Burial Vaults and Grave Liners, also known as burial containers, are commonly used in "traditional," full-service funerals. The vault or liner is placed in the ground before burial, and the casket is lowered into it at burial. (To learn more about the process, see our featured photo essay on burial vaults.) The purpose is to prevent the ground from caving in as the casket deteriorates over time. A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete and will satisfy any cemetery requirement.

Grave liners cover only the top and sides of the casket. A burial vault is more substantial and expensive than a grave liner. Burial vaults surround the casket in concrete or another material and may be sold with a warranty of protective strength. For more information on how burial vaults and grave liners work, see our article on casket protection choices.

State laws do not require a vault or liner, and funeral providers may not tell you otherwise. However, keep in mind that many cemeteries require some type of outer burial container to prevent the grave from sinking in the future. Neither grave liners nor burial vaults are designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains. It is illegal for funeral providers to claim that a vault will keep water, dirt, or other debris from penetrating into the casket if that's not true.

Before showing you any outer burial containers, a funeral provider is required to give you a list of prices and descriptions. 

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