Burial Plot Cost: Average Fees Explained

A burial plot is the space in a cemetery where a casket or urn is placed. What you buy is generally the right to use that space for burial. The price of the plot is separate from the cost of opening the grave, the outer container, and the marker, and each of those has its own line on the cemetery's price list.

Plot prices vary a great deal by region and by cemetery. A small-town public cemetery and a large urban one can price the same space very differently, so the national figures here are a starting point, not a quote.

A single plot in a public cemetery is quoted at $1,000 – $5,000, while a single plot in a private cemetery is quoted at $5,000 – $10,000. A companion plot for two people costs $3,000 – $10,000. Cremation plots for urns are smaller and cost less, at $350 – $3,000. Family plots start around $20,000.

Published price lists show how much the numbers differ in practice. These are examples of individual cemeteries, not averages.

At the City of Evans, Colorado, an adult grave space is $1,575, and opening and closing is $1,240. In Salt Lake City, opening and closing is $1,172 for residents and $1,676 for non-residents, so residency can change the fee at municipal cemeteries.

Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is a large urban cemetery example, and prices vary widely by region. A single grave there, with up to three burials, is $21,000 – $32,000, and an adult interment is $2,588. Do not read that as a national average. It reflects land costs in New York City.

Buying the plot is not the end of the bill. Ask for a full cost sheet before you commit.

Opening and closing the grave typically costs $500 – $3,000. Many cemeteries also require a grave liner or burial vault, which is quoted at $700 – $2,000. A headstone or marker is a further cost.

Sources report different figures because they define the cost differently. One may give a national average for a single plot, while another gives a range that includes private and urban cemeteries and larger plots. Elayne gives a national average of $2,600, while Parting Stone gives a range of $1,000 – $15,000. Location, cemetery type, and plot size likely account for much of the gap.

• Region: Urban areas and high land-value markets cost more.
• Public or private cemetery: Private and religious cemeteries often price higher.
• Location in the cemetery: Plots with a view, near a path, or in an older section can cost more.
• Plot type: Single, companion, family, and cremation plots are each priced differently.
• Residency: Some municipal cemeteries charge non-residents more.
• Perpetual care: Some cemeteries include maintenance in the price, and others charge a separate fee.
• Timing: Buying in advance can lock in today's price, though policies vary.

• Is the quoted price for the plot only, or does it include opening and closing?
• Is perpetual care included or billed separately?
• Is a vault or liner required, and who supplies it?
• Are there rules on markers, such as size or material?
• Can the plot be transferred or sold back if plans change?
• Are there extra fees for weekends, holidays, or non-residents?

Request the price list in writing. It makes comparing cemeteries easy.

Some families buy a plot before it is needed. This can take pressure off relatives later and may lock in a price. Confirm the terms in writing, including what happens if you move. Read any contract carefully, and consult a licensed professional if you have legal or financial questions.