Pet grave markers and garden stones in Denver
Around 22,500 dogs and cats die in Denver each year, by our estimate. If yours was one of them, this guide covers which stones suit local weather, what they cost and where they can go.
- Stones matched to winters and summers in Denver
- Real published prices, not guesses
- Garden, cemetery or take-it-with-you options
Denver, Colorado
Stone makers, yards and delivery in Denver
Denver has a lively art scene, and many local studios make custom urns in pottery, wood or glass, alongside pendants, engraved stones and paw print castings. Small memorials fit easily into lofts and apartments. For a large animal, check with the provider on the likely volume of ashes before you order a vessel, since it can be several times what a small pet returns.
Many Denver owners think of the Rockies, Red Rocks or a favorite hike in the foothills when they imagine scattering ashes. State and national lands have their own policies, so look them up before you go and choose a quiet place away from water sources. A biodegradable urn with a pine or aspen seedling in your yard can also make a meaningful memorial.
Delivery is the practical snag in a dense city. A 16 x 8 inch granite marker weighs close to 40 lb, and heavier pieces usually travel by freight, which may mean curbside drop-off only. If you're up several flights of stairs in Denver, ask whether the carrier will bring it inside, or choose a lighter river rock or slate plaque that a parcel service can handle.
Denver is home to about 740,613 people, the largest of the 36 Colorado communities we cover.
For a second opinion on price, Lakewood (5 miles), Englewood (6 miles) and Wheat Ridge (7 miles) are close enough that their providers cover Denver routinely. Two written quotes tell you more than any price list.
Our estimate
275,000
Estimated dog- or cat-owning households in Denver
How we calculated this
740,613 ÷ 2.5 = 296,245 households; × 53% (dog) + 39% (cat) = 275,000. A household with several pets counts once.
Our estimate
22,500
Estimated dog and cat losses in Denver each year
How we calculated this
275,000 dog/cat-owning homes ÷ average lifespan (dog: 12.69 yrs + cat: 11.18 yrs) ≈ 22,500 a year. Treat it as a minimum.
53%[1]
53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households.
12.69 years[2]
US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years.
39%[3]
39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households.
11.18 years[4]
US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years.
To check the figures yourself, see Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science and American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry.
Grave or ashes? The local habit in Colorado
In high-cremation places such as Colorado, with 77.4%[5] of human deaths ending in cremation, a pet stone often stands in for a grave that never existed. That can matter more than people expect. Having a fixed place to go on an anniversary, even a small stone in a flower bed, gives grief a destination that an urn on a shelf sometimes doesn't.
For the Colorado figure we rely on NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). Read it as a picture of local custom around death and remembrance in Denver rather than as pet data.
Which stones survive the weather in Denver
Engraving depth matters most where winters are long. In Denver, with freezing lows through January, February, March, November and December, ice sits in shallow letters and slowly softens their edges. Ask for sandblasted lettering at least an eighth of an inch deep on granite, avoid painted-only designs, and read our guide to outdoor stone grade and engraving depth before you order.
With 5 months of freezing lows in Denver, frost heave is as big a risk as cracking. Wet soil expands as it freezes and can tilt a stone set directly on the ground. Set yours on 3 to 4 inches of compacted gravel so water drains away, and choose a flat, wide marker over a tall narrow one. Our cold-weather memorial notes go further.
Stone, engraving and setting: the real prices
In Denver, as anywhere in the US, the engraving can cost as much as the stone. Monument engravers who charge by the letter typically ask $8–$35/char[6], and a standard 40 to 60 character inscription can total $500 to $1,200 at those rates[6]. Small online pet stones usually include a few lines of text in the price, which is why they look so much cheaper.
We keep the detailed Colorado price table on one page so it stays current: see Colorado prices.
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Where a pet stone can go in Colorado
Burying a pet on land that belongs to someone else, such as a parent's farm or a friend's garden, needs the owner's clear agreement, and it's wise to note the spot for whoever owns the land next. The stone itself is usually the easy part. Our local notes on burial and scattering in Colorado follow.
For what Denver itself says, see City and County of Denver. Its pages cover municipal collection; a private cremation is arranged separately. The official Colorado local government directory lists every county and city office, which is the quickest way to find who to ask in Denver.
For Colorado's rules on burying a pet at home or scattering ashes, see the Colorado guide. Local rules in Denver can be stricter than the state's, especially in homeowners' associations and rentals.
Ordering a pet memorial stone, step by step
- Check the rules before you buy. Pet cemeteries usually have their own limits on markers, so ask first; for a stone at home, read your lease or HOA covenants.
- Measure the space. Write down how wide the bed is, which way the mower runs and the angle you'll most often view it from.
- Pick a size and style: flush for lawns, raised for beds, upright for a traditional headstone, or hollow if it will hold ashes.
- Choose a photo if you want one. Use the original file, in daylight, with your pet's face filling most of the frame.
- Compare a local monument company with an online maker. Ask each for the stone type, lettering depth, lead time and total price.
- Plan delivery and lifting. A granite stone can weigh enough that the freight driver leaves it at the roadside, so have a second pair of hands or a dolly ready.
Keeping the memory close
Hail, sun and repeated freezing and thawing are hard on outdoor memorials along the Front Range. Solid granite, flagstone or metal markers hold up far better than painted wood or resin. If you rent, a large pot with a hardy perennial and a small engraved stone keeps the memorial movable. Placing the marker where it gets afternoon shade also slows fading.
or see how other readers answered in our polls, run the numbers with the free planning tools, the guides answer the longer questions and the blog the newer ones, Every option Denver families choose between is on the services page. If you live between Denver and Thornton, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Lakewood, either page applies. Every other community in Colorado, and all of the United States, is listed 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.
If you moved house, what would happen to the memorial?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
What feels like the right amount to spend on a garden stone?
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.
Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Memorial stone planner
Plan size, material and engraving length so your wording fits the stone.
Memorial tree finder
Pick a tree for a planting urn that suits your climate, space and pet.
Questions people ask
Roughly how many pets die in Denver each year?
Our estimate is around 22,500. It comes from Denver's population (about 740,613), the average household size, the share of homes with a dog or cat (about 275,000 households here) and the average lifespan. It is arithmetic, not a count, so read it as a rough floor.
When is the hardest time of year to arrange a burial in Denver?
January, February, March, November and December: average lows are below freezing then, and frozen ground makes a home grave slow or impossible until it thaws. The other pressure point is July, when highs around 90°F mean a body needs cooling and collecting quickly.
Which nearby towns can I compare with Denver?
The closest communities we cover are Lakewood (about 5 miles), Englewood (about 6 miles) and Wheat Ridge (about 7 miles). Providers based in those places often serve Denver too. Ask each one for a written total that includes collection, so the distance is priced in.
Is cremation common in Colorado?
For people, yes: about 77.4%[5] of Colorado deaths end in cremation, according to NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage) (2024). Nobody publishes the same figure for pets, but in our experience pet choices in Denver follow the human pattern closely, so cremation is the default most families here start from.
How heavy is a granite pet grave marker?
Granite weighs roughly 165 to 170 lb per cubic foot, so a 12 x 6 inch marker 2 inches thick weighs about 14 lb, and a 16 x 8 inch marker 3 inches thick is close to 40 lb. Upright headstones with a base can weigh well over 100 lb. Heavier pieces usually ship by freight and may be delivered to the curb only.
Can I bury my pet in my backyard in Denver and put a stone on it?
In many places you can bury a pet on land you own, with rules about depth and distance from water, but cities and homeowners' associations can be stricter. Check the local notes on this page and your HOA rules. A stone marking the grave rarely needs any permission of its own once the burial itself is allowed.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] 53% of US households own a dog, which is about 71 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [2] US dogs have an average life expectancy at birth of 12.69 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [3] 39% of US households own a cat, which is about 53 million households. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [4] US cats seen at Banfield hospitals have an average life expectancy at birth of 11.18 years. Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science - Banfield Pet Hospital life expectancy tables (13.3 million dogs, 2.4 million cats, 2013-2019), 2023.
- [5] The NFDA projected Colorado's cremation rate at 77.4% for 2024. NFDA 2024 Cremation & Burial Report state projections (via Occasional Sage), 2024.
- [6] Headstone engravers charge $8–$35 per character; a standard 40–60 character inscription totals $500–$1,200. Memorials.com – Headstone Engraving Cost, 2026.
- [7] 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.
Get memorial stone quotes for Denver
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.