If you’re planning a cremation burial, it’s surprisingly common to hit one confusing question right when you thought you were done making decisions: Do we need a vault to bury the urn? Families often ask this after they’ve already chosen cremation urns for ashes, figured out whether they’ll be keeping ashes at home, and started thinking about the cemetery portion of the plan. Then a cemetery handbook (or a quick phone call with the office) introduces new terms—urn vault, liner, outer burial container, installation fee—and it can feel like one more unexpected layer on an already heavy week.
The most honest answer is this: some cemeteries require an urn vault (or urn liner) for in-ground burial, and some don’t. Requirements vary by cemetery, by section of the cemetery, and by the kind of memorial space you’re using. What doesn’t vary is why they ask for it and how to make a decision that feels practical, respectful, and aligned with your budget and your loved one’s wishes.
This guide will walk you through what an urn vault is, when it’s typically required, and how to confirm requirements before you purchase anything—so your plans stay calm and simple, not expensive and rushed.
What an urn vault is, in plain language
An urn vault is a protective outer container that goes around a cremation urn when the urn is buried in the ground. Think of it as a sturdy “shell” the urn rests inside. Some are made of concrete, some are made of polymer or a combination of materials, and some are specifically designed to be sealed.
You’ll also hear the word “liner.” In cemetery terms, a grave liner is often described as a simpler version of a vault that helps keep the ground from sinking. The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) explains that vaults and liners are outside containers used to support the grave and reduce settling, with liners being the lightweight version intended to keep the surface from sinking in.
For cremation burial, the concept is similar—just sized for an urn instead of a casket.
Why cemeteries sometimes require an urn vault
Most cemetery rules are less about “protecting the urn” in an emotional sense and more about protecting the grounds and what’s built on top of them over time. If a buried container breaks down or the soil settles, the surface can sink. Over years, that settling can tilt memorial markers, create uneven ground, and complicate mowing and maintenance.
That’s the core reason vaults and liners exist: to help maintain a level surface and reduce settling. ICCFA’s explanation of vaults and liners centers on that purpose—keeping the grave surface from sinking in.
It can feel frustrating when you’re grieving, because it doesn’t feel like something you should have to think about. But from a cemetery’s perspective—especially in sections with flat markers, lawn crypts, or heavy maintenance schedules—ground stability is part of long-term care.
The three most common placement scenarios
Where the urn is going matters more than the urn itself. Before you shop, it helps to picture which of these scenarios matches your plan.
Burial in a standard grave plot
If you’re burying the urn in a regular cemetery plot (sometimes in a family grave, sometimes in a dedicated cremation plot), an urn vault or liner is the most likely “extra requirement” you’ll encounter. Some cemeteries allow a direct urn burial without an outer container; others require a vault/liner for stability and maintenance consistency, and they’ll have specific size or material rules.
This is where families often choose between a full-size urn and something smaller. If you’re burying only a portion of ashes (for example, sharing remains among relatives), small cremation urns or keepsake urns can be part of the plan—but cemetery requirements still apply to whatever is being buried.
If you’re still deciding on the urn itself, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes is a good starting point for full-size options: Cremation Urns for Ashes. For shared keepsakes, you can browse Small Cremation Urns for Ashes and Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
Inurnment in a niche or columbarium
“Inurnment” usually means the urn is placed in a niche—often in a columbarium (a wall of niches), a mausoleum, or another above-ground structure. In these cases, you typically do not need an urn vault because the urn is not being buried in soil. What you may need is an urn that fits the niche dimensions and meets material rules (some niches require sealed urns or prohibit certain breakable materials).
If you’re not sure what urn size you need, this Funeral.com guide What Size Cremation Urn Do I Need? is written for real-life decision-making (not just math).
Scattering, water ceremonies, or keeping ashes at home (with a later plan)
Many families choose cremation because it gives them time. You don’t have to solve every detail right away. You can select an urn for today, grieve, and decide on burial later. In that “later” category, you’ll see plans like scattering, placing some ashes in a cemetery, and keeping some at home.
If your plan includes keeping ashes at home, it’s worth reading Funeral.com’s practical, gentle guidance on safety, placement, and family conversations.
If a water ceremony is part of the story—what families sometimes call water burial—you may also want to understand what the ceremony looks like and what containers are appropriate.
How to confirm urn vault requirements before you buy anything
If you only take one practical step from this article, make it this: call (or email) the cemetery office before purchasing an urn vault or assuming you need one.
Cemeteries can differ widely. One may require an urn vault for any in-ground burial. Another may require it only in lawn-marker sections. Another may allow direct burial in a dedicated cremation garden but require a specific vault in a traditional plot.
When you contact the cemetery, ask for clear answers to these questions (and write them down):
- Do you require an urn vault or liner for in-ground urn burial in this section?
- If yes, what are the required dimensions (internal and external)?
- Are there material rules for the urn itself (metal vs. wood vs. ceramic, sealed vs. unsealed)?
- Do you require installation by the cemetery (and is there an installation fee)?
- Are there rules about depth, number of urns per plot, or marker type?
That short phone call can prevent the most common headache families run into: buying a beautiful urn, then learning it doesn’t fit the niche or doesn’t meet the cemetery’s burial container rules.
If you’re in the earlier phase—still figuring out the bigger picture—Funeral.com’s planning-focused guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Actually Fits Your Plans is a grounding read
When an urn vault makes sense even if it isn’t required
Sometimes families choose an urn vault even when the cemetery doesn’t require one. Not because they’re being upsold, but because it fits their priorities.
If the urn is being buried under a flat marker
Flat markers and lawn sections are often maintained with equipment that passes over the graves. Even when rules are flexible, families sometimes prefer the stability an outer container provides—especially if they’re placing a marker directly above the urn burial location.
If the urn material is fragile
Ceramic and glass urns can be meaningful and beautiful, but they’re not always ideal for direct burial in soil. If your chosen urn is fragile, an urn vault can add protection and reduce the chance of breakage during installation or over time.
If you’re weighing materials with burial in mind, this guide is one of the clearest “real world” explanations: Cremation Urn Materials Guide (Plus What Can Be Buried)
If your family wants the flexibility of a later re-interment
Most families don’t want to imagine moving remains, but life changes happen—relocation, family decisions, cemetery expansion, or a later wish to place the urn in a niche. Having an urn buried inside a protective container can sometimes make future handling more straightforward (subject to cemetery rules and local regulations).
Concrete vs. polymer urn vaults
Families often hear “concrete” and picture something rough and heavy, but concrete is common because it’s stable and strong. Polymer options can be lighter and sometimes marketed as sealed or water-resistant.
What matters most isn’t choosing the “best” material in the abstract; it’s choosing what your cemetery accepts and what your budget can handle without regret. Many cemeteries focus on performance standards: stable support, proper sizing, and compatibility with their installation methods.
A buyer’s checklist that prevents the most common mistakes
Shopping for an urn vault (or approving one through the cemetery) is easier when you treat it like a fit-and-function purchase, not an emotional one. Here’s the short checklist families lean on when they want a decision they won’t have to redo:
Size and fit
Urn vault sizing is not “one-size-fits-all.” You need enough interior space for your urn, plus room for the vault’s closure (if it’s sealed). If your urn is slightly oversized, you can end up having to replace either the urn or the vault—an avoidable expense.
If you haven’t chosen an urn yet, it can help to start from a known category and then confirm the specific item’s dimensions. Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes and Full Size Cremation Urns for Ashes collections are good for broad browsing, while the sizing guide above helps you narrow the capacity.
Cemetery approval
If the cemetery requires an urn vault, ask whether they require it to be purchased through them or whether you can bring your own. Some allow third-party purchases as long as the vault meets their specifications; others prefer (or mandate) their own approved vendors.
Sealing and water exposure
If the cemetery is in a high-water-table area, or if you simply want extra protection, ask what “sealed” means in practice. Some containers are designed to reduce moisture intrusion, but no burial environment is truly “dry forever.” A cemetery’s own requirements are usually shaped by local soil conditions.
Installation expectations
Some cemeteries install vaults with their staff. Others work with a vault company. Either way, ask about timing, fees, and what you need to provide on the day of burial or inurnment.
How cremation trends connect to cemetery rules
A quiet reason this question comes up more now than it used to is that cremation has become the majority choice in the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025 (with burial projected at 31.6%), reflecting how common cremation has become for modern families.
As cemeteries adapt to more cremation burials—cremation gardens, niche buildings, shared family plots—rules and product options evolve too. That doesn’t mean the rules are always intuitive. It just means you’re not alone if you feel like you’re learning a whole new vocabulary mid-grief.
Where cremation jewelry fits when burial is part of the plan
Sometimes the tenderest solution is not choosing between “home” and “cemetery,” but doing both—burying the main urn while keeping a small portion close. That’s where cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces can feel meaningful without changing the burial plan.
If your family wants that option, you can browse Funeral.com’s Cremation Necklaces collection for pieces designed to hold a small amount of ashes.
And if the plan includes a beloved animal companion as well, Funeral.com also has dedicated pet urns collections like Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes, Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes, and Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes.
A gentle note about cost and planning
An urn vault is one of those expenses that can feel “extra” because it often appears late in the process. If costs are part of what you’re balancing, it can help to zoom out and look at the full picture of funeral planning and cremation budgeting—what’s required, what’s optional, and what you can choose later.
Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost breaks down common price ranges and where urns, cemetery fees, and memorial items tend to fit.
The simplest way to decide
If you’re feeling emotionally tired by the time you reach this choice, here’s a simple decision path that works for most families:
If you’re burying the urn in the ground, call the cemetery first and follow their rule. If you’re placing the urn in a niche, focus on size and material requirements, not a vault. If you’re not sure yet, choose an urn that fits your life today—and give yourself permission to finalize the cemetery details when you’re ready.
Cremation is often chosen for its flexibility. It’s okay to use that flexibility.
