Why the 12” x 12” x 16” Columbarium Niche Size is the Best Investment

A common question our customers often ask us when they are planning a new cemetery columbarium garden design or purchasing a new church columbarium is, “What Columbarium Niche Size is Best to Purchase?”

With over 30 years of columbarium manufacturing experience, Columbarium USA has carefully listened to the feedback from our customers – who include multinational corporations, municipalities, cemetery managers, churches, and institutions – and found that there is a strong preference for larger, deeper columbarium niches that can accommodate two urns.

Based on this valuable feedback, we decided early on, to make the 12” x 12” x 16” deep niche our “standard” niche size, as this deeper niche can comfortably hold two standard upright urns. From a cost perspective, the difference between a smaller niche sizes and our standard 16” depth is minimal, and the additional 4” niche depth offers significant advantages.

Based on our production history, only about 5% to 10% of the columbaria we design are intended for single-urn interments. Smaller custom niches are typically used when: space is limited, there are foundation constraints, or there’s a specific need for single-urn interments. We can certainly design smaller niches for single urns, or even larger, custom-sized niche options for families, if desired.

At Columbarium USA, our team is happy to explore these possibilities with you, but before we begin the process of creating a custom niche size, we encourage you to consider the following benefits of standardizing on the 16” deep columbarium niche.

1. Cost-Efficient Frame Design
   When constructing a columbarium with 16” deep niches, maintaining the same depth throughout the entire structure is more cost-effective. It allows for a streamlined manufacturing process, reducing overall costs.

2. Double Urn Capacity for Every Niche
   Standardizing on the 16” depth automatically increases the capacity of each niche to hold two urns, providing greater flexibility for future interments. This ensures that every niche has the potential for double urn capacity, accommodating the needs of families years later when a companion or loved one passes away.

3. Avoids Stigmatizing Singles
   Choosing a columbarium niche for a single urn interment can sometimes force an unintended stigma on a particular group in society, especially if they are allocated to a specific part of a columbarium. By using a standard 16” deep niche throughout the columbarium structure, those who opt to purchase a niche for a single interment won’t feel limited by their selection. All available columbarium niches, whether used for one or two urns, can be equally offered to all.

4. Flexibility in Demand
   The demand for single versus double urn capacity can vary each year. Predicting future niche capacity demand is impossible.By standardizing on a 16” deep columbarium niche, you provide families with the flexibility to choose any available niche in the columbarium, without concern for size limitations or remaining inventory. Offering the same larger niche capacity to all ensures that every family has equal access to any niche they desire, maximizing the available options for everyone.

5. Cost-Effective Foundation Usage
   Building the foundation for a columbarium is a significant investment. By standardizing on a 12” x 12” x 16” deep columbarium niche, you maximize the inurnment capacity of the foundation. For example, by selecting a Columbarium USA “standard” niche size (12”H x 12”W x 16”D), a 48-niche columbarium will have an urn capacity of 96, effectively doubling the niche capacity. If you’re already investing in a columbarium foundation, opting for deeper niches makes the investment more cost-effective. This approach ensures that you are utilizing both the land and the foundation space to their full potential, providing greater capacity and value.

6. Additional Revenue Opportunities
   By designing all niches for double inurnment, there is potential for additional revenue, if so desired. When a niche is used for two urns, an additional opening and closing fee for the second interment service may be applied. These revenue opportunities for your cemetery can easily be reviewed by reaching out to us and asking our sales representative for our ROI Calculator   to assist you with your budgetary planning.

7. Cost-Effective Option for 2
   A 16” deep niche is an ideal choice for couples, companions or family members who wish to be interred together. Instead of purchasing two separate niches, they can share a single 12” x 12” x 16” deep niche, providing a more affordable solution for families. This size comfortably accommodates companion urns, allowing both individuals to be honored in the same niche. Choosing a companion niche not only saves costs but also offers a meaningful and practical way to keep loved ones together.

8. No Concerns About Side-by-Side Niche Options
   As more niches in a columbarium are purchased, finding two adjacent side-by-side niches can become challenging. By standardizing on a 16” deep niche, you eliminate the worry of securing two neighboring spaces, as all niches will accommodate both single and double urns, offering more flexibility for families without the need for specific side-by-side arrangements.

9. Smaller Niche Sizes Require Space-Efficient Cube-Shaped Urns
   The volume of human cremains typically ranges from 150 to 250 cubic inches, depending on factors such as the individual’s body size, bone density, and the cremation process.
   • Standard adult cremains are usually around 200 cubic inches.
   • Larger individuals may produce cremains closer to 250 cubic inches or slightly more.
   • Smaller individuals may have cremains closer to 150 cubic inches or even a bit less.

   It’s important to choose an urn with a capacity that exceeds the total volume of the ashes to allow for proper placement. Often, the urns are purchased at the funeral home or crematory.

10. More Personalized Urn Styles are Possible
    For many families, selecting an urn is a deeply personal decision. It serves as a meaningful way to honor their loved one’s unique life and legacy. Columbarium niches with deeper dimensions that can accommodate upright urns which will give families the flexibility to choose from a wider variety of urn styles. The interior 16” depth of a Columbarium USA niche is designed to comfortably fit two standard upright or box-shaped urns, allowing families to select the urn style that best reflects their loved one’s memory.