Best-Selling Headstone Shapes for UK Retailers in 2025

For UK memorial retailers, 2025 is shaping up to be a crucial year. The demand for headstones and memorials remains steady, but buyer preferences are shifting toward designs that balance affordability, personalization, and timeless appeal. Retailers and distributors who understand the most profitable headstone designs UK buyers want will be best positioned to increase margins and stay competitive.

According to recent industry reports, the UK headstone market is expected to grow at 3.4% annually from 2024 to 2028, driven by consistent demand for granite memorials and a rising preference for customized designs. For retailers, this means stocking the best selling headstones UK families prefer is not just about meeting demand, it’s about maximizing profitability.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top profitable granite headstone designs for UK retailers in 2025, highlight design trends, and show how to boost sales with the right supplier partnerships.

Why Headstone Design Selection Matters for UK Retailers

Choosing the right headstone design and shape can directly impact sales volumes and profit margins for wholesalers and dealers. While materials like granite headstone designs in the UK remain a safe bet, certain shapes and styles deliver better markups than others.

• High-demand designs = quick sales → Granite Headstones sell consistently.
• Unique designs = premium pricing → Custom-carved shapes allow retailers to charge 20–30% more.
• Balanced inventory = stable profits → A good mix of affordable headstones and premium heart-shaped stones ensures wider market coverage.

For wholesalers and distributors, focusing on wholesale memorial headstone designs UK buyers prefer is equally crucial. Supplying profitable, trending designs can secure long-term B2B partnerships with memorial retailers.

Top 10 Most Profitable Headstone Shapes in 2025

When it comes to best-selling headstone designs UK retailers can offer, certain shapes dominate the market in 2025. These shapes are widely approved in UK cemeteries, trusted by families, and give retailers a reliable mix of steady demand and strong margins. Stocking these ensures you cater to both traditional and modern preferences, making them highly profitable for trade supply.

Ogee Top Headstone

The ogee top headstone is a timeless classic and remains the most popular design in the UK. With its gently curved top, it combines elegance with simplicity, making it suitable for a wide range of memorial needs. Retailers favor it for its universal acceptance in cemeteries and the ability to offer both affordable and premium granite finishes. Its consistency in demand makes it a must-have in every retailer’s catalogue.

Peon Top Headstone

Peon top headstones are valued for their simple, rounded form that conveys peace and serenity. Families often prefer them for their neat, balanced look that fits into both traditional and modern cemetery settings. For retailers, peon tops are easy to stock in volume and come with low production costs while maintaining steady sales. They’re especially popular in smaller cemeteries and budget-friendly memorial options.

Ogee Top with Checked Shoulders

This variation of the ogee adds a stylish edge with checked shoulders, giving the memorial a more distinguished and unique profile. Families appreciate the combination of traditional elegance with a touch of modern detailing. Retailers benefit as this shape stands out in catalogues without being overly niche, making it profitable yet practical. It’s often chosen by customers who want something different but not overly extravagant.

Offset Peon Top Headstone

The offset peon top provides a subtle twist on the standard peon design, shifting the curvature slightly to create a modernized appearance. It appeals to families seeking personalization without straying too far from classic memorial shapes. Retailers stocking this design often find it helps diversify their collection while still keeping costs manageable. It’s a shape that reflects modern trends while remaining widely accepted across cemeteries.

Serp Top  Headstone

The serp top shape features a flowing wave-like top that makes it one of the most decorative and profitable headstone shapes UK families request in 2025. Its artistic appeal allows retailers to charge higher margins, especially when combined with premium granite colors like red or Himalayan blue. Families often choose half ogee memorials for their distinctive look, ensuring demand remains strong across different markets.

Half Round Headstone

Half round headstones are compact, affordable, and widely used, especially in urban areas where space is limited. Their rounded top offers a softer appearance, symbolizing peace and continuity. Retailers appreciate them for their fast-moving nature, as they’re often a top pick for families with a modest budget. This shape ensures volume sales, making it an important part of profitable inventory.

Arc Top Headstone

Arc top headstones are simple, functional, and versatile, making them suitable for nearly all cemetery regulations. Their practical design makes them a reliable choice for bulk ordering, especially for trade headstones UK distributors supply to retailers. Families see arc tops as affordable yet dignified, while retailers enjoy steady sales and quick turnover. Their universal appeal makes them a “safe bet” for profitable stocking.

Round Shape Headstone

Round headstones symbolize eternity and wholeness, carrying spiritual meaning that many families find comforting. This design appeals to those looking for a softer, symbolic memorial, making it slightly more premium compared to square or arc tops. Retailers stocking round headstones benefit from moderate demand with strong margins, particularly when offering engraving or design add-ons. Their unique look helps retailers differentiate their product line.

Square Top Headstone

Square tops are minimalistic yet sturdy in design, often chosen by families who prefer a simple, no-frills memorial. They’re economical to produce and widely approved in cemeteries, making them a consistent best seller. Retailers benefit from their low sourcing costs and high turnover, especially in bulk trade. Though plain in style, they remain a staple in the best selling headstones UK market.

Check Top Headstone

Check top headstones feature a stepped or block-like design at the top, giving them a bold and distinct profile. Their unique shape attracts families who want something less common than ogee or peon tops, helping retailers diversify their catalogue. This design is slightly more premium and allows for creative engraving, giving retailers room for upselling. In 2025, check tops are emerging as one of the most profitable niche designs in the UK.

Bespoke Headstones – Custom Designs for Every Need!

In addition to popular shapes, Stone Discover UK also offers bespoke headstones tailored to customer requirements. Retailers can provide clients with custom options in terms of granite color, shape & style, finishes, sizes and much more.

Bespoke designs allow customers to add personal touches, cultural symbols, or unique features to memorials. For retailers, these options provide higher margins and help build stronger customer relationships by offering more than just the standard range.

Ornate Celtic Cross Headstone

Cross-shaped headstones remain one of the most iconic and demanded bespoke designs. Deeply symbolic and popular in Christian communities, they’re chosen for their timeless representation of faith and remembrance. Retailers offering cross headstones can charge premium rates, especially when paired with high-quality granite or intricate carving details.

Heart Shape Headstone

A heart-shaped headstone is one of the most profitable bespoke memorials in the UK market. Families select this design for its emotional appeal, often customizing it with inscriptions, flowers, or etching. Retailers see high margins here, as the uniqueness and sentiment behind the design allow for a premium price. They’re especially popular for memorializing younger individuals or loved ones with personalized tributes.

Kerb Sets

Kerb sets frame the entire grave, making them one of the most elaborate and striking memorials available. They’re a popular choice for families wanting a grand tribute, and because of the size and material involved, they come with strong profit margins. Retailers stocking kerb sets position themselves as full-service suppliers for families seeking something beyond traditional headstones.

Children’s Memorials

Children’s memorials are among the most sensitive yet important bespoke designs. Featuring soft motifs like angels, teddy bears, or stars, these memorials are often crafted with extra care. For retailers, offering children’s memorials not only builds emotional trust with families but also ensures the ability to provide a meaningful, specialized service while maintaining good margins.

Pet Memorials

The pet memorial sector in the UK has grown rapidly in recent years, with families increasingly choosing to commemorate their pets. Retailers offering plaques, small upright stones, or custom-carved pet designs can tap into a profitable and expanding niche. These memorials are typically smaller but come with consistent demand and repeat buyers.

Mecca Memorials

With a diverse UK population, Mecca memorials are becoming more widely requested. They cater to Muslim communities, making them an essential offering for inclusive retailers. The demand for these memorials is growing steadily, ensuring that retailers who include them in their catalogues build stronger community connections and profitability.

Other Bespoke Memorials

Beyond the popular categories, bespoke memorials can include benches, fully custom-carved granite designs, or personalized etching. These designs allow retailers to stand out in a competitive market by offering tailored solutions. 
With Stone Discover UK’s bespoke headstone services, retailers can meet unique client needs while unlocking higher revenue opportunities.

Looking for unique, custom memorials for your clients? Request Stone Discover UK’s 2025 bespoke memorial catalogue and explore unlimited design possibilities.

What Makes a Headstone Design Popular in the Market

Not every design delivers the same return. Here are the top factors influencing profitability:

• Material Choice: Granite remains the most profitable, outlasting marble or sandstone in both durability and demand.
• Granite Colors: Black granite is the most popular, but red and Himalayan blue are rising in demand.
• Simplicity vs. Customization: Standard shapes sell fast; custom designs yield higher margins.
• Regional Demand: Urban cemeteries lean toward flat and plaque designs; rural areas favor upright and companion stones.

Retailers who analyze these factors when selecting profitable headstone designs UK buyers want will maximize ROI.

Best-Selling Granite Colors Retailers Should Stock in 2025

Color plays a significant role in headstone profitability. Here’s what’s trending:

• Black Granite Headstones → Classic, timeless, and dominate UK sales.
• Red Granite Headstones → A premium option, often chosen for unique memorials.
• Himalayan Blue Granite → Emerging as a popular headstone style 2025 UK retailers can leverage for differentiation.

Pro Tip: Stocking a mix of traditional black granite with premium red and blue options creates a perfect balance of high-volume sales and high-margin profits.

How Retailers Can Maximize Profits with the Right Designs

Retailers should adopt a 70/30 strategy, 70% of stock in best selling headstones UK families consistently buy (upright, black granite), and 30% in premium or unique styles (heart-shaped, carved, double headstones). Additional profit-boosting strategies include:

• Offering engraving and customization as an add-on service.
• Partnering with wholesale headstone designs UK exporters to reduce sourcing costs.
• Using catalogues and design samples to upsell premium memorials.

Want to see which designs will dominate in 2025? Download our free “Stone Discover 2025 Design Catalogue for UK Retailers” and discover the top profitable granite memorials to stock this year.

Partner with Stone Discover UK for Profitable Headstone Designs

At Stone Discover UK, we specialize in supplying profitable headstone designs for UK retailers, from classic upright granite stones to trending heart-shaped and custom-carved memorials.

• Competitive wholesale pricing for retailers & distributors
• Wide variety of granite headstone designs UK markets demand
• Access to premium materials like Black, Red, and Himalayan Blue granite
• Reliable shipping and trade-focused support

Request Get a Quote, our 2025 wholesale price list today and secure the most profitable headstone designs for your business.

Conclusion

For UK retailers, success in 2025 will come down to stocking the right designs at the right price. From best selling upright granite memorials to premium custom-carved stones, profitability is about balancing volume with value.
By working with the right supplier and focusing on profitable headstone designs UK buyers prefer, retailers can increase margins, expand their customer base, and future-proof their memorial business.

Partner with Stone Discover UK today to access the latest 2025 design catalogue and wholesale price list. Let’s grow your memorial business with the most profitable headstone designs in the UK market.