Last updated: July 19, 2026

When people ask about headstone types, they usually mean the shape of the stone: the top edge, the overall silhouette, the carved figures and the marker format. This guide walks through the main shapes we design and shape in Markham, with real examples from our own work, so you can picture what suits your family. It also covers the step families miss most often: the cemetery usually decides which shapes and sizes are allowed before you choose anything.

At a glance

Top shapes: serpentine, half-ogee, flat, oval, apex and flame.
Custom silhouettes: heart, cross, book and teardrop shapes, cut to order.
Angel and statue monuments: carved angels and full statues that form the memorial itself.
Carved flowers such as roses and lilies, shape carved or cut in full relief.
Pagoda and Asian-style monuments for Chinese and other East Asian traditions.
Companion and family monuments for more than one person.
First step: confirm what your cemetery allows before you choose a shape.

Top shapes of an upright headstone

An upright headstone (also called a monument or standing marker) has two parts: the die, the vertical tablet that carries the engraving, and the base it sits on. The shape of the top edge is the first thing most people picture, and it sets the whole tone of the memorial.

Light grey granite serpentine top headstone with a carved cross and roses — A traditional serpentine top.

Black granite headstone with a half-ogee top — A half-ogee (Half-OG) top in black granite.

Blue Pearl granite headstone with a peaked apex top and carved cross — A peaked apex top in Blue Pearl granite.

Serpentine. A soft S-curve across the top edge. A traditional top shape that feels distinctive without being plain.
Half-ogee (Half-OG). A single sweeping S-curve on one shoulder, a little more modern than a full serpentine.
Flat and oval. A straight, clean top reads modern; a smooth oval or camber top feels balanced and gentle.
Apex and peaked. Shaped shoulders that rise to a point, a more formal, upright look.
Flame and irregular. A natural, one-sided or rough-cut edge for a softer, less formal shape.

The colour of the granite changes the character of every shape above. If you are weighing colours, our guide to granite headstone colours shows the full range side by side. To see a serpentine top set against a fully custom shape, read our serpentine and custom headstone comparison.

Heart-shaped monuments

The heart is one of the most requested custom shapes, cut as a single heart for one person or a double heart for a couple.

Indian Red granite single heart-shaped headstone — A single heart in Indian Red granite.

Light grey granite double heart-shaped headstone — A stacked double heart.

Grey granite double heart-shaped headstone with two joined hearts — A double heart in grey granite.

Hearts pair naturally with carved roses or an angel, and they can be set upright or on a slant base. For couples, a double heart carries two names side by side.

Cross-shaped monuments

A cross can be carved onto the face of a stone, or the whole stone can be cut into the form of a cross. We shape several traditions of cross.

Black granite upright monument with a budded cross, carved medallion and ivy — A budded cross with a carved medallion.

Indian Red granite cross-shaped monument with a polished finish — A cross-shaped stone in Indian Red granite.

Black granite cross-shaped family monument with carved roses and praying hands — A cross-shaped family monument in black granite.

Cross-shaped stone. The whole monument cut in the form of a cross, a strong statement of faith.
Celtic cross. A cross with a ring around the intersection and the arms reaching beyond it, often with woven knotwork.
Orthodox and Armenian crosses. The three-bar cross, most associated with Russian and other Slavic Orthodox traditions, and the Armenian khachkar-style cross with its geometric and plant motifs.

Book monuments

A book shape suits a longer inscription or a passage of scripture. It can be carved as an open book across a slant base, or as a closed, standing book.

Light grey granite open book headstone with vases — An open book with flower vases.

Blue Pearl granite closed book headstone — A closed, standing book in Blue Pearl granite.

Blue Pearl granite open book headstone on a slant base — An open book in Blue Pearl granite.

Angel monuments

The angel is the most requested carved figure, and one of the most detailed pieces we design. An angel can hold a heart, kneel in prayer, or spread its wings around the die.

Grey granite double angel monument holding a carved heart — Two angels holding a heart.

A carved angel embracing a heart.

An angel resting on a heart.

Angels pair naturally with a heart, carved roses or a cross, in grey or black granite, and can be set on any base.

Statue monuments

Beyond angels, a full statue can form the memorial, such as a carved figure of the Virgin Mary set against the stone. Carved figures and symbols can be applied by several methods, which our guide to monument engraving methods explains.

Bahama Blue granite headstone with a carved statue — A carved statue set against the stone.

Granite monument with carved statues of Jesus and Mary — Carved figures set against the stone.

Carved flowers: roses and lilies

What a carved flower means is not fixed. A rose is widely associated with love and beauty, and a lily with purity, innocence or resurrection, but these associations vary between families and traditions. Some families choose a flower for what it stands for. Others choose it because the person loved it. How the flower is cut matters as much as which one you choose.

Silver Bronze granite headstone with a rose carved in relief — A rose carved in relief at the shoulder.

Paradiso granite headstone with sculpted calla lilies — Sculpted calla lilies running up the side.

Dark granite shaped monument with a sculpted rose spray carved in deep relief — A sculpted rose spray on a shaped monument.

Rose. Widely associated with love and beauty. It can be cut at the shoulder or in a corner of the stone.
Calla lily. Associated with purity, innocence or resurrection. Its long stem suits the side of an upright monument.
Sandblasted, shape carved or relief carved. A sandblasted flower is cut flat into the face. Shape carving is still sandblasting, worked in layers so the petals take on soft, rounded shapes that stay close to the surface. Relief carving goes further and lifts the flower into true three dimensions, so it catches light and shadow. See how each engraving method is done.

Pagoda and Asian-style monuments

For Chinese and other East Asian families we shape pagoda monuments with tiered rooflines, bamboo borders and engraved characters. Larger versions can commemorate more than one family member, and some are built as columbaria with niches for cremated remains.

Indian Red granite pagoda monument with carved bamboo columns — A pagoda monument with bamboo columns.

Black granite wing pagoda companion monument with gold-leaf bamboo, doves and a cross — A wing pagoda monument with gold-leaf bamboo and doves.

Indian Red granite Chinese monument with carved dragon and phoenix on ball capped wings — A Chinese wing monument with carved dragon and phoenix.

A pagoda monument with carved lotus flowers.

We engrave in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese and confirm the exact characters with each family. The same care carries into our Chinese urn engraving.

Teardrop, diamond and one-of-a-kind shapes

Beyond the standard forms, the whole stone can be cut into almost any silhouette. These are where a memorial becomes personal.

Black granite teardrop-shaped headstone with carved birds — A teardrop with carved birds.

Black granite diamond-shaped headstone — A diamond shape.

Light grey granite teddy bear shaped children's headstone — A teddy bear for a child’s memorial.

Teardrops, diamonds, shells, guitars and children’s shapes such as a teddy bear are all possible, within what the stone, the budget and the cemetery allow.

Companion and family monuments

A companion monument is a wider stone made for two people. A family monument can carry several names, and some are built as columbaria with niches that hold cremated remains together.

Black granite family columbarium with a laser etched scene and columns — A family columbarium with a laser etched scene.

Indian Red granite family monument with ten names in English and Chinese, grape vine corners and a carved cross — A family monument carrying several names.

Many of these shapes can be adapted to a companion width. See our custom monument service for family and multi-piece designs.

Marker types: upright, flat, bevel, slant and bronze

“Headstone” and “grave marker” are often used to mean the same thing, but the marker format matters as much as the shape, and cemeteries frequently allow only one. Upright, flat, bevel and slant describe the profile of the stone; bronze describes the material, a cast plaque that is usually mounted on a granite base. Here is how the main grave marker types compare.

Type	Profile	Visibility	Best for
Upright monument	Stands tall on a base	Seen from a distance	Full inscriptions, carved shapes and symbols
Flat marker	Flush with the ground	Read from directly above	Lawn-level cemetery sections; simple, tidy memorials
Bevel marker	Low, raised slightly at the back	Read from close by	A middle ground between flat and slant
Slant marker	Angled front face	Read while standing	Easy reading without the height of a full upright
Bronze marker	Cast bronze plaque, usually on a granite base	Read from close by	Cemeteries that require bronze; lasting metal lettering

Explore each format on its own page: flat markers, bevel and slant markers, and bronze markers. If you are deciding between an upright headstone and a flat marker, our guide to granite headstone vs flat marker compares the two in detail.

Faith and cultural traditions

Many of the memorials we design carry the marks of a specific faith or community. This is some of the work we are proudest of, because it asks for both craftsmanship and care.

An Armenian khachkar-style cross.

Paradiso granite serpentine top headstone with a Persian-language inscription and carved doves — A memorial with a Persian-language inscription.

Black granite ogee top monument with a Celtic cross, shamrocks and an Irish harp — An Irish design with a Celtic cross, shamrocks and a harp.

Chinese. Engraved characters, phoenix and dragon panels, bamboo borders and pagoda forms.
Orthodox, Armenian and Celtic Christian. The three-bar Slavic Orthodox cross, the Armenian khachkar-style cross, and the ringed Celtic cross.
Irish. Shamrocks, Celtic bands and harps.
Jewish. The Star of David and Hebrew lettering.
Persian-language and Armenian-language inscriptions, and other family emblems, carved to order.

How to choose a headstone type (and check the cemetery first)

Before you settle on a shape, confirm what the cemetery allows. Many cemeteries divide their grounds into sections: some permit full upright monuments, while others are lawn-level and allow flat markers only. There are often limits on height, width and even colour. A design the cemetery cannot accept means delays, a redesign, or added cost, so this is the first call to make, not the last.

Once you know the format, the choice becomes easier:

Want it seen from across the grounds? Choose an upright monument, and a serpentine or apex top for a traditional feel.
In a lawn-level section? A flat, bevel or bronze marker.
Want something personal? A custom shape such as a heart, cross, book or teardrop, with a symbol that carries meaning for your family.

Cost varies with the shape, the granite and the amount of carving. Our monument cost guide for Ontario breaks down the ranges, and our GTA cemetery guide covers plot and installation details across the region. To start a design, see our upright headstones and monuments.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of headstones?

The main formats are upright monuments, flat markers, bevel markers, slant markers and bronze markers. Within the upright form, the top can be serpentine, half-ogee, flat, oval or apex, and the whole stone can be cut into a custom shape such as a heart, cross, book or teardrop.

What is a serpentine top?

A serpentine top is a gentle S-curve along the upper edge of an upright headstone. It has a traditional look without being plain.

Can I order a custom shape like a heart, cross or book?

Yes. We design and shape custom monuments in Markham, including hearts, crosses, books, teardrops, pagodas, angels and personal designs. The main limit is what suits the stone and what the cemetery permits.

What is the difference between a headstone and a marker?

An upright headstone or monument stands tall on a base and is seen from a distance. A marker, whether flat, bevel, slant or bronze, sits low to the ground. Many cemeteries allow only one of these formats in a given section.

Do cemeteries limit which headstone types I can use?

Often, yes. Many cemeteries restrict height, width, colour and whether a section allows upright monuments or flat markers only. Always confirm the rules with the cemetery before you finalize a design.