Why Work With Us?

Foot Stone Grave Markers Dealer
in NJ

Hand-carved grave markers by Footstone Marker Guide — 80+ years in Morris County, NJ.

Grave Marker Specialists — Flat, flush & upright markers
Companion Grave Markers — Side-by-side memorial sets
Veteran Grave Markers — VA-compatible military markers
Custom Carving & Portrait — Hand-carved in Morris County
Marker Restoration — Refinish aged & weathered stone
Cemetery Compliance — Every marker meets cemetery rules
Foundation Installation — Below frost-line, level-set
American-Made Granite — Domestic & select imported stone
Custom Inscription Design — Lettering proofed before carving
Over 80 Years in NJ — Family-owned since 1945
All 14 NJ Counties — Statewide installation
Multilingual Service — English · Russian · Polish
Call (201) 439-8661Get a Free Consultation
Serving all of New Jersey · English, Russian, Polish
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 1

Grave Markers

Over 80 Years in NJ

Ready When You Are

Talk to a Footstone Marker Guide craftsman today.

Call, email, schedule a free quote, or visit the showroom in person. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Call (201) 439-8661Email UsSchedule a Free QuoteVisit Our Showroom
Service Area

Serving All 14 NJ Counties

From our workshop in Morris County, NJ, Footstone Marker Guide serves cemeteries throughout all 14 New Jersey counties. Our installation team is familiar with the footstone policies at grounds across Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson, Union, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. Not every NJ cemetery permits footstones — some restrict the number of markers per grave — so we verify the specific cemetery's policy before any fabrication begins. We consult families in English, Russian, and Polish.

  • Morris
  • Bergen
  • Essex
  • Passaic
  • Hudson
  • Union
  • Sussex
  • Warren
  • Hunterdon
  • Somerset
  • Middlesex
  • Mercer
  • Monmouth
  • Ocean
Cemetery Guide

Cemetery Compliance Guide

Cemetery Regulations

Footstones in New Jersey are subject to the same cemetery regulations that govern other grave markers, but with an additional consideration: not all NJ cemeteries permit them. Some cemeteries restrict each grave to a single marker; others allow a headstone at the head and a small footstone at the foot, but specify maximum footstone dimensions. Before designing or ordering a footstone, Footstone Marker Guide contacts the cemetery office to confirm whether footstones are permitted, what the maximum allowed size is, and whether any material or inscription restrictions apply. This verification step prevents the disappointment of fabricating a piece that cannot be installed.

Foundation Requirements

Footstones, like other flat grave markers, typically require a concrete foundation in New Jersey cemeteries to prevent frost heave during winter freeze-thaw cycles. The foundation dimensions for a small footstone are proportionally smaller than those required for a full headstone, but the depth requirement — reaching below the frost line — remains the same. Footstone Marker Guide's installation team prepares the required foundation for each footstone as part of our standard installation service. Families do not need to coordinate this separately.

Religious Cemetery Considerations

Faith-affiliated cemeteries may carry specific rules about footstones that reflect their traditions. Some denominational cemeteries in NJ's Morris, Essex, and Bergen Counties do not permit footstones at all, or restrict them to initials-only inscriptions. Others allow small symbolic images or short phrases. Our team reviews these requirements with the appropriate cemetery office before any design work begins, ensuring the footstone we produce can actually be placed at the grave.

Our Collection

Our Grave Markers Collection

Footstone / Foot Marker

A footstone — also called a foot marker or foot-stone grave marker — is a small, low-profile granite marker placed at the foot of a grave, opposite the headstone at the head. Traditional footstones carry minimal inscription: most often just the initials of the deceased, or a single word or brief phrase. Some families use a footstone to extend the memorial beyond what the headstone carries — adding a birth date, a nickname, a religious symbol, or a small carved image that could not be accommodated on the primary marker. Footstone Marker Guide produces footstones in American-made granite, hand-carved in our Morris County, NJ workshop. Footstones are available in the same granite varieties as our other markers — Absolute Black, Silver Gray, Balmoral Red — and can be polished, thermal-finished, or sawn at the edges depending on cemetery requirements. Because footstones are small, the quality of the hand-carving matters more, not less — fine lettering on a small surface requires precision that only hand-tooled work can reliably achieve. As veteran and military marker specialists, Footstone Marker Guide also produces footstones for veterans' graves, designed to complement both the primary headstone and any VA-provided marker in scale and finish.

Granite Options

Footstones from Footstone Marker Guide are cut from American-made granite, selected to match or complement the granite of the primary headstone at the head of the grave. Many families choose to match the material exactly — using the same granite variety as the headstone — so the footstone reads as part of a coordinated memorial rather than a separate, unrelated piece. For graves where the primary headstone was not produced by Footstone Marker Guide, we can assess the existing stone and select a compatible granite variety from our domestic sources. Footstones receive the same polishing and finishing care as our larger markers; the smaller format does not reduce the quality of treatment.

Custom Design Process

Designing a footstone at Footstone Marker Guide begins with confirming what the cemetery will permit — dimensions, inscription content, material — and understanding how the family wants the footstone to relate to the primary headstone. A consultation at our Morris County showroom or by telephone in English, Russian, or Polish establishes these parameters. We then produce a scaled design proof showing the footstone layout — typically simple, but checked carefully for proportion and legibility at the small scale. Family approval of the proof precedes all fabrication. The finished footstone is hand-carved in our workshop and installed at the cemetery by our team.

Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 2
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 3
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 4
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 5
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 6
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 7
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 8
Granite Footstone / Foot Marker hand-carved by Footstone Marker Guide in NJ — image 9
Grave Markers process
Our Process

Our Hand-Carving Process

Step one is consultation. We meet with the family — at our Morris County showroom or by telephone in English, Russian, or Polish — to understand the footstone's intended inscription, its relationship to the primary headstone, and the cemetery. Step two is cemetery verification. We contact the cemetery to confirm that footstones are permitted, what the maximum allowable dimensions are, and whether any additional restrictions apply. Step three is the design proof. We prepare a scaled layout for the footstone — simple, proportional, and matched to the approved text and any imagery — for family review and approval before any fabrication begins. Step four is fabrication. The approved footstone is cut from American-made granite and hand-carved in our Morris County workshop, with lettering checked by an artisan before the piece is finished. Step five is quality review. The footstone is inspected against the approved proof, confirming dimensions, lettering, and surface finish. Over 80 years of hand-crafted grave markers in New Jersey inform this standard. Step six is installation. Our team delivers the footstone to the cemetery, prepares the required foundation, and installs the piece at the foot of the grave, level and compliant with the cemetery's requirements.

Grave Markers memorial installed in NJ
Voices

What Families Say

New Jersey families have entrusted us with their memorials for three generations.

“My father already had a headstone from another maker. Footstone Marker Guide matched the granite exactly and made a footstone that looks as though it was always part of the same memorial. The detail was remarkable.” — Joseph, Morris County NJ
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question here, call us.

How long does it take to design and install a grave markers?

Footstones are among the simpler markers we produce, and the timeline from design approval to installation typically runs six to ten weeks. The process — consultation, cemetery verification, design proof, fabrication, and installation — is the same as for any other marker. We confirm a timeline estimate at the outset of each project.

Do you serve cemeteries throughout New Jersey?

Yes. Footstone Marker Guide serves cemeteries throughout all 14 New Jersey counties. Our first step for any footstone project is to verify with the specific cemetery that footstones are permitted — since not all NJ cemeteries allow them — and to confirm the maximum permitted dimensions.

Are your memorials cemetery-compliant?

Yes. Footstones from Footstone Marker Guide are sized and inscribed to meet the specific requirements of the receiving cemetery. We verify permitted dimensions and inscription content directly with the cemetery office before fabrication begins.

Can I bring my own design or photo?

Yes. While footstones typically carry minimal text, small imagery — initials styled as a monogram, a simple symbol, a small cross or Star of David — can be incorporated. We produce a design proof showing how the imagery will appear at the footstone's small scale before any carving begins.

Do you offer veteran companion markers?

Yes. Footstone Marker Guide produces footstones for veterans' graves, designed to complement both the primary headstone and any VA-provided marker. As veteran and military marker specialists, we are familiar with the placement conventions at NJ veterans' cemeteries and coordinate with cemetery offices directly.

What languages do you serve families in?

Yes — English, Russian, and Polish.

Showroom & Gallery

See Foot Stone Grave Markers in Person

Browse a few of the stones we have set, then come visit us in person. Sample stones, finishes, and lettering are all on display.

Footstone Marker Guide Madison, NJ 07940
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Grave Markers · Serving all of New Jersey

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

We serve families across Morris, Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Hudson counties and all of New Jersey. Fill out the form, drop by the showroom, or call us. Real people answer the phone Monday through Saturday.

Request Your Free Consultation

A specialist contacts you within one business day. House calls available across Morris County and the surrounding region.

Or call (201) 439-8661