Many cemeteries now require the use of an outer burial container, a thick shell designed to protect a buried casket from the weight of the soil above it, plus the added weight of riding mowers, backhoes and other heavy equipment used in the cemetery. Without this protection, the grave might sink over time. The most basic outer burial container is made of concrete and usually called a grave liner, grave box or concrete burial liner. A burial vault (also called a grave vault or a casket vault) is typically a more elaborate (and more tightly sealed) container made of concrete, metal, synthetic materials or a combination of materials.
Typical costs:
Expect to pay between $400 and $1,500 for a basic grave box or liner, typically made of unlined concrete with holes in the bottom to let water in. Prices vary depending on location, and the thickness and type of materials. A grave box/liner can be a solid box with a lid, or come in sections that are assembled inside the grave. Superior Memorial Service in Texas sells a basic concrete grave liner for $625.
Prices start at $600-$2,000 for a basic plastic- or steel-reinforced sealed concrete vault, and can cost $2,000-$4,000 for a double-reinforced vault of heavy concrete lined with layers of plastic, porcelain enamel or metal (steel, stainless steel, aluminum, bronze or copper ). Forest Lawn in California offers basic single-reinforced vaults for $675-$1,200 and double-reinforced models for $1,725-$2,860.
Premium metal burial vaults of stainless steel, copper or bronze, or vaults covered with a veneer of fake marble or granite typically start at $2,000-$5,000 and can increase to $5,000-$16,000 or more. The triple-reinforced "Wilbert Bronze"[1] sells for $6,300-$13,000, depending on the funeral home or mortuary.
If cremation urns are to be buried underground, protective urn vaults can cost $125-$900 or more, depending on size and quality of materials (polystyrene or concrete lined with stainless steel, copper or bronze).
Once the grave is opened (dug with heavy machinery) the liner or vault is placed in the bottom. If there is to be a graveside service, the casket is suspended above the grave. When the service is finished, the casket is lowered into the liner or vault, and the liner or vault is closed. The grave is then re-filled with dirt.
Most state and local laws do not require the use of an outer burial container, but some cemeteries require them. Often, a basic grave liner or box will meet any cemetery requirements. Federal law prohibits funeral homes, mortuaries or cemeteries from telling consumers that a sealed burial vault is required by law if that's not true.
Additional costs:
An oversized casket might require a larger grave liner or burial vault, putting it at the higher end of the price range or even more if it requires a custom-made liner or vault.
At the cemetery, there may be a vault installation fee of $100-$250 or more. This charge is included in some funeral/burial packages, but not all. St. Michael Cemetery[2] in Boston charges $200 to install a grave liner or burial vault. There are also internment fees of $350-$3,000 for opening and closing a grave -- See How Much Does a Gravesite Cost.
Discounts:
Veterans Administration cemeteries provide a basic concrete grave liner for free as part of the free burials for honorably discharged veterans and their eligible dependents.
Shopping for burial vaults:
Under the federal Funeral Rule[3] , funeral homes and mortuaries must provide a written list of prices for any outer burial containers that they carry. This can either be included on the funeral home's general price list or on a separate outer burial container price list.
Prices for funeral products like burial vaults vary considerably between companies, so it pays to shop around. Manufacturers of outer burial containers do not sell directly to the public, so a liner or vault must be purchased from a funeral home, mortuary or cemetery. Search for local funeral homes or mortuaries at the National Funeral Directors Association or the Selected Independent Funeral Homes[4] , or at TheFuneralSite.com.
Make sure the liner or vault meets any cemetery requirements and will work with the selected casket. The National Concrete Burial Vault Association provides basic guidelines for selecting a burial vault[5] and also offers a searchable directory[6] of its members.
10 Quick and Inexpensive Home Makeover Projects To Do While At Home You may not be able to host the large family gathering for the holidays, but there are still many ways to pick up items curbside to spruce up your indoor space for your everyday enjoyment and to bring a more festive spirit. || Posted December 30 2020
10 Key Ways to Prepare for Extreme Snow Forecasters are predicting a true nor'easter will hit the eastern and central states with rain, thunderstorms, ice, snow and high winds over the Thanksgiving weekend. It's crucial to plan ahead, before bad weather hits. || Posted November 26 2013
Posted by: SAD SISTER IN SMALL TOWN, USA in ST GEORGE, SC.
Posted: January 11th, 2019 06:01AM
Materials:
Funeral Home/Mortuary: BRYANT FUNERAL H
THIS IS A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH ONLY ONE FUNERAL HOME WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS, SO I THINK THEY GROSSLY OVERCHARGE. THIS WAS JUST THE CHARGE FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE VAULT, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER MISC. BURIAL COSTS WHICH WAS WELL OVER 10,000.00!
The $900 included the Burial vault, digging of the grave, installing of the vault, tent set up, artificial grass and sealing of the vault! Simmons and Son Burial Vaults. Very professional and affordable. Our parish is lucky to have Mr Simmons in the area.
Posted by: Samuel Degraffenreaidt in Siler City, NC.
Posted: June 17th, 2015 02:06PM
Materials: Concrete
Funeral Home/Mortuary: in the future
Are vaults pre-installed.Chatham Memorial Park in Siler City, NC stated that they pre-installed vaults. A person may not die in the next 30-40 years but the vault is in the ground and therefore, a person may be put in an old vault, is that right? Or what I saw is someone has been buried in my grave?
CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.
CostHelper Community
Radiologist Fee Paid: 350.00 Any radiologist reading your mammogram will be at least $350. They have 11-13 years of training after high school before they begin work. If they are not board certified, watch out. Most are and it beats getting cancer... [more]
DIY Ceiling Paid: 50.00 We bought a house with a cheap paint job. The ceilings were sprayed the same color as the walls. During COVID I painted the ceilings and a bathroom. A 120 square foot room took me about 4 hours (2 coats)... [more]
DIY vs Installed Small Deck Paid: 3000.00 We paid $1300 for materials and $1700 for labor on a 100 square foot composite deck plus a redwood gate. It took 30 hours, done last year. My husband built a 100 sf heart redwood deck for about $1000 in materials in 2019... [more]
Colposcopy with biopsy Paid: 756.00 This service was wayy to expensive in my opinion. For a 20-25 minute total visit I had to pay out of pocked 756 - 187 to OBGYN, 229 to pathologist, then 340$ for facility fee or the hospital. I don't even know what that charge was for... [more]
Bilateral Diagnostic Mammogram and Third Mammogram Paid: 1389.66 My 2021 bill, still in shock! Weill Cornell, in-network provider, billed my insurance $908 for a bilateral diagnostic mammogram, and $712 for a third mammogram one breast... [more]
shoulder mri Paid: 8000.00 Seriously, 8K for an MRI before all the secret insurance kicks in. I was stuck with a 1200 bill and my insurance is pretty good. This is insane for a 20 minute procedure with no nurse assistance... [more]