Red Granite Headstones
Red granite brings a warm, natural richness that sets a memorial apart from the rows of gray around it, and its speckled grain ages gracefully for generations. Fram Monument has hand-carved memorials for families across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia since 1922, checking every design against your cemetery's requirements before it's carved.
Popular red granite varieties
Fram Monument works with several quarried red granites, from bright, lively reds to deep, brown-toned mahoganies. Your design consultant can show you physical samples of each.
Imperial Red
A classic, vivid red with a medium grain and dark mineral flecks. One of the most requested red granites for traditional upright monuments.
Ruby Red
A deeper, more saturated red with a fairly even pattern. Takes a high polish and gives a rich, jewel-toned finish.
Dakota Mahogany
An American granite from South Dakota with a warm reddish-brown tone and bold black grain. A timeless choice for family monuments.
Balmoral Red
A Finnish granite with a fine, consistent grain and a bright, warm red color. Known for its uniform look and excellent polish.
Types of red granite memorials
Every shape below can be carved in Imperial Red, Ruby Red, Dakota Mahogany, or Balmoral Red. Your cemetery's rules usually decide which ones are allowed on your plot.
Upright Headstones & Memorials
A tall, freestanding monument set on a base. Shows off the most of red granite's color and grain, and reads as the most traditional, prominent option.
Slant Headstones
An angled face set on a base, low to the ground but still easy to read from a standing position. A middle ground between an upright monument and a flat marker.
Flat Headstones
Set flush with the ground. Often required in memorial garden sections, and red granite helps a flat marker stand out against the grass.
Bevel (Pillow) Grave Markers
Sits low like a flat marker but with a gently angled top edge, giving a bit more presence and lettering surface while still meeting most memorial garden rules.
Single Grave Markers
Sized for one plot and one name. The most economical red granite option, available in upright, slant, flat, or bevel form.
Double / Companion Grave Markers
One memorial placed over two adjoining plots, with both names on a single stone. Many families order one name now and add the second later.
Ledger Markers
A large flat slab sized to cover most or all of a single plot, used in some older or historic cemetery sections in place of a smaller flat marker.
Veteran & Military Markers
Service branch emblem, flag, and rank details carved into red granite, often paired with a civilian design for a spouse on a companion marker.
Family Estate Monuments
A larger central monument paired with matching individual markers, built for a family plot with three or more burials.
Carved & Sculpted Designs
Shape-carved roses, crosses, hearts, and hand-carved panels. The contrast between polished and rock-pitched red granite gives carved details real depth.
The advantages of red granite
Warm, Distinctive Color
Red granite stands apart in a cemetery of gray stones, giving a memorial a personal, welcoming presence that is easy to find on every visit.
Hides Everyday Wear
Its speckled, multi-tone grain disguises water spots, dust, and pollen far better than solid black, so it looks clean between visits.
Built to Last
Red granite is a hard, dense stone that stands up to rain, sun, and freeze-thaw cycles, keeping its color and shape for generations.
Beautiful Finish Contrast
Polished, honed, and rock-pitched finishes each bring out a different shade of red, so one stone can carry several textures in a single design.
How much does a red granite headstone cost?
Because every Fram Monument headstone is custom designed and hand carved in house, we quote each family individually rather than publishing a fixed price list. Red granite generally runs somewhat above standard gray granite, with imported varieties at the higher end; here are typical ranges by marker type.
| Marker Type | Typical Size | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Single Upright Monument | 24"–36" W × 20"–24" H | $3,500 – $6,000 |
| Double / Companion Upright Monument | 36"–48" W × 24"–30" H | $5,500 – $8,000+ |
| Single Slant Marker | 20"–24" W × 12"–14" H | $2,200 – $3,200 |
| Double / Companion Slant Marker | 28"–36" W × 14"–18" H | $3,200 – $4,800+ |
| Single Flat / Grave Marker | 16"×8" – 24"×12" | $1,500 – $2,800 |
| Double / Companion Flat Marker | 24"×12" – 36"×12" | $3,000 – $4,800+ |
| Single Bevel (Pillow) Marker | 16"–24" W × 4" thick | $1,800 – $2,800 |
| Double / Companion Bevel Marker | 28"–36" W × 4"–6" thick | $2,800 – $4,200+ |
This table is a general guide only. Your exact price depends on granite variety, size, and personalization, and will be confirmed by a design consultant.
Making inscriptions stand out on red granite
Red granite's warm, speckled surface looks best with lettering that contrasts in texture as well as color. Sandblasted letters frost to a soft pinkish gray against the polished red, and a few finishing choices make them even easier to read:
- Full name and birth & death years, or dates left blank to add later
- Deep V-cut or sandblasted lettering for crisp, lasting shadow lines
- Black, white, or gold-filled lettering for extra visibility at a distance
- Carved roses, crosses, hearts, or panels with rock-pitched edges
- Religious, military, or fraternal symbols placed above or beside the name
Your design consultant will proof the full layout with you, including a sample of how lettering and carving will look against your chosen red granite before anything is carved.
From consultation to installation
Consultation
Meet a design consultant in person at our Annapolis, Baltimore, or Rockville showroom, or schedule a virtual consultation, and view red granite samples.
Design & Proofing
Our in-house team designs your monument and walks you through a detailed proof before carving begins.
In-House Carving
Your headstone is carved entirely in our own facility, start to finish.
Installation
Our own crews set your monument at the cemetery and remain available for care and repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, yes. Red granite typically costs somewhat more than standard gray granite, and imported varieties like Balmoral Red sit at the higher end. The exact difference depends on the variety and size you choose.
No. The color in quality red granite comes from the minerals in the stone itself, not a surface treatment, so it holds its tone for generations. Avoid bleach, wire brushes, or pressure washing, which can dull the polish on any granite.
Yes. Red granites like Imperial Red, Dakota Mahogany, and Balmoral Red are hard, dense stones that hold up to weather and freeze-thaw cycles just as well as gray or black granite.
Very. Its speckled grain hides water spots, dust, and pollen better than solid black stone. An occasional rinse with clean water and a soft brush keeps it looking its best.
Laser etching shows the most detail on fine-grained black granite, so red granite is usually paired with sandblasted lettering and carved artwork instead. If you want a portrait, many families add a black granite inset or a ceramic photo to a red granite monument.
Yes. Many families pair a red granite die with a gray or black base, or use a contrasting inset panel for the name. Your design consultant can show you combinations during your consultation.
Most cemeteries do, but some older or historic sections restrict granite color or require stones to match nearby memorials. Fram Monument confirms your specific cemetery's requirements before production.
Reach out through the contact form on our site or call your nearest showroom. A design consultant will walk you through granite samples, styles, and next steps for your family.