Gravestone Cleaning Prices (2026): $75–$300 Per Stone
Headstone cleaning typically runs $75–$300 per stone as a flat rate — around $100 for a small flat marker or marble headstone and $250+ for a large granite monument or heavy biological growth. Target a 60–80% margin after supplies and travel, and sell an annual or semi-annual maintenance plan, which turns a one-time $150 job into a recurring account.
Pricing by stone
| Stone | Typical flat rate |
|---|---|
| Small flat marker | $75–$125 |
| Standard upright headstone | $125–$200 |
| Large granite monument | $200–$300+ |
| Heavy biological growth | Re-quoted tier, multiple treatments |
| Family plot (multi-stone) | Package, discounted per stone |
Worked example: family plot with a maintenance plan
An adult child three states away books a clean of their grandparents’ plot — one large shared upright and two flat markers — 45 minutes outside town.
| Line | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upright headstone clean (large) | 1 | $225 | $225 |
| Flat marker clean (plot rate) | 2 | $85 | $170 |
| Travel fee (outside radius) | 1 | $35 | $35 |
| Flower placement (flowers at cost) | 1 | $55 | $55 |
| Total | $485 |
Then offer the plan: an annual return visit for all three stones at $195, billed to the card on file. Photos go with every visit’s receipt.
Margins and costs
Target 60–80% margin after supplies, travel, and insurance. The main direct costs are D/2 or equivalent solution, water transport, brushes, and your drive time.
Heavy biological growth takes multiple treatments — quote it as its own tier rather than absorbing it.
Sell the maintenance plan
This is the whole upside. A $150 clean plus a $95 annual maintenance visit on a card on file is recurring revenue from a customer you’ll never have to sell again.
Your buyer lives out of state
Most of this work is bought by an adult child several hundred miles away who found you online. Before-and-after photos and a payment link are the entire sales process — they’ll never meet you.
Keep going
Frequently asked questions
Flat rate per stone or hourly?
Flat rate per stone. Customers want a number before you go, and they're usually out of state and can't assess the condition themselves. Price by size and growth from photos, with a note that heavy cases may be re-quoted.
Should I offer a maintenance plan?
Yes — it's the difference between a job and a business. An annual or semi-annual clean at a reduced per-visit rate billed to a card on file turns one sale into recurring revenue with no new marketing.
How do I price a family plot?
Per stone with a multi-stone discount. You're already there, so the second and third stones cost you far less in travel and setup — a package price for the plot converts much better than a stone-by-stone total.
What add-ons can I offer?
Flower placement ($15–$40 plus flowers), flag placement on holidays, bronze plaque cleaning ($25–$75), and re-leveling a sunken flat marker. Holiday and anniversary visits pair naturally with a maintenance plan.
Should I charge for travel to rural cemeteries?
Past a set radius, yes — a flat fee or per mile. Many family cemeteries are an hour or more down county roads, and one stone there can take half a day.
How do I get paid by someone who lives out of state?
Send a quote with photos, take payment by card link before or right after the visit, and send before-and-after photos with the receipt. Most customers never meet you, so the photos are the proof of work.