Tell us about the stone you're picturing
Only about half of UK aftercare buyers remember being given clear price information (52%[1]). Send us a few details and we'll come back with written totals, proof steps and timings, so nothing is left vague.
- One short form, no phone calls unless you ask
- Prices in writing, including delivery and setting
- Your details go only to makers who can quote
Before you send
What to include so makers can quote accurately
You don't need to have everything decided. A quote is only as good as the details behind it, though, so the more of these you can share, the fewer emails back and forth it takes:
- The stone type, if you know it: granite marker, river rock, slate, photo stone, ashes stone, headstone or bench.
- Rough size, or where it goes ("over a cat's grave in a flower bed" is fine).
- The exact wording, with your pet's name spelled the way you want it carved.
- Whether you want a photo and if you have a sharp original to send later.
- Your town or ZIP/postcode, so we can find makers who deliver to you.
- Any cemetery rules you've been given, such as flush-only or maximum size.
- A date that matters, like a birthday or anniversary you'd like it in place for.
If the wording isn't settled, try it in the memorial stone planner first. It shows whether each line fits the size you're thinking of, so the maker doesn't have to shrink the letters to squeeze it in.
What happens next
What happens after you send your request
- We read your message and email you if anything needs clarifying, such as a line that's too long for the stone.
- We pass your request to makers or memorial suppliers who serve your area or ship to it.
- You receive options by email, each with a total price, what's included and a lead time.
- You pick one and deal with that maker directly, or you decide not to go ahead. Either is fine.
Once you're dealing with a maker, insist on a written proof before any stone is cut and check it letter by letter. Our stone buying checklist lists the other things worth agreeing in writing: size, thickness, finish, delivery and who sets it.
Two details that change quotes
If the stone will hold ashes or go in a pet cemetery
For a stone with an ashes compartment, tell us your pet's weight or the volume of the ashes. Cremated remains usually weigh around 3-5% of body weight[2], and the cavity has to be big enough, or the maker needs to know you only plan to place a portion. The urn size calculator gives you the number in cubic inches. A published study of 100 cremations found remains averaged about 3.5% of adult body weight, and pet crematories adapt that benchmark. Using the industry rule of about one cubic inch per pound, by our calculation a 12 lb cat needs roughly 12 cubic inches and a 70 lb dog about 70[3].
For a cemetery plot, send the cemetery's name and any written marker rules. Regulated pet cemeteries have their own standards; in England, for instance, they must register and meet depth and water-distance rules. Rules on markers vary even more, and our pet cemetery marker checklist covers the common ones.
0.5 m depth; 250 m from wells[4]
Working back from a date
If you want the stone in place for a birthday or anniversary
Plenty of people choose a date to aim for: the first anniversary, their pet's birthday, or the spring when the garden around the grave fills in. Tell us that date in your message. Makers can then say honestly whether it's realistic, rather than you discovering the delay after you've paid.
Work backwards from the day. Allow a few days for quotes, a week or so for you to approve the proof, then the maker's own lead time, which runs from about a week for an engraved river rock[5] to 2–4 weeks[6] for a made-to-order granite marker, and longer for a custom upright headstone. Add delivery, and a weekend to set the stone. If time is tight, a simple engraved rock can arrive quickly and the granite piece can follow later. Not sure what's typical? The live poll results show how other readers planned theirs.
Your details
How we handle your details and your pet's story
We use what you send only to answer your request. Makers receive the details they need to quote: the stone, the wording, your area and a way to reply. We don't sell your information, add you to unrelated mailing lists or publish anything you tell us about your pet.
If you'd rather makers didn't contact you directly, say so and we'll relay their options ourselves. You can also ask us to delete your request at any time. More about who we are and how we work is on our about page.
Being clear
What we can help with, and what we can't
We can help you choose a stone, check wording and sizes, understand cemetery and garden placement, and get quotes for engraved garden stones, grave markers, headstones, photo stones, ashes stones and benches. We can also point you to cremation or burial help if you haven't got that far yet. Our services overview lists each type with typical prices, and your local page covers climate and cemetery notes where you live.
We can't engrave, deliver or install anything ourselves, give legal advice on burying a pet on land you don't own, or promise a stone by a certain date; lead times belong to the maker. If you're finding the loss hard, you're far from alone: 56.7%[7] of bereaved owners in an RSPCA survey said they couldn't find the support they needed. Our post on remembering a pet outdoors while you wait has gentle ideas for the weeks before the stone arrives. In the US, Tufts University's pet loss helpline is free to call.
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.
What would you engrave besides your pet's name?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Would you want your pet's photo etched into the stone?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Did you (or would you) compare more than one provider?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Do I need to know exactly what stone I want before contacting you?
No. "Something for our rabbit's grave under the apple tree, under $100" is a perfectly good start. We'll suggest a couple of materials that suit that spot and budget, ask what you'd like written on it, and then gather quotes that match.
Will I get phone calls after I send the form?
We reply by email. If you'd prefer that makers also only use email, say so in your message and we'll pass that on, or relay their options ourselves. You only need to share a phone number if you'd like someone to call.
Can I send my pet's photo through the form?
Mention that you have one and we'll tell you where to send the original file once a maker is lined up. Photo stones need the highest-resolution version you have, ideally straight from the camera or phone gallery rather than a copy saved from social media.
Can you help me order a stone for a pet who died years ago?
Of course. Many people order a stone long after the loss, when they've moved, finally have the garden they wanted or simply feel ready. Tell us where the grave or ashes are now and we'll suggest options that suit that spot.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Only 52% of UK cremation buyers recalled receiving information on the price of the service and different packages. UK Competition and Markets Authority - Veterinary services for household pets, Provisional decision report Part A (Oct 2025), 2025.
- [2] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [3] Using the industry rule of thumb of 1 cubic inch of urn space per pound of body weight, a 12 lb cat needs an urn of about 12 cubic inches; a 70 lb dog needs about 70 cubic inches. Our estimate: urn cu in = body weight lb x 1 (industry rule of thumb, not a measured value). How we calculate.
- [4] 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.
- [5] Adirondack Stone Works says engraved pet stones arrive in about a week from ordering. Adirondack Stone Works Pet Memorials, 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] 56.7% of bereaved pet owners in the RSPCA survey could not find the support they needed. RSPCA — Pet Loss Survey Results, 2026.
Get written quotes for your pet's stone
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.