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Inscription checker

VA puts some lines on every government headstone and marker, and lets the family add a short inscription. Type the extra lines here to see them against the limits on VA Form 40-1330 for the marker type you picked. The checker only counts characters; VA decides what is inscribed.

What VA inscribes as standard

“Legal Name, Branch of Service , Year of Birth, Year of Death, and for State Veterans and National Cemeteries only, the section and grave number.”

Check your extra lines

The limits, in the form's words

“Additional inscription is limited to 15 characters (including spaces) up to four lines maximum.”

“Additional inscription is limited to 27 characters (including spaces) up to two lines maximum.”

“This grave marker is 18 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. Weight is approximately 70 pounds. Variations may occur in stone color. Additional inscription is limited to 22 characters (including spaces) up to two lines maximum.”

The flat-marker limit on the form applies to flat and niche markers alike. See all seven types with sizes.