Glossary
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. The liner is the simpler, lower-cost option.
Outer containers are a cemetery requirement, not a legal one. Ask for itemized pricing so you can weigh a liner against a vault before deciding.
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Common questions
- Is a grave liner required?
- Not by law. No US law requires an outer burial container. Many cemeteries do require either a grave liner or a burial vault as their own policy so the earth above the casket stays level over time.
- Is a grave liner cheaper than a burial vault?
- Usually yes. A grave liner is the simpler, lower-cost outer container because it is unsealed and covers only the top and sides of the casket. Ask for itemized pricing so you can weigh a liner against a sealed vault.
- What is the difference between a grave liner and a burial vault?
- A grave liner is unsealed and covers the casket's top and sides, while a vault fully encloses and seals it. Both satisfy a cemetery's requirement to keep the ground from settling; the vault costs more.
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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.