If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Most niches are standard,” and then tried to shop for an urn, you already know the problem. A columbarium niche can look uniform from the outside, but the interior can vary dramatically from cemetery to cemetery, from one wall to the next, and even between front-row and back-row niches in the same installation. The result is a very common family experience: you choose a beautiful urn, it arrives, and suddenly you’re asking, “Will this actually fit?”
This guide is here to prevent that moment. You’ll learn how to measure the space in a way that matches how cemeteries actually install urns, how to compare those measurements to an urn listing without guesswork, and how to choose an urn for a columbarium niche that fits cleanly the first time. The single most important takeaway is also the simplest: ask the cemetery for the niche’s interior dimensions before you buy anything.
If you want to browse while you read, start with full size cremation urns for ashes and engravable cremation urns for ashes, since most niche placements use a full-capacity urn and many families want names and dates included. If you’re earlier in the process and still deciding among home, niche, burial, or scattering, the broadest category to orient yourself is cremation urns for ashes.
Why “Standard Niche Size” Is a Myth That Costs Families Time
Here is what niche variability looks like in the real world. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes a columbarium niche (in its VA cemetery context) as measuring 10½ inches by 15 inches by 20 inches deep (measured at the face). That is a very specific footprint that many families assume is universal, but it is not. A municipal cemetery example from the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts lists niche interior dimensions of 9.5 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 11.5 inches deep, and notes each niche can accommodate up to two urns. Those two examples alone show why guessing can backfire: one is taller and much deeper, the other is shorter but wider, and the “shape” changes what fits comfortably.
Private and church columbaria can vary just as widely. One interior-niche supplier lists “standard” niche openings that include 12×12×12, 16×12×12, 18×12×12, and even 24×12×12 options, which is a very different universe from a 10.5×15×20 niche. And some niche systems also publish a separate “door pass-through” size that is smaller than the full interior, which matters because a niche can technically be roomy inside but still have a restrictive opening.
This is why “ask the cemetery for interior dimensions” is not a polite suggestion. It’s the difference between a calm installation and a return-and-exchange problem on a day when you do not want one more task.
The Four Measurements You Need From the Cemetery
When families say “We have a niche,” they often mean “We have a contract.” The person who has the actual measurements is usually the cemetery office. The most useful way to request information is to ask for measurements in inches and to ask whether the numbers are interior dimensions or face measurements.
These are the four measurements that prevent almost every fit mistake:
- Interior height (top to bottom inside the niche)
- Interior width (side to side inside the niche)
- Interior depth (front to back usable depth)
- Pass-through opening (the clear opening size if the niche has a door frame, lip, or inset)
If the cemetery can provide a diagram or a measurement sheet, that’s ideal. If they can’t, ask whether there is any interior lip or hardware that reduces usable depth. In some installations, the “measured at the face” dimension is not the same as the fully usable interior depth because of door frames, inner lips, or mounting components.
A simple script for calling the cemetery
If making the call feels awkward, use this and keep it simple: “We’re purchasing an urn for niche placement. Can you tell me the niche’s interior height, interior width, and usable interior depth, and also the pass-through opening size if the door frame reduces the opening?”
You do not need to justify why you’re asking. Good cemeteries expect this question because they’ve seen families forced into exchanges when they didn’t ask.
How to Measure the Niche Yourself (When You’re Allowed)
Sometimes the cemetery will share the measurements, and sometimes they will invite you to measure during a visit. If you measure yourself, use a small tape measure and focus on the inside. If the niche is open, measure the interior height, width, and depth. If the niche has a door and you’re measuring through a glass or granite front, you still need the interior measurements from staff because the usable depth can be different than what you can estimate from the outside.
If you are measuring in person, one practical detail helps: measure the tightest point, not the “average.” If there is any lip, corner block, or frame, treat the smallest clear area as your true limit.
How to Compare Niche Dimensions to an Urn Listing
Families often confuse two different “sizes.” One is capacity, measured in cubic inches, which tells you whether the urn can hold the full remains. The other is exterior dimensions, which tell you whether the urn can physically fit in the niche.
For niche placement, exterior dimensions are the gatekeeper. A full-size urn may have the right capacity and still fail the niche test because it’s too tall, too wide, or too deep. That is why a niche-friendly shopping approach looks like this: choose a full-capacity urn category first, then filter by footprint and compare dimensions like you’re fitting furniture into a closet.
If you want a quick refresher on capacity and why “one cubic inch per pound” is often used as a gentle sizing rule, Funeral.com’s guide lays it out clearly and includes a niche-specific reminder to compare interior niche dimensions to the urn’s measurements in the listing: What Size Cremation Urn Do I Need?.
Leave clearance on purpose
Even when the urn dimensions appear to match the niche, most families do better leaving clearance. A good rule is to avoid a “tight fit” on any dimension. If the niche is 12 inches wide, an urn that is exactly 12 inches wide is usually not the smartest choice, because installation isn’t done with perfect, frictionless geometry. A little space makes placement calmer and reduces the chance of scraping finishes or needing to angle the urn in awkwardly.
If you’re between two urn styles and one has a slightly slimmer footprint, that is often the safer niche choice even if both have adequate capacity. Funeral.com’s niche guidance specifically calls out that a slimmer footprint can be the difference between “fits beautifully” and “we have to exchange it.” What Size Cremation Urn Do I Need?
Single vs. Companion Niche: The Question That Changes Everything
Many niches are sold as “single” or “companion,” but what that means can vary by cemetery. Some are designed to hold one urn. Some will hold two urns. Some will hold two only if the urns are a particular shape and size. The Town of Arlington’s columbarium, for example, notes that each niche accommodates up to two urns, which is a very different situation than a niche intended for one urn only.
This matters because families sometimes buy two full-size urns assuming they will fit side by side, when what the niche really accommodates is two smaller or “niche-profile” urns. If your plan involves two people together, the best move is to confirm the cemetery’s “two urn” policy first, then shop accordingly. If you’re planning for two sets of remains in a single vessel, a purpose-built companion design can also be the cleanest solution. You can browse those in companion cremation urns for ashes.
What If the Urn You Love Won’t Fit?
This is where families often feel disappointed, especially if the urn was chosen with care. The good news is that you usually have options that preserve meaning without forcing the niche.
One option is to choose a different exterior shape with the same capacity. Niche placement often rewards a “box” or rectangular profile because it uses depth and width efficiently. Another option is to keep a primary urn at home and place a portion in the niche, but this only works if the cemetery allows partial interment and if your family is comfortable with that plan.
And this is where keepsake urns and cremation jewelry often relieve pressure in blended plans. Many families place the primary urn in the niche and keep a small share at home for anniversaries, personal rituals, or family members who need closeness. Funeral.com describes keepsake urns as typically under 7 cubic inches and designed for sharing and personal tributes. If someone wants a wearable memorial instead of a second urn on a shelf, cremation jewelry can hold a symbolic portion while the niche placement remains permanent.
The Niche Fit Checklist That Prevents Last-Minute Stress
Most niche-fit problems happen for predictable reasons. A family didn’t get interior dimensions, relied on “standard,” or compared the niche size to urn capacity rather than urn exterior measurements. If you want to reduce this to a calm final check, these questions are the ones that matter.
- Do we have the interior height, width, and usable depth in inches?
- Is there a door frame or pass-through opening that’s smaller than the interior?
- Does the niche allow one urn or two, and does the cemetery have preferred shapes?
- Are there any material or closure requirements? (Some cemeteries use the word “sealed,” and it’s worth clarifying what they mean.)
If you’re choosing the urn at the same time you’re deciding how to personalize it, it can help to start with urns designed for engraving. The easiest browse is engravable cremation urns for ashes, then filter by footprint once you have the niche dimensions.
The Bottom Line
Niche fit is not something you should have to guess. Real niche sizes vary widely, and the difference between a smooth placement and a frustrating exchange is usually one phone call. Ask the cemetery for the niche’s interior height, interior width, usable interior depth, and pass-through opening size, then compare those numbers to the urn’s exterior measurements, leaving clearance so installation feels calm.
When you’re ready to shop with confidence, start with full size cremation urns for ashes for a primary niche urn, add personalization options through engravable cremation urns for ashes, and consider keepsake urns or cremation jewelry if your family’s plan includes both permanence in the niche and closeness at home.
