Cemetery Opening, Closing, and Maintenance Fees

Beyond the cost of the plot itself, a couple of specific fees are worth understanding in advance.

When is the opening and closing fee actually charged?

This covers the physical labor and equipment needed to dig and prepare a grave before a burial, and close it afterward. It’s typically:

• Charged separately from the plot purchase itself
• Due around the time of burial, not when the plot was originally bought
• Generally lower for cremation burial (a smaller opening for an urn) than for a full casket burial

How much do opening and closing fees cost?

Commonly $750 to $2,500, and more on weekends, according to US Funerals Online. Other consumer sources report lower figures, with one giving $1,000 to $1,500 and another $300 to $1,500, so the range depends heavily on the region and the cemetery. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Georgia describes the charges as “usually hundreds of dollars” to open the grave and fill it back in. For the cost of the liner or vault, which is billed separately, see What a Cemetery Plot Really Costs.

How much is perpetual care?

Often nothing extra, because it is frequently included in the plot price. When it is charged separately, Everplans says it is a one-time fee that is often 5 to 15 percent of the plot price. It may be legally required by the state, to go into a state-mandated maintenance fund, and it generally does not pay for the maintenance of headstones or other gravesite memorials. Ask the cemetery whether perpetual care is included before you buy.

Is this fee the same for burial and cremation?

Usually lower for cremation burial (a smaller opening, often for an urn) than for a full casket burial, though this varies by cemetery.

What’s the difference between opening/closing fees and perpetual care?

Opening/closing fees are a one-time cost tied to a specific burial event. Perpetual care is a separate, ongoing fund that pays for general maintenance of the cemetery grounds - mowing, landscaping, general upkeep - often for as long as the cemetery exists. This is usually collected once, as part of the original plot purchase, rather than as a recurring fee to the family.

Why does this distinction matter?

Understanding that these are separate costs - one tied to a specific burial event, one funding indefinite future upkeep - helps families budget accurately and avoid assuming the plot price covers everything.

Are these fees negotiable?

Generally not, since they’re typically standardized across the cemetery - but it’s still worth asking for a complete written breakdown so there are no surprises.

How do I get a full picture of the costs?

Ask the cemetery for a complete written breakdown of all fees before purchasing or at the time of need, so nothing comes as a surprise later. Already have a real quote in hand? Our Cemetery Price Translator tool lets you enter your actual numbers and see what each fee means and how it compares to typical ranges.

For burial of a baby after a pregnancy loss, see burial, cremation, and funeral options after a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Fee structures and amounts vary significantly by cemetery — request an itemized breakdown directly from the specific cemetery you’re working with.