A columbarium is a structure built to hold urns of cremated remains in individual compartments called niches. It can be a freestanding outdoor wall, a room inside a mausoleum or chapel, or a small garden feature, and each niche is closed with a plate that carries the person's name and dates. A single niche in the United States typically costs somewhere between $750 and $5,000, depending on the cemetery and the niche's location.
Where the name comes from
The word comes from the Latin columbarium, meaning a dovecote, a structure with rows of small openings for pigeons and doves. Ancient Romans used the same word for burial chambers lined with small recesses for urns, which looked much like those dovecotes. Today the term applies to any purpose-built structure for cremated remains.
Types of columbaria
Outdoor columbarium walls
These are the most common. Rows of niches are set into a granite, marble or concrete wall, often in a garden setting with benches and plantings. Each niche is sealed with a stone faceplate that is engraved or fitted with a bronze plaque.
Indoor columbaria
Many mausoleums, chapels and churches have indoor columbarium rooms. They offer shelter from weather, which can make visiting easier for older family members, and often allow more personal touches. Indoor niches are typically more expensive than outdoor ones.
Glass-front niches
Glass-front niches let visitors see the urn and, in many cases, a few small keepsakes such as photographs, rosaries or mementos. They are usually indoors. Families who choose them often select a decorative urn since it will be on display.
Church columbaria
A growing number of churches, including many Catholic and Episcopal parishes, have columbaria in a chapel, crypt or memorial garden on church grounds. This lets families place a loved one in a sacred place connected to their congregation. Browse church cemeteries and Catholic cemeteries to find options.
Pedestals, benches and boulders
Some cemeteries offer smaller cremation memorials: a granite bench, a boulder or a pedestal with space for one to several urns inside. These function like private columbaria for a family.
You can find cemeteries that offer niches on our cemeteries with columbariums page.
Niche sizes: single, companion and family
| Niche type | Holds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single niche | One standard urn | Most common and least expensive |
| Companion or double niche | Two urns, or one companion urn | Popular with couples |
| Family niche | Three or more urns | Less common; often in indoor or private columbaria |
Always check the interior dimensions of a niche before buying an urn. Niches are often built to fit a standard adult urn, and oversized or unusually shaped urns may not fit. The cemetery can give you exact measurements.
What a columbarium niche costs
Prices vary widely by region, cemetery and niche location. The following ranges are approximate:
| Item | Approximate range |
|---|---|
| Outdoor single niche | $750 to $3,000 |
| Indoor single niche | $1,500 to $5,000+ |
| Glass-front niche | $2,000 to $8,000+ |
| Companion niche | $2,000 to $6,000+ |
| Inurnment (placing the urn and sealing the niche) | $200 to $900 |
| Name and date engraving or plaque | $200 to $1,000+ |
What drives the price
- Height in the wall. Niches at eye level usually cost the most. Those near the ground or near the top are often less expensive.
- Indoor or outdoor. Indoor, climate-controlled niches generally cost more.
- Glass or stone front. Glass fronts are typically a premium option.
- Location in the cemetery. A niche in a prominent chapel or garden costs more than one in a less central wall.
- Region. Cemeteries in large cities usually charge more.
Ask whether the price includes perpetual care, the faceplate, and inscription, or whether those are billed separately. Our guide What Is Perpetual Care? explains what care funds typically cover.
Columbarium compared with other options for cremated remains
| Option | Permanent place to visit | Typical cost | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbarium niche | Yes | Moderate | Uses no ground space; inscriptions are small |
| Cremation plot or urn garden | Yes | Moderate | In-ground burial of the urn, often with a flat marker |
| Burial in an existing family grave | Yes | Low to moderate | Many cemeteries allow urns in an occupied grave |
| Scattering | No fixed place | Low | Follow local, state and federal rules |
| Keeping the urn at home | Private | Low | Future care of the urn falls to the family |
For a broader comparison, see Burial vs Cremation.
Rules to ask about
Columbaria tend to have more rules than graves because many families share one structure. Before you buy, ask:
- What are the inside dimensions of the niche? Is a specific urn material required?
- Are flowers, wreaths or photos allowed on or near the niche? Many columbaria allow only small vases attached to the faceplate, or none at all.
- Who orders and installs the inscription, and are there standard lettering and emblem options?
- Can an additional urn be placed in the niche later?
- What are visiting hours, especially for indoor columbaria?
- If the columbarium is in a church, is there a membership requirement?
Veterans and columbaria
Many VA national cemeteries have columbaria. Eligible veterans, and in many cases their spouses and dependents, can have cremated remains placed in a niche with no charge for the niche, inurnment, inscription and ongoing care. See national cemeteries and veterans cemeteries in our directory.