Burial Plot Cost: Comprehensive Guide in 2023

Types of Burial Plots

Selecting a burial plot is a vital aspect of the funeral planning process, and fortunately, there are various options to consider.

Single Plot

Single plots, designed for one person or a casket, are the go-to choice for burials. They typically cost between $1,000 and $5,000, covering interment services and burial permits. Public cemeteries are generally more budget-friendly compared to private ones, where single burial plots can range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Companion plot

A companion or ‘double’ plot is a burial space big enough for two graves, allowing for either side-by-side or stacked burials. The cost of companion plots is approximately $3,000 or higher, though prices differ based on the cemetery. Typically, these plots are available for married couples and life partners.

Family plots

Family plots, also called ‘estate plots,’ are large private spaces in graveyards reserved for generations of family burials. These plots are more expensive, starting at around $20,000, and can typically accommodate at least six family members. Buying family plots in advance is advisable; it secures reserved spots and helps prevent overcrowding in public cemeteries.

Double-Depth

This type of grave is a single space that accommodates two caskets stacked on top of each other. They are typically more affordable than side-by-side spaces, but there might be additional fees for reopening and reclosing the grave if the owners pass away at different times.

Cremation Plot

Several cemeteries offer smaller burial plots designed for urns, known as ‘urn plots,’ specifically for cremated remains. The price of these plots varies from $350 to $3,000 and usually covers the urn and cemetery fees. Certain cemeteries might require an urn vault or placement in a columbarium, an aboveground structure for urns, incurring an additional cremation burial fee.

Plots for Cremated Remains

Many cemeteries offer urn gardens with smaller plots for urn burials, which are more affordable than casket plots. 

Cremation plots might share standard spaces purchased for caskets, allowing multiple urns in one plot. In both cases, an outer burial container for the urn might be necessary.

Lawn Crypt

In this type of plot, cement, marble, bronze, steel, or another solid material lines the grave. Caskets are better protected this way, especially in areas that are prone to floods. This option can be used in single, double-depth, or family plots.

Mausoleum Crypt

Mausoleum crypts hold remains above ground in a tomb, a process known as entombment. There are three different kinds:

• Indoor – These spaces are located inside or under churches or other buildings. They often store caskets and/or urns from multiple families, making them commonly referred to as community mausoleums.

• Outdoor – These are individual buildings in cemeteries where many caskets and/or urns from several different families are kept.

• Private – A single person or family uses these indoor or outdoor crypts.

Choose from various mausoleum crypt options, whether indoor, outdoor, or private.

• Single space – This holds a single casket.

• Side-by-side – Two caskets lie next to each other.

• End-to-end – This is a type of companion crypt similar to burial’s double-depth plot, but caskets lie end to end rather than stacked on top of each other.

• Westminster – Also called a family crypt, this holds as many people as you wish, usually family members. Caskets may be placed side by side, end to end, or on top of one another. Each one may have its own marker, or there may be one large marker for the whole family.

Columbarium

Columbariums are similar to mausoleum crypts, but they’re only used to entomb cremated remains. They use niches (wall spaces) to hold urns and may be located indoors or outdoors. Columbariums are locked, but they sometimes have glass or plastic exteriors to display urns.

Private Mausoleum

Private mausoleums are large areas in cemeteries devoted to one family, and they contain multiple burial sites. They can be outdoor spaces that include a combination of below- and above-ground burial plots, or they can be individual buildings that hold the remains of a single family. Many people choose to add personal touches, like statues, benches, plaques, or custom memorials. Private mausoleums are blocked off by gates, fencing, shrubs, or other structures to ensure privacy.

Veteran

Qualified veterans can use the burial benefit from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain a veteran plot. In addition to a burial space at one of the 144 cemeteries owned by the VA, families of vets can receive these benefits to bury their loved one free of charge:

• Grave opening and closing
• Ongoing gravesite care
• Headstone
• Burial flag
• Presidential Memorial Certificate

Spouses and dependents of veterans can also be buried alongside the vet at no cost.

Burial Plots Alternative

If you’re arranging your funeral and exploring ways to personalize or save on burial costs, here are some plot alternatives to consider.

Plots For Green Burial

Green burial plot costs can vary from $500 to $5,000. A natural, or green, burial plot offers an eco-friendly option compared to traditional ones. In these cemeteries, certain items and methods like embalming, casket liners, and vaults are restricted to facilitate natural decomposition. Green burials often involve biodegradable caskets and conservation cemeteries as choices.

Pre-Owned Burial Plot

A pre-owned plot is Generally more affordable than buying a new one from a cemetery, and it’s often easier to negotiate. In these situations, the owner might sell the plot at a reduced price. The cost can vary based on the location and demand, but you might have room for negotiation if the owner is keen to sell.