How Long Does It Take To Make a Bronze Grave Marker?
Ethan Darby 
In a world where you can practically have anything at the touch of a button, there are some things that still require the all-important element of time in order to ensure beautiful results.
Bronze grave markers are a lasting tribute to the life of a loved one lost, and they should be well-crafted, with the utmost attention to detail provided.
A common question we receive is “How long does it take to make a bronze grave marker?”
When a person or family chooses to have a bronze grave marker made, whether in person or online, there are a lot of factors that affect a marker’s production time.
General production includes:
1. Proof creation: 5-7 business days
Once an order is received, designers work to make proofs that are as realistic as possible so that a customer can get an accurate idea of how their marker will appear once it is produced.
The designers work from a selection of borders, accents, emblems, images, and customer supplied photos to create a proof that will be passed along to the production team.
2. Design Build: 1-3 Business days
Once a proof has been approved, it is passed on to the programmers.
The programmers take the 2D artwork that has been created by the proof designers and turn it into 3D artwork that can be programmed into a file that the CNC (computer numerical control) machines can read.
They work with the final text and layouts to ensure that all of the details of the memorial will match the proof.
3. Machining: (4-10 hours) 2 weeks to get through
The 3D artwork is sent to the machining department to someone who functions as a “traffic director”. This person takes the program and sends it to whichever of the machines is open, and they monitor the machines as they engrave the bronze.
The machining timeline can vary greatly depending on how much engraving is required to create the marker.
CNC machines use different sized drill bits to cut away the bronze. The 3D program directs the machines on how far the bits are to engrave down into the bronze.
When the machine has finished cutting away the excess bronze, the text, emblems and image(s) are what remain. Any dark spots in a photo are engraved lower, while lighter areas are left higher.
4. Finishing: approximately one week
Depending on the complexities of the options chosen when designing the marker, the finishing process can involve oxidation, painting, powder coating and then lastly, curing in the oven.
Once the marker has color or oxide added, the raised areas of the piece (text, images, borders, emblems, etc.) are hand-finished by rubbing the marker with various abrasive materials to reveal the bronze beneath.
If a color image is a part of the piece, it is printed on with a large flatbed printer. Lastly, there is a powder clear coat that is applied to protect the piece for years to come.
5. Packaging and Shipping
Once the clear coat has been added to the marker, and the marker has been allowed enough time to cure (usually overnight), the marker is packaged using several layers of cardboard or foam.
The most common damage that occurs in shipping is on the corners of the marker, so it is important to provide the most impact resistance in those areas. Once the marker has been packaged, a shipping label is added, and it is picked up by a carrier.
At Trigard Memorials, our product is different, and the time invested at each stage of the process proves it.
Contact us at orders@trigard.com or call us at (800) 798-4900 to start creating your bronze grave marker.
View Our Production Video on Youtube
Ethan Darby
Ethan is the Director of Consumer Relations for Trigard Memorials and all affiliated companies. He graduated from Illinois State University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration before becoming one of three 4th generation Darby family owners and operators. His experience within the company includes memorial manufacturing, cemetery retail, national cemetery and vault sales, along with plant and customer service management. Ethan also enjoys hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Keri, and his daughters, Sawyer and Olivia.
2 responses to “How Long Does It Take To Make a Bronze Grave Marker?”
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Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Thursday, November 6, 2025
I signed off on a design for a bronze ground level marker for my brothers grave almost 8 months ago. The company still hasn’t shipped to the cemetery. Is this typical?
Hi Martha,
Thank you for reaching out! The time it takes for a bronze grave marker to be completed will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. I encourage you to reach out to the funeral home, monument shop, or cemetery from which you purchased the memorial and ask for an update on the order.
I hope this helps!
Jill