Burial Vaults and Grave Liners
An outer burial container surrounds the casket in the grave. No state law requires one, but many cemeteries do. This page explains the difference between a liner and a vault, who requires them, and what they cost locally.
The least expensive outer burial container on each 2026 Salt Lake County funeral home price list we collected. Examples, not a quote.
No state law requires an outer burial container, according to the FTC. Many cemeteries require one anyway, to keep the ground from settling. The cemetery’s rules decide, so ask the cemetery first.
Grave liner vs. vault
| Grave liner | Burial vault | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A simpler concrete box or top that keeps the grave from sinking | A sealed or lined container, often concrete with a lining or metal |
| Main purpose | Supports the ground | Supports the ground and gives more protection to the casket |
| Typical price | Usually the lower end of a price list | Usually higher |
These are common trade terms, and providers use them in different ways. The FTC Funeral Rule bars funeral homes from claiming that a container will preserve a body for a long or indefinite time. Ask what a specific product does before paying more for it.
Who requires one
The requirement comes from the cemetery, not the law. Larkin’s published cemetery rules, for example, require an outer burial container approved by the cemetery. Green burial sections usually don’t allow a concrete vault at all. See other disposition options.
How much does a burial vault cost?
Funeral homes must give you an outer burial container price list before showing you the containers. On the 2026 Salt Lake County price lists Wayfinder collected, the lowest-priced container at each funeral home ranged from about $545 to $1,795. Higher-end vaults on the same lists ran to about $5,000.
Some cemeteries sell containers themselves, or install one as part of the burial. Ask both the funeral home and the cemetery for their prices before you choose.
Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule
- A funeral home must show you its outer burial container prices before showing you the containers.
- Its price list must say that no state or local law requires a container, and that many cemeteries do.
- You may be able to buy one from the cemetery or another seller. Ask the cemetery whether it must approve the container.
“Does the cemetery require an outer container, and what is the least expensive one it accepts?”
Ready to see how these choices apply to your situation?
Your Wayfinder Plan can help organize the options you’re considering and give you a clearer picture of what to ask and compare.
Build My Wayfinder Plan- No state law requires one, preservation, price list rules: FTC Funeral Rule (consumer guidance); FTC, Complying with the Funeral Rule.
- Cemetery requirement example: Larkin Memorial cemetery rules and regulations, collected by Wayfinder, September 2026.
- Container prices: General Price Lists from Salt Lake County funeral homes, collected by Wayfinder, August–September 2026.
Prices are examples from individual providers, not averages. Liner and vault descriptions are common usage. This page is general information, not legal advice.