Vault
Also called: Burial vault, Outer burial container, Grave liner
A concrete or metal box placed in the grave around the casket. Required by most cemeteries (not by state law) to keep the ground from settling as the casket decomposes.
Most US cemeteries require an outer burial container — either a 'vault' (concrete, sealed, more expensive) or a 'grave liner' (concrete, open-bottom, less expensive). The reason is operational: vaults prevent the ground from collapsing into the casket over time, which would make mowing and grounds upkeep difficult.
Vaults are not required by any state law. The cemetery's contract is the reason. Some cemeteries — usually older, smaller, or specifically green — do not require any outer container.
Typical 2026 prices: basic concrete grave liner $700–$1,500; sealed concrete vault $1,500–$3,500; bronze or copper vault $5,000–$15,000. Like caskets, vaults can be bought third-party at significant savings, though fewer families know this is an option.
Funeral homes sometimes describe vaults as 'protective' or 'guaranteeing eternal protection.' These are sales claims, not facts. The mechanical purpose is to keep the cemetery's grounds level.
- Casket— The container the body is placed in for viewing and burial. Required for traditional funerals; optional for direct cremation (a cardboard 'alternative container' suffices).
- Traditional funeral— A funeral with embalming, viewing, a formal service at a funeral home or place of worship, and burial in a cemetery. The most expensive of the common options.
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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