Prices, published

How much does a tombstone cost in South Africa?

Short answer: a granite headstone and base runs from about R3,900 to R9,000 installed, and a complete set that finishes the whole grave in granite starts around R17,000. Here is what sits behind those numbers, and what we charge.

Eastern Cape prices, 2026. We serve Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Flagstaff and Mthatha.

What a memorial costs, by type

Typical installed prices in 2026. Exhale Memorials prices are shown in the right-hand column.

Type	What it is	Typical range	Our price
Grave marker	A small stone carrying the name and dates, laid or set at the head of the grave	R2,000 – R4,000	from R2,000
Headstone and base	The upright inscribed stone on a granite base. The rest of the grave stays open ground	R3,900 – R9,000	from R3,900
Complete set	Headstone, base, slab covering the grave and kerbing framing it — the whole grave finished in granite	R17,000 – R30,000	from R17,000
Double memorial	A single memorial covering two graves, usually a husband and wife	R25,000 upwards	on request
Added inscription	A further name and dates cut into an existing stone	R900 – R2,500	on request
Grave restoration	Cleaning, re-levelling and re-lettering an older memorial	R1,500 – R6,000	on request

All our prices include delivery and installation within Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Flagstaff and Mthatha. There is no separate transport charge and no charge for the inscription layout.

What actually drives the price

Four things, in roughly this order of impact.

1. How much granite is in it

This is most of the answer. A headstone and base uses a fraction of the stone that a complete set does, and granite is sold by volume. If two quotes differ by a large amount, the first thing to compare is how much of the grave each one covers, not the design.

2. Whether the grave is finished or just marked

A headstone leaves the grave itself as open ground, which means it will need weeding and re-levelling for years. A slab and kerbing close the grave, which is why many families choose to do it once rather than twice.

3. Stone, colour and finish

Imported colours and mirror-polished finishes cost more than local granite. We do not sell cheap imported stone, so this affects our range less than it affects some quotes you will see.

4. Where the stone is made, and how far it travels

Most memorials sold in this region are manufactured in Queenstown, Port Shepstone or Mthatha and freighted in, one stone per order. That freight is in the price whether or not it appears as a line item.

Why almost nobody publishes prices

Because most memorial work is made to order. A bespoke stone genuinely cannot be priced before the size, design and inscription are settled, so the honest answer for those companies is “request a quote”.

We can publish ours for one reason: we keep a fixed range of finished stones standing in our yard. Nothing is customised, so nothing needs quoting. You can see the stone, read the price, and know both before you speak to anyone.

How long it takes

A stone ordered from a manufacturer in another town generally takes six to eight days to make, plus delivery. Over the December holidays it takes considerably longer, because the large manufacturers close from around 20 December to the middle of January.

Because we hold finished stones in Lusikisiki, a stone chosen off our yard is installed within three days of your deposit and approved inscription proof. That matters most for families who have travelled home for a short time and need the work done before they leave.

When to buy, and the ground settling

A grave settles for six to twelve months after a burial as the fill compacts. A heavy memorial set on ground that has not settled can tilt or sink, which is the practical reason most families wait roughly a year, and why unveilings usually fall around the first anniversary.

If you want something on the grave before then, a marker that can be lifted and re-levelled is the sensible choice, with the full memorial installed once the ground is firm.

Paying for it

We work on a deposit and balance: the deposit secures the stone and starts the work, the balance is due on installation. Payment is by EFT or bank deposit. We will never encourage a family to commit to more than they can comfortably carry — if the complete set is out of reach this year, a headstone now and the slab later is a perfectly normal way to do it.

Questions families ask us

Is the inscription included in the price?

Yes. Names, dates and a short message are included. There is no separate lettering charge and no charge for laying out the wording.

Can I see the stone before I pay?

Yes. The stones stand in our yard on the main road at the entrance to Lusikisiki, and you are welcome to walk through it. If you are away from home, we will send photographs and video of the actual stone, or walk the yard with you on a video call.

Do you install at any cemetery?

We install across Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Flagstaff and Mthatha, in municipal cemeteries and on family land. Some cemeteries require permission before a memorial is placed — we will tell you if yours does.

What if the stone settles or shifts?

Tell us and we will come and re-level it. Ground moves; that is not the family's problem to solve.