# Insurance for stonemasons and stone sculptors in Germany

> Stonemasons and stone sculptors in Germany handle loads of several hundred kilos with saws, cranes and diamond tools. A headstone that topples years later, a stair tread that breaks or a kitchen worktop that cracks while being fitted: claims often come late and cost a lot. This page explains which insurance your business needs and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-stonemason.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Who is liable if a headstone falls over years after it was set?

German law (§ 836 BGB) applies strict rules to structures that collapse or come loose: the possessor has to prove he took due care. If the headstone was set badly, the grave holder or the cemetery will usually claim against the stonemason. That is why every business needs public liability with a high limit for injury and cover for past work.

## At a glance

- **Trade law:** Steinmetzen und Steinbildhauer is listed in Annex A of the German Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) as a trade requiring a licence
- **Compulsory:** No compulsory insurance for the business; motor liability is required for every vehicle, including a lorry with loading crane
- **Biggest risk:** Stones that topple or break and injure people, often years after the work
- **Basic cover from:** about €450 a year for public liability for a small business, a guide figure from our quoting work
- **Statutory accident insurance:** Employees are insured by law through the Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer); owners can join voluntarily

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Toppling headstone:** A headstone without proper dowels tips over and injures a visitor. The claim ends up with the stonemason.
- **Breakage while fitting:** A granite worktop cracks as it goes in; material has to be reordered and the kitchen waits for weeks.
- **Crane work:** While unloading, the crane swings a stele into a house wall or a parked car.
- **Damage to buildings:** Laying stairs or window sills damages plaster, tiles or pipes.
- **Machines:** Bridge saws, waterjet cutters and CNC mills are expensive and every breakdown hurts.
- **Dust and noise:** Silica dust and noise affect health. Anyone who falls ill often cannot continue in the trade.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 2, Cyber 2, Downtime 3, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Pays for injury and property damage from your work, even years later, including damage to items worked on, crane damage and pipes. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Car insurance** (Strongly advised): Compulsory for lorries, vans and loading cranes; damage during loading and unloading must be expressly covered. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Machinery breakdown** (Strongly advised): Protects bridge saws, waterjet systems and CNC mills against breakdown and operating errors. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-machinery-breakdown.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces tools, raw blocks and finished headstones after fire, storm, water damage or burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Cargo insurance** (Depends on the business): For finished stones that break on the way to the cemetery or site. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cargo-insurance.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Pays fixed costs if the saw or workshop is out of action for a long time. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes over defects, colour differences and invoices. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on turnover, staff and type of work: headstones, building work with stairs and facades, and kitchen worktops are rated differently. Crane work and costly machines push the premium up.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Small headstone business, two people, €5 million cover | about €450 to €900 a year |
| Business liability | Stonemason with six staff, building work and worktops | about €1,200 to €2,800 a year |
| Machinery breakdown | Bridge saw and edge grinder, new value €150,000 | about €700 to €1,800 a year |
| Business contents | Stock of raw material and finished stones worth €120,000 | about €350 to €900 a year |
| Car insurance | 7.5 tonne lorry with loading crane, liability and partial cover | about €1,500 to €3,000 a year |

For comparison: Public liability for a small headstone business costs about as much a year as a simple grave surround.

_Guide figures from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, October 2026. Your premium depends on your business, region and claims history; we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [Handwerksordnung, Anlage A: trades requiring a licence](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hwo/anlage_a.html)
- [BGB, § 836: liability for collapsing structures](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__836.html)
- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, § 1: compulsory motor liability](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/__1.html)
- [SGB VII, § 2: persons insured by law](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__2.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Headstones** (small business making headstones and inscriptions): Business liability, Business contents, Car insurance. Together: about €1,500 to €3,200 a year
- **Workshop** (stonemason with saw, building work and worktops): Business liability, Business contents, Car insurance, Machinery breakdown. Together: about €3,500 to €7,500 a year
- **All round** (master business with CNC, crane, several vehicles and showroom): Business liability, Business contents, Car insurance, Machinery breakdown, Business interruption, Cargo insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: about €6,500 to €14,000 a year

## The worst day for a stonemason

Six claims stonemasons really see, all on one day. Click through and see who pays.

- 07:30: Unloading, the crane arm swings and a stele hits the neighbour's house wall. (€6,500, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 09:45: The granite worktop cracks as it is fitted; material and cutting are lost. (€4,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:20: A headstone set three years ago topples and breaks a visitor's foot. (€18,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 13:30: The bridge saw fails with a bearing fault and orders pile up. (€9,500, Paid by: Machinery breakdown)
- 15:10: On the way to the cemetery, a finished stone slides on the truck bed and breaks. (€3,200, Paid by: Cargo insurance)
- 17:40: A homeowner refuses to pay for outdoor steps, claiming colour differences. (€4,500, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €46,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have crane damage during loading and unloading expressly included in liability or motor cover.
- Agree cover for damage to items worked on; otherwise a cracked worktop is often not covered.
- Photograph dowels and foundations when setting headstones.
- Tell the insurer all your work areas: headstones, building, facades and worktops are rated differently.
- Insure machines at new value; a bridge saw easily costs six figures.
- Make sure cover continues for past work after you stop trading.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We understand long tail liability:** Stone lasts decades, and so does liability. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares several insurers and checks cover for past work and crane damage.
- **We know heavy claims:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including cranes and trailers.
- **Workshop, vehicles and family:** Business, fleet and private provision are handled together.
- **Family run since 1989:** Our advice is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### What insurance does a stonemason need?

Mainly public liability including damage to items worked on and crane damage, plus motor, machinery and contents insurance.

### Is public liability compulsory for stonemasons?

Not by law. Cemetery administrations and clients often ask for proof before you can work.

### Do I need a master craftsman qualification?

Stonemasonry is a licensed craft under Annex A of the German Crafts Code, so registration in the crafts register generally requires a master qualification or an equivalent.

### What does insurance for a stonemason cost?

From our quoting work, public liability for a small headstone business starts at about €450 a year. With machines, crane and building work, a package is usually €3,500 to €7,500.

### Who pays if a worktop cracks during fitting?

That is damage to the item you are working on. It is only covered if that extension is agreed, often with an excess.

### Are my employees covered for accidents at work?

Yes, employees are insured by law through the Berufsgenossenschaft. As the owner you can join voluntarily.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-stonemason.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.