Gravestone inscriptions – epitaphs, examples and layout rules

Short answer: a classic gravestone inscription consists of a symbol or the abbreviation "R.I.P.", the name and surname, the dates and a short sentiment (epitaph), ideally no more than 8–10 words. Below you will find over 30 proven sentiments, rules for correct writing and layout, which will keep the inscription legible for decades.

Structure of a classic inscription

1. Opening symbol – "Ś.P." (of blessed memory) or just a cross.
2. Full name – the largest letters on the plaque; for women, the maiden name is often added as well ("z d. Nowak").
3. Dates – full dates (born 12.03.1946, died 5.11.2024) or years only (1946–2024); instead of abbreviations you can use an asterisk ✶ and a cross ✝.
4. Epitaph – one, at most two short sentences.
5. Family signature (optional) – e.g. "To our beloved Mother – her children".

Religious epitaphs

• "Jesus, I trust in You"
• "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord"
• "Into Your hands, O Lord"
• "She has gone to the Lord"
• "We will meet in the Father's house"
• "The Lord is my shepherd"
• "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord"
• "God willed it so"

Epitaphs about memory and love

• "Forever in our hearts"
• "Our loved ones never die"
• "You live on in our memory"
• "Love never dies"
• "So few words, so many memories"
• "Time passes, memory remains"
• "Always with us in heart"
• "You were our whole world"

Epitaphs about longing and passing

• "You left quietly, without a goodbye"
• "Let us hurry to love people, they go so quickly" (Fr. Jan Twardowski)
• "Those who live on in the memory of the living do not die"
• "Too early, too fast, forever"
• "Life is a moment, memory is eternity"
• "The silence after you hurts the loudest"

For the closest: mother, father, grandparents, child

• "To the best Mother – from her grateful children"
• "To our beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather"
• "Your arms were always open to us"
• "Grandma, thank you for every moment"
• "To our little Angel – Parents"
• "Sleep peacefully, our Son"
• "You are gone, but love remains"

Short forms for small plaques, nameplates and columbaria

• "You have come home"
• "Until we meet again"
• "Thank you"
• "Always together"
• "Peace be with you"
• "Non omnis moriar" (Horace – "I shall not wholly die")
• "Requiescat in pace" (rest in peace)

How to write your own epitaph

An epitaph is a short text in memory of the deceased – it can be a quotation, a line from a hymn or a sentence written by the family. Simple, concrete words last the longest: a saying the deceased used when bidding guests farewell, a passage from a letter, the name of a beloved place. A few guidelines:

Recommended products

From our catalog

Modern gravestone epitaph plaque with a wave 2127

€131.72

Cemetery epitaph with grave candle flame 2123

€131.72

Cemetery epigraph with chrysanthemums 2130

€131.72

Oval gravestone epitaph with willow 2143

€131.72

Grave epigraph with a cross, heart and ribbon 2142

€131.72

Gravestone epitaph with IHS monogram 2119

€131.72

• write in the second person ("We thank you…") or impersonally – avoid long compound sentences;
• check whether the sentiment fits within one, at most two lines at a letter height of 2.5–3 cm;
• read the text aloud – it will stay on the plaque for decades;
• credit a quotation to its author if the author is known.

We can reproduce an inscription from handwriting or a signature as custom order, and a longer calligraphic inscription as an epigraph cut from a single sheet of steel.

Correct wording – the most common mistakes

• The abbreviation "of blessed memory" – in running text the correct form is "ś.p."; on a plaque set in capital letters, "Ś.P." is used. Do not combine the abbreviation with a cross and the word "memory" at the same time.
• Dates – keep one format throughout the inscription (e.g. 12.03.1946 and 5.11.2024, or years only). Between years an en dash is used: 1946–2024. In the Zecero calculator, the date fields accept digits and the characters * + . – (the asterisk and cross replace the birth and death symbols).
• Case endings in dedications – "Kochanej Mamie", "Kochanemu Mężowi i Ojcu" (dative case); forms of address are capitalized.
• Gender agreement – "Odszedł / Odeszła", "Kochany / Kochana" – on family graves, check each line separately.
• Punctuation – no periods are placed at the end of lines; quotation marks around an inscription are optional.

Before ordering, ask someone else to read the entire text – typos in a surname or date are the most common reason for replacing letters.

Layout and typography guidelines

• Hierarchy – the surname largest (5–6 cm), dates one size smaller (3–4 cm), the sentiment the smallest, but not below 2.5 cm.
• Legibility before decoration – set the first name, surname and dates in a plain or serif typeface; script typefaces are for the inscription (see fonts for a gravestone).
• Spacing – line spacing at least equal to the height of the smaller letter, margin from the plaque edge approx. 8–10 cm.
• Contrast – silver or gold on dark stone, black on light stone (see tombstone letter color).
• Alignment – on vertical plaques, centered is the safest choice; left-aligned works well on modern horizontal slabs.

Practical test: print the inscription at 1:1 scale, stick it to the plaque and assess it from 4–5 metres. The same printout can later serve as a mounting template – we describe the procedure in the guide mounting letters on a gravestone. You can also see the inscription on a photo of your gravestone in the visualization, which is available on the product pages of some typefaces in the category tombstone letters.

Frequently asked questions

Does an inscription on a gravestone have to be religious?

No – it is entirely the family's decision. Alongside religious phrases, words about remembrance and love or short Latin maxims are just as often chosen.

How long can an inscription on a gravestone be?

The practical limit is set by the width of the plaque and the minimum legible letter height (approx. 2.5 cm). On a typical plaque 40–50 cm wide, 3–4 lines fit comfortably. Longer texts, e.g. a biography or the details of another person, are better placed on engraved plaque.

How much does an inscription cost?

With applied letters you pay for each character – a 15-letter sentiment at 3 cm height in the Greta font costs approx. €46.09 in polished finish. Full calculation: cost of an inscription on a gravestone.