Glossary
What is grave liner?
A grave liner is a basic outer burial container that covers the top and sides of a casket in the ground. Like a burial vault, it keeps the ground from settling, but it is unsealed and usually less expensive than a fully sealed vault.
Many cemeteries require either a grave liner or a burial vault so the earth above the casket stays level over time and can bear the weight of maintenance equipment. The liner is the simpler, lower-cost option: it is typically a concrete box or dome that rests over the casket but, unlike a sealed vault, is not joined and sealed against water and soil.
Outer burial containers are a cemetery requirement, not a legal one — no US law requires a casket to be enclosed in a liner or vault. Because the container and its installation are among the larger line items in a traditional burial, confirming the cemetery's actual requirement is one of the simplest ways to manage the cost.
If a funeral home sells you the outer container, the FTC Funeral Rule entitles you to itemized pricing and lets you buy one elsewhere; if the cemetery supplies it, ask the cemetery for an itemized price so you can weigh a liner against a vault. Many natural or green burial grounds prohibit liners and vaults entirely.
Related terms
Burial vault
A burial vault is a sealed outer container, usually concrete or reinforced material, that encloses the casket in the grave. It supports the soil above and helps keep the ground level. Many cemeteries require a vault or a grave liner.
Interment
Interment is the act of placing a body or cremated remains in their final resting place, most often by burying a casket in the ground or entombing it in a crypt. The cemetery fee to open and close the grave is commonly called the interment charge.
Casket
A casket is the container, traditionally rectangular with a hinged lid, in which a body is buried or sometimes cremated. Caskets are made from wood, metal, or other materials and vary widely in price depending on construction and finish.
General Price List
A General Price List, or GPL, is the itemized list of prices a funeral home must provide under the FTC Funeral Rule. It lets you see the cost of each good and service separately so you can compare providers and choose only what you want.
See also
Common questions about Grave liner
Sources
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.