Urn Vaults

What Is an Urn Vault?

An urn vault is a sealed protective container designed to hold a cremation urn during ground burial. While a cremation urn stores the ashes, the urn vault surrounds and shields the urn from the soil, moisture, and the weight of the earth above it. Many cemeteries require a cremation burial vault as a condition of interment — the vault provides a stable subsurface structure that prevents the ground from settling over time. For families planning a cemetery burial, an urn vault is often a practical necessity rather than an optional upgrade. For more detail on state-by-state and cemetery-specific requirements, see our guide to urn vault requirements for burial.

Types of Urn Vaults by Material

Marble and Cultured Stone Vaults are among the most widely accepted options at cemeteries that specify a hard-material outer container. Cultured marble vaults offer the classic stone appearance — white body with grey veining — at a lower price point than solid natural stone, while meeting the structural requirements most cemeteries impose. Marble and stone vaults are well suited for permanent cemetery burial where the vault material may be inspected before interment.

Stainless Steel Vaults provide exceptional resistance to corrosion and physical pressure. Powder-coated finishes protect the exterior against rust, and the steel construction offers a secure, weather-resistant shell around the cremation urn. Steel urn vaults typically feature a dome-center lid design that gives the interior more vertical clearance, accommodating taller urn styles.

Plastic and ABS Vaults are lightweight, affordable, and highly durable. ABS plastic vaults are engineered to withstand significant compressive pressure per square foot, making them structurally sound for ground burial despite their lighter weight. Plastic urn burial vaults are a cost-effective choice when the cemetery permits non-stone materials, and they are easy to transport and handle before interment.

Choosing the Right Urn Vault

Sizing. The vault's interior dimensions must be larger than the exterior dimensions of your cremation urn. When shopping, check the inside measurements of the vault against the outside measurements of the urn. Standard adult urns typically measure between 10 and 13 inches tall and 7 to 10 inches wide. If you are unsure what size urn you need before selecting a vault, our urn sizing guide walks through the calculation step by step.

Cemetery Requirements. Before purchasing, contact the cemetery to confirm whether they require a specific vault material (hard material vs. any material), minimum wall thickness, or outside dimensions. Some cemeteries maintain a list of approved vault models. If the cemetery requires a hard-material vault, cultured marble or stone options are the safest choice. Our guide to cremation urns for burial covers what to ask the cemetery before you buy.

Single vs. Companion Configurations. Most urn vaults are designed for a single cremation urn. If you are burying two urns together — for a married couple or two family members — a large cremation urn vault or a dedicated double-urn vault provides the interior space for both urns side by side. Companion vaults typically measure 15 inches or wider and are listed with interior dimensions for both placement slots. For families considering shared burial, see our selection of companion urns that are sized to fit together inside a single vault.

Sealing. Burial urns must be sealed before interment. Most urn burial vaults use either a tongue-in-groove lid or a flat lid secured with adhesive. Many vaults include an adhesive sealant. Check whether the vault you select requires a separate purchase of sealant, and apply it at the time of burial rather than before transport.

Engraving and Identification. Most urn vaults are not designed to be engraved, as surface engraving can compromise the vault's exterior integrity. If you want a personalized identification on the vault, an adhesive engraved nameplate or plate applied to the exterior surface is a practical alternative. You can personalize the cremation urn itself before placing it inside the vault — urn engraving options include laser-engraved text, photo plaques, and custom nameplates.

Alternatives to Ground Burial

Not every family chooses ground burial. If you are considering scattering ashes, placing the urn in a columbarium niche, or keeping the urn at home, an urn vault is not required. Biodegradable urns are designed specifically for natural earth burial, water burial, or scattering and dissolve safely over time without a protective vault. For families weighing all the options for a loved one's ashes, our guide to what to do with ashes after cremation covers every common disposition choice.

Free Shipping on All Urn Vaults

Every urn vault at Memorials.com ships free with ground delivery — the price you see is the price you pay, with no added shipping charges based on size or weight. Urn vaults are bulky items, so free shipping on large cremation urn vaults represents meaningful savings compared to purchasing through a funeral home, where vault markups are common. If you need the vault delivered quickly, expedited shipping upgrades to 2nd-day air or overnight are available at checkout. Questions about sizing, materials, or cemetery compatibility? Our customer service team is available to help you select the right cremation vault for burial.