Memorial Wind Chimes: Choosing, Engraving and Hanging Them

Memorial wind chimes are chimes chosen in memory of someone who has died, often engraved with their name and hung on a porch, tree or garden. They are a lasting alternative to flowers and a quiet reminder every time the wind moves them. Metal chimes last longest outdoors, the tone depends on tube length and material, and most cemeteries do not allow chimes at the grave, so they work best at home.

What are memorial wind chimes?

A wind chime is a set of tubes, rods, bells or glass pieces that sound when the wind moves them. A memorial chime is the same instrument chosen for remembrance. It might be engraved, hung in a favorite spot of the person who died, or given to a grieving family.

The best memorial chime is one whose sound you and the family like.

What material should you choose?

Where it will hang matters more than how it looks in the picture.

The strings and hanging hardware also matter, since they are what fail first. Look for sturdy cord and a metal hook or ring, and check them before storm season.

How do you choose the tone and size?

Longer, wider tubes give deeper, slower notes. Short, thin tubes give higher, lighter ones. A big low chime can sound solemn and carry far, while a small high one is gentle and close. If you can, listen to the chime or a sound sample before you buy.

Think about the space too:

• Small yard or balcony: a shorter chime with softer tubes.
• Large garden or open porch: a longer chime can suit the space.
• Windy site: a heavier chime with a wind sail that is not too light, or it will ring constantly.
• Close neighbors: choose a gentler tone and hang it away from shared fences.

Claims that a specific tuning or frequency lowers stress or treats grief are sales language, not settled science. Some people simply find the sound comforting. That is reason enough to choose one.

What can you engrave on a memorial wind chime?

Engraving usually goes on the sail, the flat piece that catches the breeze, or on a small plate or a charm.

• Name and dates. The most common choice, and clear to read.
• A short line. A favorite phrase, a nickname or a line of a song or a poem. Keep it short so it fits.
• A symbol. A bird, a tree, a boat, a flower or an instrument that mattered to them.
• A family detail. A place, a team or a trade that reflects their life.

Check the spelling and dates before you order, as engraved items usually can't be returned. Small text is hard to read on a swinging sail, so choose a clear font.

Where should you hang a memorial chime?

Pick a place you can see or hear from where you sit, and where wind arrives gently rather than in gusts. A covered porch, a pergola, a sturdy tree branch or a corner of a memorial garden all work. Our memorial garden design guide has ideas for making a small spot to sit, and a chime can join a memorial tree or a memorial bench.

• Hang it high enough that people don't walk into it, but low enough that you can reach it to clean it.
• Keep it away from open windows near where people sleep, if you think it may be too loud at night.
• Take it down or secure it in storms, as strong wind can tangle the cords or damage tubes.
• Wipe the tubes now and then, and check strings and hooks each season.

Can you hang a wind chime at a grave?

Usually not. The VA's NCA Directive 3425 lists wind chimes among items that are not allowed on gravesites in VA national cemeteries, alongside lights, shepherd's hooks and statues. Directive 3425 also bars anything placed on or attached to a headstone or marker. State, city and private cemeteries set their own rules, and many restrict hanging items, so ask before you bring one.

Ask the cemetery office for its written rules before you leave anything. Our grave decoration rules guide explains what cemeteries typically allow, and the cemetery rules and regulations guide explains what their rules documents cover.

Are wind chimes a good sympathy gift?

They can be. A chime is a long-lasting alternative to flowers, and people with a garden or porch often value one. Think first about whether the person has somewhere to hang it, whether the sound would suit them and their neighbors, and whether they would prefer something quiet. For apartment dwellers, a framed photo or a small candle may be a better choice.

Include a short handwritten note. Our alternatives to funeral flowers and funeral gift etiquette guides have more ideas and advice on what to send and when.

Do wind chimes help with grief?

Some people find a chime comforting because it brings the person to mind without any effort. That is a personal experience, and it works as a ritual, a small gesture that marks that someone mattered. It does not replace support. The NHS says sadness after a bereavement should ease gradually with time, and suggests seeking help if you have had low mood for more than two weeks or grief is not easing after many months. If that sounds familiar, talk to your doctor or a grief counselor.

What to do next

1. Decide where the chime will hang and how windy and sheltered the spot is.
2. Choose a material for that climate, then listen to the tone if you can.
3. Keep engraving short, and check names and dates twice.
4. If the chime is for a grave, ask the cemetery office first. Most often it will be allowed only at home.

Other ways to keep someone present include a memorial candle, a memorial bird feeder or a memorial garden stone.