DIY Halloween Tombstones
Here you will learn how to build tombstones to transform your yard into a Halloween graveyard.
Sure, you can just go to Target, Wal-Mart or some other store and buy tombstones, but then your graveyard will look like everyone else's.
The store bought ones usually have just a basic "R.I.P." or "Happy Halloween" on them. I like more realistic tombstones with funny or scary epitaphs and also enjoy decorating the house for Halloween, so a few years ago I decided to build my own graveyard.
Choose A Material
I built my tombstones using two materials: plywood and styrofoam.Styrofoam is good because you can buy it in larger thicknesses (2" or more) at your local crafts store and it's already textured so it looks more like a grave stone from the start. Sheets of styrofoam insulation from a building supply store can also be used. Styrofoam can be tricky to do the lettering on, is more fragile and thicker pieces get expensive.
Plywood is easy to work with, durable and you may already have scrap pieces buried in your garage. A standard 4'x8' sheet will be enough for about 6-10 tombstones depending on their size and shape.
There are other materials you can use (stone, resins, etc) but I don't have any experience using those so I'll focus on plywood and styrofoam.
Choose A Design & Epitaph
Tombstones come in many shapes and sizes. You can look at the sample pics below to get some ideas. I recommend starting with a basic and simple design such as the one pictured here. It's simply a rectangle with the top corners rounded off.Next, select the epitaph or saying you want on the stone. You can get ideas for this from websites, sayings you've seen elsewhere, Disney World or your own morbid creativity.
Where To Find Epitaphs
- Funny Stones To Tickle Your Funny Bones
- A good long list of epitaphs, many that I haven't seen on other sites before.
- Eerie Epitaphs
- A good collection of different epitaphs and funny tombstone names.
Build The Tombstone
1. Determine the size of your tombstone. 18"w x 24-30"h is a good size for a basic stone. Make sure there is enough room to write the epitaph.2. Trace out the design of the tombstone on your plywood or styrofoam. A French curve or cans of various sizes are good tools to help with drawing curves.
3. Cut out the stone. A jig saw works well for plywood. You can try a keyhole (drywall) saw or large utility knife for styrofoam.
4. Paint the stone. For plywood, start with a base coat of grey or off-white. Next, apply a coat of stone texture spray paint to give it a weathered appearance. For styrofoam, you can just use the stone texture paint.
5. After the paint has dried, paint the epitaph and any other design elements (skull, scrollwork, etc) on to the stone with a small brush and black paint. For styrofoam stones, it helps to press the letters into the foam first before painting them.
6. The last step is to attach mounting stakes to the back and place the stone in your yard. Use whatever you have available to keep your tombstones in place. For styrofoam stones, plant stakes pushed into the bottom work well. For plywood stones, you can screw shelf brackets into the back then use tent stakes to secure them into the ground.
Handy Tools For The Project
Black & Decker JS500K Variable Speed Jig Saw Kit
This economical little saw is just right for cutting plywood tombstones.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009) 
FRENCH CURVE SET 4/CASE
A good set of French curves will help you draw any curves you want to make on your tombstones.
Amazon Price: $6.75 (as of 11/10/2009)
10 Pc Hobby Paint Brush Set
To use when painting the epitaph or design on your gravestones.
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Graveyard Accents
- Don't mow the grass for a couple weeks to give it a neglected look.
- Spread fallen leaves around.
- Leave dead flowers on some of the graves.
- Place fake bones, hands and skulls around the graveyard.
- Position lanterns
or electric candles in front of graves.
- Make a "Danger" or "keep out" sign from a scrap piece of wood. Use a jig saw to cut jagged edges on the ends for a broken look.
- Use a fog machine or dry ice to cloak your graveyard in a blanket of fog.
Skulls For Your Graveyard
Other Props For Your Graveyard
To give it a spooky, haunted feel
Halloween Cemetery Fence
Rickety sections of fence will add a little spooky realism to your graveyard.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Eliminator Small Application Fog Machine - EF-400
A fog machine helps create an eerie atmosphere.
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Tombstones From Disney's Haunted Mansion
The Grave of Captain Jack Sparrow
Store Bought Gravestones
After Halloween Sales
Watch How A Tombstone Is Made
How-To make Tombstones for Halloween
Make an entire graveyard for the cost of one store-bought headstone with this step-by-step video from the makers of Big Scream TV.
curated content from YouTube
Real Tombstones & Graveyards
Want to learn more about Graveyards?
More Props For Your Cemetery
Scary Graveyard Tales...
Was this lens helpful to you? How did your Halloween graveyard turn out?
love halloweenheehee wrote
i'm soo exited for haloween we are having a gravyard heehee!!
Posted October 29, 2009
Rewards4life wrote...
Fantastic, what a really good idea. Nevermind for the kids I want one and much to my girlfriends disappointment I may build one.... Thanks
Posted October 21, 2009
Swededesigns wrote...
Very cool lens! I love the grave of Captain Jack Sparrow! Great stuff. I added you to my featured lenses ;) Keep up the great work! :)
Posted October 20, 2009
lou16 wrote...
Great lens, I love the tip about not mowing the lawn :) This really explains how to make a halloween graveyard really well.
Posted October 17, 2009
Aika wrote...
I've been gathering some ideas for our Halloween party, the tomb in the backyard idea is pretty catchy and cool. Great lens indeed!
Posted October 15, 2009
Debbie wrote
Need to know how to make or dress like the witches on the movie "Hocus Pocus". Where would I find a fairly inexpensive wig to use as the Bettte Midler charachter? Any ideas from any out there? Thanks
Posted October 14, 2009
mermaidlife wrote...
The tip about making the headstone out of styrofoam, that is good as the styrofoam is easy to cut and it will fair well in the yard. The whole lens is packed with really useable info thanks much!
Posted October 09, 2009
halloweengirl wrote...
Really cool ideas for a fun Halloween yard! Creepy ..... It would be great to have a Jack Sparrow gravestone, I love that movie.
Posted October 09, 2009
feliciasfavs wrote...
Our little Were Wolve-rines would love to know how to dispose of their catches this Halloween. We will have to put some of these tombstones up for them.
Posted October 08, 2009
lasertek wrote...
I must say the title is pretty creepy but CATCHY. The information is well-organized and understandable. Great job!
Do visit my lens if you got the time. Thanks
Posted October 07, 2009
CrazyPirate wrote...
My whole family is into Pirates and Pirates of the Caribbean so when I saw your post about authenticJack Sparrow graves, I had to comment matey!
Posted October 06, 2009
NaturalVamp wrote...
This is great for landscaping our yard this Halloween. I like the DIY aspect of digging...I mean do-it-yourself grave. I'd better get cracking. Halloween's just around the corner.
Posted October 05, 2009
HenryE wrote...
I've seen this done and it looks great! Kids always stop to read what the stones say. Great thoughts here!
Posted September 29, 2009
halloweendecorations56 wrote...
Love all the Halloween Grave Yard Decorations .. they are awesome. we should all have a few for all our relatives.. hehe!!
Posted September 26, 2009
Photo Credits
Disney's Haunted Graveyard Tombstones:
Brother Claude and Here Lyeth His Loving Wives used by permission of Miss Shari.
Good Old Fred used by permission of BoredTrini.
Sweet Leota used by permission of canno1979.
Master Gracey used under Creative Commons from devilelephant.
Brother Dave used under Creative Commons from The Consortium.
Real Tombstones & Graveyards:
Tombstone in Satnitz used by permission of iproduit.
Gravestones used by permission of Ben Adlin.
Tombstone used under Creative Commons from A.M. Kuchling.
Irish Castle Graveyard used under Creative Commons from Qole Pejorian.
Boot hill used under Creative Commons from danesparza.
Skull w/wings used under Creative Commons from mchphotography8.
by Mac33
I enjoy decorating for Halloween and started building my own Halloween graveyard a few years ago.
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