How heavy and how expensive are burial vaults?

Price and weight of burial vaults largely depend on the materials used; in terms of weight, protective burial vaults range from approximately 100 lbs upwards (plastic vaults) through 400 lbs and more (12 gauge steel) and 2,000 to 3,000 lbs (composite vaults, made of a combination of concrete and other materials) to almost 4,000 lbs (bronze lined concrete vaults).

Minimum prices for protective (air and water tight) vaults start at US $700 (reinforced concrete vaults) respectively $ 1,000 (metal and composite vaults). Prices for non protective (unsealed) concrete grave liners (weighing 1.500 lbs or more) begin already at $ 600.

President Reagan's luxurious mahogany casket was placed in a 3,000 lbs heavy bronze lined concrete vault (type Wilbert "Bronze Triune" No. 34 oversize) which retails at prices between $ 3,500 and 8,000. But his vault was by far not the most expensive one available. Probably the most expensive and heaviest American grave vaults currently (in 2014) are:

- the 10ga (108oz, meaning ounces per square foot) solid copper "Custodian" vault by Clark (weighing around 600 lbs and offered at prices around $ 16,000 retail). This vault is no longer in production, but may be still available in some funeral homes.

- the 90oz triple walled Bronze and concrete composite "Ultimate" vault by Wilbert, which weights 3.800 lbs and is offered at prices between $ 8,000 and 16,000

- the Doric "Olympian Bronze" composite vault which consist of a concrete core and has an 48oz bronze outside as well as a 16 ga inner bronze liner, resulting in a weight of 2,900 lbs; the retail price is some $ 24.000.