A burial vault is a concrete or sealed container that holds the casket in the ground. A grave liner is the simpler, unsealed version, and price lists call either one an outer burial container.
Required by cemeteries, not by law
No Utah law requires a vault. Most cemeteries do, because it keeps the ground from sinking as the casket breaks down and makes mowing and upkeep possible. Some rural Utah cemeteries don’t require one.
Vault or grave liner
- Grave liner. A concrete box with a lid, not sealed. It meets most cemetery rules and costs less.
- Vault. Lined and sealed. It costs more. A seal doesn’t preserve the body.
In Utah
$545–$1,795
Starting prices for outer burial containers on Salt Lake County lists
Larkin’s start at $545 (effective April 1, 2025). Memorial Mortuaries’ start at $750 (effective July 5, 2026). Premier Funeral Services’ cheapest vault is $1,795 (effective July 15, 2024).
Varies by provider
What to compare
- 1The vault price and the setting feeSome homes lower the vault price and add a separate fee to set it at the grave. Add the two lines together before comparing.
- 2Where you buy itYou can buy a vault from the funeral home, the cemetery, or sometimes a vault company. The cemetery sets which kinds it accepts.
Ask“Is there a separate charge to set the vault at the grave?”
Common questions
Is a burial vault required in Utah?
Not by state law. Most cemeteries require an outer burial container of some kind. Ask the cemetery which kinds it accepts.
Can I skip the vault for a green burial?
Only at a cemetery that allows green burial. Most Utah cemeteries require a vault or liner.
Does a vault protect the body?
No. A vault protects the ground and the grave. The FTC doesn’t allow sellers to claim a vault will preserve the body.
Sources
- Wayfinder survey of Salt Lake County funeral home price lists and phone quotes, collected August 11 to September 19, 2026.
- Wayfinder interviews with Salt Lake County funeral and preneed professionals, July and August 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, “Shopping for Funeral Services” (the Funeral Rule).
Last reviewed September 26, 2026. Prices change; check the provider’s current price list.