What’s the Difference Between a Burial Space, a Plot, a Crypt, and a Niche?
What's Included and What Affects the Price
If you’ve never had to plan ahead for a burial, the words alone can be confusing. Space, Plot. Crypt. Niche. Columbarium. These aren’t terms most of us grow up knowing, and most families only encounter them at the hardest possible moment. So let’s slow down and explain each one in plain English, along with a simple sense of who each option tends to suit.
No jargon. No assumptions. Just the differences, demystified.
Ground burial space or plots
A plot (sometimes just called a space ) is a burial space in the ground. The first thing to understand is the size:
- Full-size spaces are sized for a traditional casket, and can hold either a casket or an urn.
- Urn spaces are smaller, and can hold only an urn.
Upright spaces
Flat or flush
bronze
From there, full-size spaces come in two main styles:
- Upright spaces are larger (both wider and longer) because they’re designed to accommodate an upright, standing headstone.
- Flat or flush bronze spaces use a marker set level with the ground.
Who it suits: Families who want a traditional, in-the-ground resting place, and who may have a preference about the style of memorial: a standing monument versus a flush marker.
Crypts
A crypt is a space designed to hold a traditional casket. Because of that, a crypt is larger than a niche (which holds only an urn). There are two main types: above ground and below ground.
Above-ground crypts are housed in a mausoleum (which may be outdoor or indoor) or in a private family structure. Within a mausoleum, you’ll typically see a few arrangements:
- Side-by-side crypts, where two caskets rest next to each other.
- Tandem crypts, positioned front-to-back, typically chosen by couples who want to share a single crypt space.
- Couch crypts, where the casket is placed horizontally from the front rather than feet-first like a traditional single crypt.
Who it suits: Families drawn to above-ground entombment, those who prefer the feel of a mausoleum, couples who want to remain together in a single shared space, or families who want in-ground burial with the protection of an enclosed chamber.
Below-ground crypts or Lawn Crypts are an in-ground alternative to mausoleum entombment. Pre-installed concrete chambers receive the casket and are then sealed. Like above-ground options, these are often double-depth, allowing two caskets to be placed in the same space, one above the other, so a couple can remain together.
Niches and Columbariums
A niche is designed specifically for cremated remains; it holds an urn rather than a casket. You’ll see several variations:
- Indoor or outdoor niches.
- Bronze-front or granite-front designs.
- A range of sizes, depending on how many urns the niche is meant to hold.
Pricing on niches often varies by location: proximity to a special feature, whether the niche sits at eye level versus the top or bottom row, and how many urns it can hold. Indoor niches are often glass-fronted, designed to display the urn and tell a story about the person, a small, personal window into a life.
You’ll also find private columbariums. These are larger structures designed to hold multiple urns, so an entire family can rest together in one place. They go by a variety of names, but the idea is the same: a family vignette built to hold more than just one or two urns.
Who it suits: Families who have chosen cremation but still want a permanent, dedicated place to visit, and, in the case of a private columbarium, families who want to stay together across generations.
The options people don't know exist
Beyond plots, crypts, and niches, there are choices many families never realize are available:
- Memorial benches, a resting place that doubles as a place to sit and reflect.
- Boulders, natural stone memorials for a more organic, landscape-integrated look.
- Private estates, larger dedicated family areas for those who want a distinct, lasting family space.
These aren’t right for everyone, but for the families they suit, they offer something truly personal.
Who it suits: Families who want something beyond a standard marker or niche, and who may be looking to be adjacent to other family members.
Memorial bench
Private estate
See it for yourself
Reading about the differences is a start, but these choices really come to life when you see them in person. Walking through a mausoleum, standing at a garden niche, or visiting a private columbarium tells you something no description can. The right choice is usually the one that simply feels right when you’re standing there.
Explore all cemetery options and we’ll help you find the one that fits your family.