A columbarium is a place built specifically to hold cremation urns in small compartments called niches. If you’ve been researching cemetery options and keep seeing words like “columbarium,” “niche,” and “inurnment,” you’re not behind—you’re just running into terminology that’s usually learned only when you need it.
This guide defines what a columbarium is, how niches work, and how related terms (inurnment, mausoleum, niche size) fit together. You’ll also get a practical checklist for choosing an urn that actually fits a columbarium space, because “right capacity” and “right dimensions” are two different problems.
Columbarium Meaning in Plain English
A columbarium is an above-ground structure (often a wall or courtyard system) designed for the interment of cremated remains in niches. Many public cemeteries, private cemeteries, churches, and mausoleums have columbarium spaces. Some are indoor and climate-controlled; others are outdoor memorial gardens with niche walls.
Here’s the simplest way to picture it: if a traditional cemetery section is “rows of graves,” a columbarium is “rows of niches.” You’re purchasing a specific compartment in a structure rather than a piece of ground.
A simple mental picture (not to scale) Columbarium wall +---------+---------+---------+ | Niche A | Niche B | Niche C | +---------+---------+---------+ | Niche D | Niche E | Niche F | +---------+---------+---------+ Each “Niche” is a compartment that holds one urn (single niche) or sometimes two urns (double niche), depending on cemetery rules.
What Is a Cremation Niche?
A cremation niche is the individual compartment within the columbarium that holds an urn. The niche is usually sealed with a faceplate (granite, marble, bronze, glass, or another approved cover) that may be engraved with a name and dates. Some cemeteries allow small medallions (for veterans, for example) while restricting decorations on the niche face.
One practical point families appreciate: niches are not “one size fits all.” Some are compact and meant for a single urn. Others are designed to accommodate two urns. For example, the Town of Arlington’s Mt. Pleasant Cemetery columbarium page states that each niche can accommodate up to two urns and lists interior niche dimensions as 9.5” high, 18” wide, and 11.5” deep, along with pricing by row height and an inurnment opening fee.
Columbarium Niche Size and Why “Fit” Is Not the Same as “Capacity”
Urns are sold by capacity (cubic inches), but niches are limited by exterior dimensions (height, width, depth). It is entirely possible to choose an urn with the correct capacity and still have it not fit the niche opening. This is the most common avoidable mistake families make with columbarium placement.
There is no universal niche size. As a reference point, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has published a typical niche face measurement of 10 1/2” x 15” x 20” deep for certain VA columbarium components. That can be useful as a baseline, but private cemeteries vary widely.
If you want a second real-world example, a Catholic cemetery price list (Holy Cross Cemetery, Ontario) notes niche dimensions of 11 3/4” x 11 3/4” x 10 1/2” deep for the niches listed on that sheet, along with single and double niche pricing.
Two measurements matter: 1) Interior niche dimensions (the usable space inside the compartment) 2) Door opening / faceplate opening (sometimes slightly smaller than interior) Ask the cemetery for BOTH if possible. Then compare to the urn’s exterior dimensions on the product listing.
Inurnment Definition and How Inurnment Works
Inurnment is the placement of cremated remains (in an urn) into a final resting place. In columbarium settings, it usually means the urn is placed inside the niche and the niche is closed/sealed with the faceplate.
Some glossaries define inurnment broadly as placing cremated remains in an urn and placing the urn in a niche, crypt, grave, or other suitable cemetery location. In practice, cemeteries may use “inurnment” language for niche placement and “interment” language for in-ground placement of cremated remains, even though both are forms of final placement.
Mausoleum vs Columbarium
A columbarium is specifically designed for urn placement. A mausoleum is a structure that houses crypts for caskets and may also include niches for urns. This is why a cemetery may have a “mausoleum” building that contains both crypts (for casket entombment) and a columbarium section (for urn niches). The words describe the structure’s primary function, not an entirely separate universe.
When you’re reading contracts, the simplest way to stay oriented is to translate terms into physical spaces:
- A niche is for an urn.
- A crypt is for a casket.
- A columbarium is a structure (or wall system) made of niches.
- A mausoleum is a structure made of crypts (and sometimes niches).
Columbarium Costs: What You’re Usually Paying For
Columbarium costs vary widely by location, whether the structure is indoor or outdoor, and whether you’re buying a single niche or a double niche. Many cemeteries price niches based on “row level” (higher rows may cost more), because accessibility and prominence affect demand.
In addition to the niche purchase itself, families commonly see separate charges for placement and administration. The Town of Arlington’s columbarium page provides a clear example of how fees can be structured: a niche purchase price that varies by row (top vs bottom rows), an “inurnment opening” fee, and an overtime charge for Saturdays/holidays, along with engraving/faceplate rules.
Here is a practical way to think about costs (your cemetery may use different names):
- Niche right / niche purchase: the cost of the niche itself (single or double; row location can matter).
- Inurnment fee / opening: the cost to open the niche, place the urn, and reseal it.
- Faceplate / inscription: engraving, nameplate, or plaque costs (sometimes included, sometimes separate).
- Administrative or overtime fees: weekend/holiday staffing or special scheduling charges.
If you are comparing cemeteries, ask for an itemized price sheet. It is common for a niche price to look reasonable until you add placement and inscription.
Buying a Columbarium Niche: What “Ownership” Usually Means
When people say “buy a niche,” they often imagine purchasing real estate. In most cemeteries, you are purchasing a right of interment/inurnment (the right to place remains in a specific space) under the cemetery’s rules. Those rules determine who can authorize placement, whether the niche can hold one or two urns, what the faceplate can say, and what decorations are permitted.
Practical questions to ask before you sign:
- Is the niche single or double, and how many urns are allowed?
- What are the interior niche dimensions and the door opening dimensions?
- What urn materials are permitted (especially for glass-front niches)?
- Who is authorized to approve an inurnment in this niche?
- What inscription rules apply (font, number of lines, emblem/medallion rules)?
- What decorations are permitted, and what will be removed by staff?
Adult Urn Size: Capacity Still Matters (Even in a Niche)
Inside the niche, you still need an urn that holds the right amount. Most adult urn shopping starts with capacity in cubic inches. If you want a fast reference, use a simple “1 cubic inch per pound” rule of thumb as a starting point, then choose a little buffer if you’re unsure or if the urn opening is narrow.
If you want to browse with capacity in mind, start with cremation urns for ashes, then narrow to full size cremation urns for ashes for a single adult’s remains. If your niche is intended for two urns (or your plan includes a second placement later), it can be helpful to consider whether two separate urns will be placed in the niche rather than one large companion urn.
A Simple Checklist: Choosing an Urn That Fits a Columbarium Space
This is the “no surprises” checklist. It is intentionally short and practical.
- Get niche measurements in writing. Ask for interior height, width, and depth, and ask whether the door opening is smaller than the interior.
- Confirm how many urns are allowed. Single niche vs double niche policies change everything.
- Match urn exterior dimensions to the niche. Capacity is not the same as exterior size.
- Match urn capacity to the remains. Use a capacity guideline, then add a cushion if needed.
- Choose a closure you trust. If the urn will be moved or reopened later, avoid permanent sealing until the plan is final.
- Confirm inscription rules early. Some cemeteries limit lines, fonts, and symbols; some require on-site engraving.
If you want a dedicated step-by-step measuring guide, Funeral.com’s niche-fit resource is designed to prevent the “it should fit but doesn’t” problem: Columbarium Niche Fit.
Cemetery Cremation Options: How a Columbarium Fits Into the Bigger Picture
A columbarium niche is one of several cemetery cremation options. Others include in-ground cremation plots (urn gardens), family grave placement (where allowed), and scattering gardens. Families often choose a columbarium when they want:
- A permanent place to visit, without in-ground burial
- A cleaner, often more accessible visiting experience (especially indoors)
- A dedicated space that can hold one or two urns
If your family is still deciding between “home, niche, burial, or scattering,” it can help to browse urn types by plan and keep the decision staged. Many families keep the remains in the temporary container until the niche purchase and measurements are finalized, then choose the permanent urn once the constraints are clear.
Where to Start Shopping (Without Getting Lost)
If your niche measurements are already confirmed, these links keep shopping focused:
- Cremation urns for ashes (browse all styles; filter by dimensions/capacity)
- Full size cremation urns (primary urn for one adult)
- Keepsake urns (if your plan includes sharing)
- Engravable urns (if personalization matters, within niche rules)
And if you’re still early in the process and need terminology support, it can be helpful to keep a glossary page open while reading cemetery paperwork. Clear language reduces stress.
A Calm Bottom Line
A columbarium is simply a structure built to hold cremation urns in niches. The most important practical distinction is that urns are sized by capacity, but niches are limited by exterior dimensions. If you do one thing to protect yourself from a costly mistake, ask the cemetery for the niche dimensions before you buy an urn. Once you have those numbers, everything becomes simpler: choose an urn that fits the space, then choose a design that fits the person you’re honoring.
