and you will see the answer written in the stone: marble memorials from a century ago are often worn soft, their lettering shallow or gone. Marble is a softer stone that weathers under sun, rain, and frost, which is why it is now largely historical and why nearly every new memorial is granite. If your family tends an older marble or granite memorial that has weathered, we offer restoration and repainting — call for a quote. For new work, granite simply gives an inscription its best chance of being read for generations.

How do you choose the right color?

Look at real stone, not screens. Colors shift with light and polish, so we encourage families to see samples and to browse installed work in our gallery. Then ask for your proof on the actual granite you are considering — our proofs are collaborative, and nothing goes into production until you sign off on the final proof and place your deposit. If you are still deciding between styles as well as colors, start with our headstones overview to compare every option side by side.

Questions families ask

The easiest way to settle a color question is to talk it through with the people who will cut the stone. Call 775-323-1835 or email info@sierraheadstone.com and we will quote your memorial in the exact granite you have in mind.