The main difference between a full single monument and a lawn headstone (also called a lawn monument or lawn memorial) is how much of the grave the stone covers. A full single monument covers the whole length of one burial plot with an upright headstone, a base, stone kerbing along both sides, and a ledger slab or pebble infill. Lawn headstones and lawn memorials sit only at the head of the grave, and the rest of the plot stays as lawn.
In Australian cemeteries you can't simply pick either style for any grave. The section the grave is in decides which kinds of memorial are allowed. So before you compare designs or ask for quotes, check what each option includes, read your cemetery section's written rules, and make sure the quotes you compare cover the same work.
Comparing what's included, the footprint and the space for wording
A lawn monument or lawn memorial isn't always a flat plaque set into the grass. Depending on the section, it may be a flat marker, an angled sloper or desk stone, or an upright headstone and base on a concrete lawn beam. A full single monument covers the whole grave. You can see examples on our lawn monuments page.
| Comparison point | Full single monument (monumental section) | Lawn monument / lawn headstone (lawn section) |
|---|---|---|
| Grave footprint covered | The full length and width of the single burial plot | The head of the grave only; the rest of the plot stays as grass |
| Typical stone components | Upright headstone, stone base, full-length kerbing (surrounds), and a polished ledger slab, split ledger, or pebble or garden infill | Flat lawn marker, angled sloper or desk stone, or an upright headstone and base on a concrete cemetery beam or foundation strip |
| Where it's allowed | Designated monumental sections | Designated lawn, lawn beam or garden sections |
| Space for wording and design | A larger upright headstone, plus the kerbing and ledger surface, for longer wording, bilingual text, ceramic photos, religious statues, vases or candle boxes | Limited to the face of the headstone, sloper or plaque, within the cemetery's height and width limits (often with vase holes in the base on beam graves) |
| Foundation below ground | A full-plot foundation built to the cemetery's rules and AS 4204:2019 | Fixed and dowelled to the cemetery's concrete lawn beam, or a foundation strip at the head of the grave, to AS 4204:2019 |
| Explore designs | View Single Monuments | View lawn monuments |
How cemetery sections decide what's allowed: Springvale and Rookwood
Cemeteries divide their grounds into sections to manage mowing, drainage, foundations and heritage character. The rules at two of the biggest cemeteries in Melbourne and Sydney show why the first step is always to confirm the exact section:
Springvale Botanical Cemetery (Melbourne, SMCT): the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) divides its grounds into monumental graves, where a traditional stone monument covers the whole grave and the grave may be dug for one, two or three burials, and lawn graves or Botanical Hill lawn headstone areas, where only approved lawn plaques or upright headstones on a beam are allowed. If you're planning a single monument at Springvale Cemetery, the precinct and row on your SMCT right of interment certificate decide whether a full kerbed monument or a lawn headstone is allowed. In Victoria, once a complete permit application is lodged, the cemetery trust has up to 45 days to approve or refuse it.
Rookwood Necropolis (Sydney): across Rookwood Catholic Cemetery and the wider Rookwood grounds, plots are also split between monumental sections (including cultural and religious areas) and lawn beam or garden sections. Under Catholic Cemeteries & Crematoria rules at Rookwood and Liverpool, monumental stonemasons must be registered with the cemetery and hold a permit before they start work on site. If you're planning a single monument at Rookwood Cemetery, check the lawn or monumental section rules for your plot before the design is drawn.
How to compare single monument designs for appearance, durability and cemetery rules
Once you know which kind of memorial your section allows, compare designs on three things:
Cemetery size and structural rules: every section limits the maximum height, width and base depth, and how the foundation is built (for example, to AS 4204:2019, the Australian Standard for headstones and cemetery monuments). A design has to fit those rules to get a permit.
Appearance, cultural details and space for wording: think about how much the stone needs to say now and later, including a second inscription on a double-depth plot, bilingual wording, 23-carat real gold leaf lettering, ceramic photos or laser-etched portraits. Also decide whether you'd like a full polished ledger slab over the whole grave, or an open pebble or garden bed inside the kerbing.
Material and upkeep: as our monument selection guide explains, natural granite and natural marble behave differently outdoors. Granite is dense, weather-resistant and a popular choice for low upkeep. Marble has a traditional look, weathers more gradually and needs gentler care over time. Some modern lawn sections only allow granite, so check your section's rules first.
Questions to ask the cemetery before you get quotes
Before asking a stonemason to quote a full single monument or a lawn memorial, ask the cemetery office:
Is this plot in a monumental section, an upright lawn beam section, or a flat or sloper plaque section?
Can you send me the written monument rules for this section (maximum height, width and length, foundation rules and permitted stone)?
How many burials can this plot hold: single, double or triple depth?
Who is the holder of the right of interment (burial licence) who needs to sign the permit application?
What is the cemetery's permit application fee, and what insurance or registration does the monumental mason need?
How does the cost of a lawn headstone compare with a full single or double monument?
A full single monument covers the whole plot with kerbing, a ledger slab or infill, and foundations for the full grave, and a double monument covers two plots side by side. Either way, a full monument uses much more stone and construction than a lawn headstone in the same material.
As a guide, John Stonemart Memorials' full single monuments typically cost $10,000 to $18,000, full double monuments $16,000 to $30,000, and headstones with a base $6,000 to $10,000. All three ranges include design, installation, the cemetery permit fee and GST.
Stone grade, carving, lettering, foundation depth and cemetery permit fees all affect the total, though, so quotes only make sense when they cover the same work:
A lawn headstone and a full single monument aren't the same job, so their quotes can't be compared directly. They include different stone and foundation work.
If your section allows more than one style, ask for both quoted in the same granite or marble colour and finish, so you can see the real difference.
Check that every quote is itemised the same way: the design proof, all stone parts, AS 4204:2019 foundations, lettering, the cemetery permit application fee, installation and GST.
For a full line-by-line checklist, see our headstone and monument cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a full single monument and a lawn headstone?
A full single monument covers the whole grave with an upright headstone, base, stone kerbing and a ledger slab or infill. A lawn headstone stands only at the head of the grave, and the rest of the plot stays as lawn. The cemetery section decides which type is allowed, and quotes for the two can't be compared directly.
Are all lawn memorials flat or ground-level plaques?
No. Some lawn sections only allow flat markers or low angled sloper stones, but many lawn sections in Melbourne and Sydney allow an upright headstone and base fixed to a concrete beam at the head of the grave.
How should I compare single-monument designs for appearance, durability and cemetery requirements?
Start with the cemetery's written rules for your section, so the height, footprint, foundation and stone are all allowed. Then compare how much room each design leaves for wording, photos or cultural details now and in future, and weigh granite's low-maintenance weather resistance against marble's traditional look and extra care.
How does the cost of a lawn headstone compare with a full single or double monument?
A full single or double monument covers the whole grave and needs more stone (kerbing and ledgers) and foundation work than a lawn headstone in the same stone. To compare fairly, ask for itemised written quotes in the same stone and finish, and check that both include the cemetery permit fee, installation and GST. As a guide, our full single monuments typically cost $10,000 to $18,000, full double monuments $16,000 to $30,000, and headstones with a base $6,000 to $10,000, including design, installation, the cemetery permit fee and GST. Our cost and quote guide has more detail.
Need help checking whether your plot takes a single monument or a lawn memorial?
Call John Stonemart Memorials on 0417 670 613, email [email protected], or use our contact page. Tell us the cemetery name, section and grave number, and we'll check the rules and prepare a clear, itemised written quote. Once you've chosen a design, production starts after you sign the design proof. It usually takes 3 to 4 months from the signed proof (up to 6 months by contract), and remote proofs and completion photos are available.