As cremation has become the most common form of final disposition in the United States — now over 60% of deaths — columbariums have grown significantly as an option for families who want a permanent, named resting place for cremated remains without purchasing traditional burial plots.
What a Columbarium Is
A columbarium is a structure — a wall, a building, or a dedicated space within a cemetery or memorial park — that contains individual niches designed to hold urns with cremated remains. The word comes from the Latin "columba" (dove), a reference to the honeycomb-like appearance of multiple small openings reminiscent of a dovecote.
Each niche is a small compartment, typically sealed with a granite, marble, or glass front, engraved with the name of the person and their dates. The niche can hold one or two urns, depending on its size.
Types of Columbariums
Outdoor garden columbariums
Free-standing walls or structures in a cemetery's garden setting. Exposed to the elements but designed for outdoor durability. Often part of a larger memorial park or cemetery campus. Provide an outdoor setting for visits. Weather and climate affect the visitor experience.
Indoor columbariums
Located inside a building — a dedicated memorial chapel, a church, a memorial building within a cemetery campus. Climate-controlled, accessible year-round regardless of weather. Often provide a more contemplative setting for visits. May have limited visiting hours compared to outdoor facilities.
Church columbariums
Many churches have installed columbariums, often in a garden or chapel space on church grounds. Typically available to members or those with a connection to the congregation. Can provide a deeply meaningful location for families with strong ties to a particular faith community.
Veterans' columbariums
Most national cemeteries have columbarium facilities available at no cost to eligible veterans and their spouses. The commitment of cremated remains in a national cemetery columbarium is one of the burial benefits available to veterans. Contact the National Cemetery Scheduling Office (800-535-1117) for information.
How the Process Works
- Select a facility. Visit columbariums in your area to assess the setting, access, and available niches. Ask about niche sizes, positions, and availability.
- Choose a niche. Position within the columbarium affects cost and the visitor experience — eye-level niches are generally more expensive and more sought-after than those at ground level or above eye level. Glass-front niches allow a view of the urn; solid stone fronts are sealed.
- Purchase the niche right. You're typically purchasing the right to use the niche in perpetuity — not ownership of the physical space. This right-of-interment is what's recorded in the cemetery's records.
- Have remains placed. The cemetery or facility handles the inurnment — placement of the urn in the niche. This is a brief, often private ceremony attended by family if desired.
- Add engraving or a memorial plaque. The niche front is typically engraved with the person's name and dates. Some facilities offer additional personalization options.
Columbarium vs. Other Cremation Options
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Columbarium niche | Permanent named location; accessible for visits; less expensive than ground burial | Ongoing relationship with facility; cannot easily move remains |
| Ground burial of ashes | Traditional feel; in existing family plot | Cemetery plot required; similar cost to niche |
| Keeping at home | Intimate; no cost beyond urn | No permanent location; what happens when family moves? |
| Scattering | Often meaningful; no ongoing cost | No physical location to visit; regulations apply in some areas |
Costs to Expect
- Niche right: $500–$10,000+ depending on location, facility, and position
- Opening/closing fee: $150–$600 for placement of remains
- Engraving: $100–$500 for name, dates, and any inscription
- Memorial plaque (if separate): $150–$500
- Urn: $50–$2,000+ depending on material and design (the columbarium typically requires an urn that fits within niche dimensions)
Veteran niches in national cemeteries: available at no cost for eligible veterans and their spouses.