Outer burial containers (also known as burial vaults or grave liners) are commonly used in earth burials. The vault or liner is placed in the ground before burial, and the casket is lowered into it.

Their primary purpose is to protect the casket from the weight of the earth (i.e. maintain the earth load above the casket).

State laws do not require a vault or liner, but many cemeteries require one to prevent the grave from sinking in the future.

A grave liner is a non-sealed, non-reinforced concrete container that will satisfy any cemetery’s minimum requirement.

A burial vault is more substantial than a grave liner. Burial vaults are sealed containers made of reinforced concrete or another material that are sold with a warranty of protective strength.

Our burial vaults are available in three strength categories:

• Premium Protection (triple reinforced)


• Standard Protection (double reinforced)


• Basic Protection (single reinforced)

Neither grave liners nor burial vaults are designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human remains.