How to set a memorial stone in the garden so it stays level for years
Dig a hole the size of the stone plus an inch or two all round, fill the bottom with 2 to 4 inches of compacted crushed gravel and an inch of sand, then bed the stone in and level it. That base drains water and stops frost and settling from tipping the stone. Most garden markers take an afternoon.
By the Pet Memorial Stones & Garden Markers editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 6 min read · Sources
- Tools and materials list for a garden marker
- Flush, tilted and upright stones: what changes
- Setting over a grave without disturbing it
The short answer
Why can't you just lay the stone on the grass?
Grass and topsoil are soft and hold water. A stone laid on them sinks unevenly as the ground gets wet and dries out, frost lifts it in winter, and the lawn slowly grows over its edges. Within a couple of years a lovely stone can be tilted and half-hidden.
A gravel base fixes all three problems. Water drains through it instead of pooling under the stone, it doesn't compress much once it's tamped, and it gives the stone a flat, firm bed. It's the same principle used under patios and paths, just on a small scale.
Before you start
What tools and materials do you need?
- A flat spade and a half-moon edger (or a sharp spade) to cut neat turf edges.
- Crushed gravel or paver base, the angular kind that locks together. Pea gravel is round and shifts; avoid it for the base.
- Coarse sand or fine stone dust for the top layer.
- A hand tamper, or a short length of thick timber, to compact the gravel.
- A spirit level, at least as long as the stone is wide.
- A rubber mallet to tap the stone down without chipping it.
- Gloves, and a second person for anything heavier than about 20 lb.
Most of this costs little from a garden center, and you'll often need less than one bag of each for a small marker. Check the stone's size first; the memorial stone planner helps if you haven't chosen a size yet. Before you dig even a shallow hole, contact 811, the free US before-you-dig service, so buried cables and pipes are marked first.
Step by step
How do you set a flush memorial stone?
A flush stone sits level with the lawn so a mower can pass over it. It's the most common way to set a pet marker, and the easiest.
- Mark the outline. Lay the stone where you want it and cut around it with the edger, adding about an inch on every side.
- Lift the turf. Slice it off in one piece if you can; you may want some to patch around the edges later.
- Dig to depth. The hole should equal the stone's thickness, plus 2 to 4 inches for gravel and about an inch for sand. Keep the bottom flat.
- Add and compact the gravel. Spread it in one or two layers, tamping each firmly. It should feel solid underfoot.
- Add the sand. Spread an inch and smooth it roughly flat with a piece of wood.
- Place the stone. Lower it in gently, keeping fingers clear. Check it with the level both ways.
- Adjust. Tap high corners down with the mallet; lift and add sand under low ones. Aim for the face to sit just a few millimeters above the soil so water runs off.
- Fill the edges. Pack sand or fine soil into the gap around the stone and water it in. Top up the next day if it settles.
Free tool
Memorial stone planner
Plan size, material and engraving length so your wording fits the stone.
Variations
What changes for tilted, upright and natural stones?
| Stone type | Base | Key tip |
|---|---|---|
| Flush flat marker | 2–4 in compacted gravel plus 1 in sand | Set just proud of the soil so water runs off |
| Tilted (bevel) marker | As flush, but deeper at the back | Check the tilt with the level on the base, not the angled face |
| Small upright stone | Deeper gravel; set a third of its height below ground | Tall or heavy uprights need a concrete footing |
| Natural river rock | A scooped hollow with gravel | Turn it until it sits without rocking before backfilling |
| Stone with ashes compartment | As flush or upright, with access to the cavity | Seal the compartment before setting; check if it opens from below |
For uprights taller than about 18 inches, or heavy granite headstones, a concrete footing and a professional installer are sensible. Upright granite pet headstones run $258–$628[1] at one retailer and can be heavy enough to hurt someone if they topple, so it's worth doing properly. The National Park Service's advice on resetting upright headstones is written for veterans' stones, but its principle carries over: in poorly drained soil, add a tamped layer of sand and small sharp gravel under the stone.
On a grave
Can you set a stone directly over your pet's grave?
Yes, with two cautions. First, a fresh grave settles as the soil beneath compacts, often by several inches over the first months. A stone set straight away will sink with it. Many families place a temporary marker and set the permanent stone once the ground has stopped moving.
Second, keep the stone's base shallow. The base only needs to be a few inches deep, well above the grave itself. Pet graves should be deep enough to keep wildlife away; for comparison, England requires registered pet cemeteries to bury at least 0.5 m deep[2]. If you're unsure how deep your pet was buried, set the stone at the head of the grave rather than over its center.
Home graves are common: 34.9%[3] of US owners in one survey said home burial was their preferred choice for a future pet. If your pet was cremated, you can bury a small urn or container a little deeper than the stone's base, right beneath it; the urn size calculator estimates how much space the ashes need. You can compare your own plan with other readers' in the live poll results.
Where would your pet's stone go?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Doing it yourself
Should you set the stone yourself or pay someone?
A small garden stone is a very achievable DIY job, and many families find doing it together meaningful. Pay for help if the stone is heavy, upright and tall, on a slope, or going into a pet cemetery, where staff usually set markers themselves. As reference points, one public cemetery district charges $130[4] to set a pet marker, and an Oregon pet cemetery lists engraving with placement at $600[5].
If you're still ordering, remember that made-to-order granite markers typically take 2–4 weeks[6] (per one large retailer), so there's time to prepare the base in advance. Flat granite markers start from $157.95[7] at one national retailer. Our buying checklist covers delivery checks before the stone goes in, and our winter memorials guide explains why it's wiser to wait for the thaw before setting anything in frozen ground. By our estimate, flat or photo granite markers start around $158 to $160[8] across two US sellers, so a professional setting fee can add most of the stone's price again.
Afterwards
How do you keep a newly set stone level?
- Check it after the first heavy rain and top up any sand that has washed out.
- Look again after the first winter; a little frost movement is normal on new bases.
- Keep grass trimmed back from the edges so it doesn't creep over the face.
- If it tilts, lift it, rake and re-tamp the base, add a little gravel and reset it.
For cleaning and longer-term care, see our guide to placing and maintaining a memorial stone. Frost depth and soil vary a lot by region; your local page has notes for your area.
An afternoon with a spade and a level is a quiet kind of care. The stone will sit straight for years because you took your time.
If you'd like a stone that's easy to set, tell us about the spot and we'll reply by email with options from makers who deliver to your area, and some who install. See all stone types too.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Where would your pet's stone go?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you moved house, what would happen to the memorial?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
If you had to decide today, which aftercare would you choose for your pet?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
How deep should I dig to set a memorial stone?
For a flush garden marker, dig to the stone's thickness plus about 3 to 5 inches: 2 to 4 inches for compacted crushed gravel and about an inch of sand. Upright stones need deeper bases, often with a third of their height below ground, and tall or heavy ones need a concrete footing.
Should I use concrete to set a pet memorial stone?
Small flat markers don't need concrete; a compacted gravel and sand base is enough and lets you lift the stone later if you move. Concrete makes sense for tall upright stones or heavy headstones that could topple. Bear in mind that a stone set in concrete is much harder to take with you.
How long after burying my pet should I set the stone?
Many families wait until the grave soil has settled, which can take a few months, especially after wet weather. Setting too early means the stone may sink or tilt. A temporary marker, such as a paver or ring of pebbles, keeps the spot visible in the meantime.
What kind of gravel goes under a memorial stone?
Use crushed, angular gravel or paver base, which locks together when compacted. Round pea gravel rolls and shifts, so it's poor for a base, though it looks nice as a decorative surround. Top the crushed gravel with coarse sand or stone dust to bed the stone evenly.
Can I set a memorial stone in a flower bed?
Yes, and it's often easier than in a lawn, since you don't need to worry about mowing. Use the same gravel and sand base, and set the stone slightly above the mulch level so soil and bark don't wash onto the lettering. A tilted stone reads especially well among plants.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Upright granite pet headstones at Memorials.com run $257.95–$627.95. Memorials.com – Pet Memorial Stones, 2026.
- [2] In England, pet cemeteries must register with APHA (form AB 117) and bury animals at least 0.5 m deep, at least 250 m from drinking-water wells or springs. GOV.UK - Pet cemeteries: where you can build them and how to register, 2025.
- [3] Asked their preferred future after-death care, 40.4% of US owners chose traditional flame cremation and 34.9% home burial; 10.7% chose cemetery burial and 1.9% alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation). Cooney, Kogan, Brooks, Ellis - Pet Owners' Expectations for Pet End-of-Life Support and After-Death Body Care, Topics in Companion Animal Medicine (2020), 2020.
- [4] Rainier Cemetery District's pet section sells plots for $150 (small) and $200 (large), including the first burial; a marker-setting fee is $130. Rainier Cemetery District – The Companion Corner, 2026.
- [5] At Forest Pet Cemetery, a wooden casket costs $100, a memorial stone $250, and stone engraving with placement $600. The Forest Conservation Burial Ground – Pet Price List, 2026.
- [6] Made-to-order granite and bronze pet markers take 2–4 weeks to produce; garden and cultured stones ship in 3–5 business days. Memorials.com – Pet Memorial Stones, 2026.
- [7] Flat granite pet grave markers at Memorials.com start at $157.95. Memorials.com – Pet Memorial Stones, 2026.
- [8] Photo-etched or flat granite pet markers start at about $158–$160 at two US sellers. Our estimate: Memorials.com flat granite from $157.95; Comfort Co. photo granite from $159.99. How we calculate.
Need a stone to set? Get quotes
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.