Key takeaway
Cremated remains can be kept in an urn at home, placed in a columbarium niche, buried in a cemetery plot under a headstone or marker, or placed in a granite cremation monument. The NFDA projects a 63.4% U.S. cremation rate for 2025, so most cemeteries now offer niches and urn plots. Always confirm niche dimensions and cemetery rules before you buy an urn or memorial.
How common is cremation in the United States?
| Year | Cremation rate | Burial rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (projected) | 63.4% | 31.6% |
| 2045 (projected) | 82.3% | 13.0% |
According to the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2025 Cremation & Burial Report, every U.S. state is projected to have a cremation rate above 50% by 2035. That is why more families are looking for a permanent place to visit after cremation.
What are the permanent memorial options after cremation?
| Option | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Columbarium niche | A recessed compartment in a columbarium wall or structure, sealed with a faceplate | Families who want a cemetery setting without a burial plot |
| Columbarium monument | A freestanding granite monument with one or more niches | Family plots or private land where permitted |
| Urn burial with a headstone | The urn is buried in a plot, often a smaller cremation plot, and marked with a headstone or marker | Families who want a traditional grave to visit |
| Granite urn | A durable stone urn kept at home or placed in a niche | Keeping remains close, or a niche that fits the urn |
| Scattering plus a marker | Remains scattered where allowed, with a memorial placed elsewhere | A meaningful location plus a permanent name in stone |
What is a columbarium and how does a niche work?
A columbarium is a structure with niches that hold urns. Placing an urn in a niche is called inurnment, after which the niche is closed with a faceplate or front that carries the name and dates. Buying a niche usually gives you a right of interment in it, not ownership of the structure.
Niches are not standardized. Before you buy an urn, get the interior width, height, depth and the opening size from the cemetery, and compare them with the urn’s exterior dimensions.
Can Veterans get a marker for a columbarium niche?
Yes. The VA offers a bronze niche marker for eligible Veterans whose remains are in a columbarium or mausoleum, requested with VA Form 40-1330. See our Veteran headstone guide for eligibility and the medallion option.
Which cremation memorials does Memory Stones carry?
- Granite columbarium monuments, including multi-niche and two-level designs.
- Granite cremation urns, including a rose-design urn.
- Upright and bevel stones that can mark an urn plot where the cemetery allows it.
Stock can change, so we confirm availability before payment. For architectural columbaria built for cemeteries, churches and communities, our sister company Memoria Columbarium specializes in cremation memorialization.
Do you have to buy the urn from the funeral home?
No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral provider cannot refuse to handle an urn you bought elsewhere, or charge you a fee for using it. The same rule gives you the right to buy only the goods and services you want.
Sources
- NFDA — 2025 Cremation & Burial Report
- VA National Cemetery Administration — Headstones, markers and medallions
- FTC — The FTC Funeral Rule
This guide is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules vary by cemetery and change over time, so confirm details with the cemetery and official agencies. Questions? See our FAQ or contact us.
