How it works
The code holds one thing: a web address. Scanning it opens that page in the phone's browser, with no app needed. The photos and stories live on the website, so you can keep adding to the page without touching the plaque.
That also means the plaque depends on the website. A durable plaque is only useful while the page behind it stays online, so choose the provider as carefully as the material.
What to check with the cemetery
Rules vary by cemetery, and even by section within one. Ask the office for its memorial guidelines in writing, and ask about:
- Whether plaques or attachments are allowed on existing stones
- Maximum size and approved materials
- Whether adhesive is allowed, or whether a monument company must install it
- Who owns the stone and who needs to give permission
Government-issued headstones, national cemeteries and churchyards often have their own rules, so ask them directly. Please don't attach anything to a historic or fragile stone.
Which materials hold up
Durability figures in this market mostly come from the people selling the plaques, so treat them as claims.
| Material | What to expect outdoors |
|---|---|
| Engraved stainless steel | Resists weather and fading. The code is marked into the metal. |
| Photo-anodized aluminum | The image is sealed under the surface. One maker claims more than 20 years. |
| Ceramic | Weather resistant, but it can chip or crack. |
| Printed aluminum | The printed image can fade within a few years in full sun. |
| Vinyl sticker or laminated paper | Best kept indoors, on an urn or a keepsake. Moisture and sun wear it down quickly. |
Attachment matters as much as material. Freeze and thaw cycles can weaken adhesive, and some adhesives can stain stone. Ask what the seller recommends for your kind of stone, and whether the plaque can come off later without damage.
What it costs
In November 2026, the sellers we compared ranged from about $25 to $275. Etsy plaques ran roughly $40 to $190, and branded medallions with a memorial page ran $140 to $275. These came partly from third-party pages, so confirm any price with the seller.
Before you compare prices, ask each seller:
- Is the page included, and does it ever renew? One seller we found includes 10 years.
- What happens to the code if you stop paying, or if the company closes?
- Can you change what the page shows after the plaque is made?
Placing it so it scans
- Size: a code scans reliably from about ten times its width, so a 2-inch code works from around 20 inches away.
- Position: place it high and to the side, away from mowers and trimmers, and where someone can reach it with a phone.
- Surface: clean and dry the stone, then hold the plaque in position and test a scan before you attach it.
- Privacy: anyone at the grave can open the page, so leave out home addresses and details about children.
Making the page with LifeRepeat
LifeRepeat gives you a memorial page with photos, videos and letters, plus a QR code for it on your manage page. The address stays the same, so the page you start today can be the one a plaque points to later. Family pages stay out of search engines.
We don't sell plaques yet, since we're still testing stainless tags on real stone. The code in the picture opens our demo page. You can create the page now, or read how we handle what happens later.
Common questions
Usually, but it depends on the cemetery. Many have rules on size, material and how things are attached, so ask the office for its memorial guidelines in writing before you buy anything.
It depends mostly on the material and the attachment. No independent test gives a reliable number of years. Engraved metal and sealed anodized aluminum hold up far better than printed stickers, and adhesive is often the first thing to fail.
The sellers we compared in November 2026 ranged from about $25 to $275, with most of the range depending on the material and whether a memorial page is included. Check whether the page has renewal fees.
No. Current iPhone and Android cameras recognize QR codes on their own. The visitor points the camera at the code and taps the link that appears.
The code stops leading anywhere, since it only holds a web address. Before you buy, ask each provider about renewal fees and what happens if they shut down.
Last updated November 4, 2026.
