Why Work With Us?

Headstone Designs Dealer
in NJ

Hand-carved headstones by Headstone Design Guide — 80+ years in Morris County, NJ.

Headstone Specialists — Single, double & flat headstones
Companion Headstones — Side-by-side memorial pairs
Veteran Headstones — VA-compatible military headstones
Custom Granite Carving — Hand-carved in Morris County
Photo-Etched Portraits — High-contrast relief portraits
Headstone Restoration — Restore aged & weathered stone
Cemetery Compliance — Every headstone meets cemetery rules
Foundation Installation — Below frost-line, level-set
American-Made Granite — Domestic & select imported stone
Over 80 Years in NJ — Family-owned since 1945
All 14 NJ Counties — Statewide installation
Multilingual Service — English · Russian · Polish
Call (201) 297-4344Get a Free Consultation
Serving all of New Jersey · English, Russian, Polish
Granite Headstone Design hand-carved by Headstone Design Guide in NJ — image 1

Headstones

Over 80 Years in NJ

Ready When You Are

Talk to a Headstone Design Guide craftsman today.

Call, email, schedule a free quote, or visit the showroom in person. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Call (201) 297-4344Email UsSchedule a Free QuoteVisit Our Showroom
Service Area

Serving All 14 NJ Counties

Headstone Design Guide designs and installs headstones at cemeteries across all 14 New Jersey counties. Our design studio and workshop are in Madison, Morris County, where families can review material samples and discuss design direction in person. Families in Bergen, Essex, Union, Passaic, and Hunterdon counties have easy showroom access. Remote consultations by phone or digital proof are standard for families throughout the state. Every design is produced in our workshop.

  • Morris
  • Bergen
  • Essex
  • Passaic
  • Hudson
  • Union
  • Sussex
  • Warren
  • Hunterdon
  • Somerset
  • Middlesex
  • Mercer
  • Monmouth
  • Ocean
Cemetery Guide

Cemetery Compliance Guide

Cemetery Regulations

Cemetery regulations shape every headstone design from the start. New Jersey cemeteries each publish their own specifications for maximum height, base dimensions, permitted materials, and approved finishes. Headstone Design Guide confirms these requirements at the design stage — not after the stone is made. The design proof is built within the cemetery's specifications. This avoids revisions and ensures that the stone installed is the stone the family approved.

Foundation Requirements

Headstone installation design includes the foundation. Upright stones in New Jersey require concrete footings extending 30 to 42 inches below grade — the depth ensures stability through frost cycles. Headstone Design Guide handles all foundation preparation. No outside contractor is needed. Our installation crew coordinates with the cemetery, prepares the footing, and sets the stone.

Religious Cemetery Considerations

Religious cemeteries add design constraints that vary by faith tradition. Jewish cemeteries may specify stone orientation and restrict certain symbols. Catholic cemeteries often have specific requirements for cross placement and imagery. Orthodox traditions have their own cross forms and decorative conventions. Headstone Design Guide's designers work within each of these traditions with accuracy and care. We carve Hebrew, Cyrillic, and Polish Latin in-house.

Our Collection

Our Headstones Collection

Headstone Design

Headstone design at Headstone Design Guide is a structured creative process. It begins with a consultation — a direct conversation between the family and our design team about the person being memorialized, their life, their faith, and their aesthetic sensibility. Good headstone design is specific: it reflects a particular person, not a template. From the consultation, our team develops a scaled design proof showing the stone's shape, surface finish, inscription layout, and any imagery. The proof is shared with the family for review. Revisions are made until the design is exactly right. Only then does carving begin. The range of design options is broad. Upright headstones in classic or contemporary profiles. Slant-top stones with angled inscription faces. Flat and flush markers for cemeteries that require low-profile installations. Companion stones for two names. Sculptural elements in relief or inset. Portrait engravings from photographs. Religious symbols — crosses, Stars of David, Orthodox forms, Marian imagery. Military emblems and service branch insignia. Custom lettering styles, extended verses, and bilingual inscriptions. All carved by hand in our Morris County workshop.

Granite Options

American-made granite in multiple colors provides the material vocabulary for Headstone Design Guide headstone designs. Polished black granite is the standard for designs that include portrait engravings — the high-contrast surface carries engraved images with exceptional clarity. Classic gray granite is the most widely used headstone material in New Jersey, appropriate across all design styles from traditional to contemporary. Rose granite and mahogany granite are available for designs that call for warmth or individuality. Surface finishes — fully polished, honed, or rock-faced — are selected as part of the design process and confirmed against cemetery requirements.

Custom Design Process

Headstone Design Guide's complete design and production process covers every stage from consultation to installation. The design phase involves consultation and scaled proofing. The production phase involves material selection, hand-carving, and finishing. The installation phase involves foundation preparation, delivery, and setting at the cemetery — handled entirely by our own crew. Families have one point of contact, one team accountable for the complete process. This is how contemporary design standards and traditional craft combine at Headstone Design Guide. Modern in approach. Hand-carved in execution.

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Granite Headstone Design hand-carved by Headstone Design Guide in NJ — image 8
Granite Headstone Design hand-carved by Headstone Design Guide in NJ — image 9
Headstones process
Our Process

Our Hand-Carving Process

Headstone Design Guide's headstone design process follows a six-step sequence developed over 80 years of Morris County, NJ operation. Step one is consultation: a conversation at our Madison showroom or by phone to understand design preferences, the person being memorialized, and the cemetery's requirements. Step two is design proofing: our team produces a scaled proof — showing stone shape, surface, inscription layout, and all imagery — for the family to review and approve. No carving begins before approval. Step three is material selection: American-made granite is chosen by color and finish and confirmed against the cemetery's rules. Step four is hand-carving: craftsmen in our Morris County workshop execute every element of the approved design by hand. Letters are cut with chisels. Portraits are engraved by experienced hand engravers. Symbols and decorative elements are carved in relief. Step five is finishing and inspection: the completed stone is surface-treated and reviewed by a senior craftsman before leaving the workshop. Step six is installation: our team handles foundation preparation, coordinates with the cemetery, and sets the stone. Clean. Direct. Hand-made in America.

Headstones memorial installed in NJ
Voices

What Families Say

New Jersey families have entrusted us with their memorials for three generations.

“The design proof was exactly what we had imagined, and the carved stone was even better. The detail on the portrait was extraordinary. This is the kind of craft that is rare today.” — Carol, Essex County NJ
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question here, call us.

How long does it take to design and install a headstones?

From consultation to installed stone, most headstone designs take eight to twelve weeks. Portrait engravings and companion stones may take twelve to sixteen weeks. A timeline is confirmed with the design approval.

Do you serve cemeteries throughout New Jersey?

Yes. We install at cemeteries in all 14 New Jersey counties. Our team handles all foundation work and cemetery coordination.

Are your memorials cemetery-compliant?

Yes. Every design proof is built within the specific cemetery's requirements, confirmed before production begins.

Can I bring my own design or photo?

Yes. Photographs, sketches, and reference images are the starting point for many designs. Portrait engravings from family photos are a standard service.

Do you offer veteran companion markers?

Yes. Veteran companion marker designs — including service branch symbols and appropriate inscriptions — are a regular part of our design portfolio.

What languages do you serve families in?

Yes — English, Russian, and Polish.

Showroom & Gallery

See Headstone Designs in Person

Browse a few of the stones we have set, then come visit us in person. Sample stones, finishes, and lettering are all on display.

Headstone Design Guide Madison, NJ 07940
Get directions
Headstones · Serving all of New Jersey

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

We serve families across Morris, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson counties and all of New Jersey. Fill out the form, drop by the showroom, or call us. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Request Your Free Consultation

A specialist contacts you within one business day. House calls available across Morris County and the surrounding region.

Or call (201) 297-4344