How Are Cremation Urns Buried?

Burying a loved one's ashes is a quiet, grounding way to give them a permanent resting place. It is simpler and far less expensive than a traditional grave, and you have more freedom over where and how it is done. This guide covers what kind of urn to use, where you can bury it, how deep, and what it costs.

Quick answer: To bury ashes, use a biodegradable urn made from natural materials so it breaks down into the soil. You can bury it in a cemetery or churchyard plot, in an existing family grave, or in your own garden with the landowner's consent. Ashes urns are usually buried around 2 to 3 feet deep, not the 6 feet used for a body. It costs anywhere from nothing on your own land to a few hundred or thousand pounds for a cemetery plot.

What type of urn can be buried?

The material matters, both for the environment and for whether the urn will break down. A biodegradable urn is the right choice. These are made from natural, plant-based materials such as bamboo, recycled paper, plant fibre, sand or salt, and they disperse gently into the ground over months. Avoid burying urns sealed with synthetic glue or made from non-natural materials, which will not break down.

Our Simplicity Earthurn is a good example, made from organic vegetable extracts and fibres that recycle naturally back into the soil. You will find more like it in the biodegradable urns collection.

Where can you bury a cremation urn?

• A cemetery plot. Most cemeteries have an ashes plot or garden of remembrance. Ashes can often be buried in an existing family grave too, with the grave owner's permission. Some sites require a small burial vault around the urn; others allow direct burial. It depends on the cemetery's own rules.
• A churchyard. Churchyards permit the burial of ashes and can arrange a service, much like a traditional burial.
• Your own garden. If you own the property, you can bury an urn at home. UK law places very few restrictions on burying ashes on your own land, so the decision is largely yours. Bear in mind you may not always live there.
• Woodland and natural burial grounds. Green burial sites accept biodegradable urns and are an increasingly popular eco-conscious choice. Some areas of the UK also permit underwater burial.

If the land is not yours, always get the owner's permission first.

How deep do you bury a cremation urn?

Ashes do not need the 6 feet used for a body. Around 2 to 3 feet deep is standard, deep enough to protect the urn and let it break down naturally. Cemeteries and churchyards will have their own required depth, so check before you dig.

How much does it cost to bury an urn?

Far less than a full burial. On your own land it can cost nothing. In a cemetery or churchyard, prices vary with the type of plot and whether it is a new grave or an existing family one, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. Burying ashes in an existing grave is usually the most affordable option.

Other options if burial is not right

Burial is one of several choices. You can also scatter ashes, keep them at home in a display urn, or share them between family in keepsakes. Our hub guide on what to do with ashes after cremation walks through all of them.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bury an urn in your garden?

Yes, in the UK you can bury an urn on your own property, and the law places very few restrictions on it. Use a biodegradable urn so it returns to the soil, and remember you may not always live at the same address.

How deep should a cremation urn be buried?

Around 2 to 3 feet is standard for ashes, far shallower than the 6 feet used for a body. Cemeteries and churchyards may set their own required depth.

What kind of urn is best for burial?

A biodegradable urn made from natural materials such as bamboo, plant fibre, recycled paper, sand or salt. These break down into the soil and avoid the synthetic glues found in some display urns.

How much does it cost to bury ashes?

From nothing on your own land to a few hundred or several thousand pounds for a cemetery or churchyard plot, depending on the site and whether it is a new or existing grave.