🛡️ Casket Prices: What They Cost and What the Markup Looks Like
The casket is the most emotionally loaded purchase in the entire funeral — and the one with the widest price range. Understanding the product takes about five minutes and can save thousands.
What Caskets Actually Cost
| Type | Funeral Home Price | Typical Online Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cloth-covered / veneer | $900 – $1,800 | $400 – $900 |
| 20-gauge steel | $2,000 – $3,500 | $900 – $1,800 |
| 18-gauge steel | $2,500 – $4,500 | $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Solid hardwood (oak, cherry, walnut) | $3,500 – $8,000 | $1,800 – $4,500 |
| Bronze / copper | $5,000 – $15,000 | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Top-end luxury | $15,000 – $30,000+ | — |
The Features That Matter (and the Ones That Don't)
What genuinely differs
- Material thickness (steel): 18-gauge vs 20-gauge is the main real difference — thicker steel is heavier and sturdier
- Seal: "Protective" rubber-gasketed caskets seal against moisture; unsealed ones don't. Funeral homes emphasize this, but no casket preserves a body regardless of sealing — embalming delays, earth doesn't stop
- Interior: crepe vs. velvet is comfort for the family viewing, nothing more
What is pure marketing
- "Protective" or "eternal preservation" claims — no casket stops decomposition
- Exotic wood premiums for veneered construction
- Personalization packages (engraving costs the funeral home $40–$100, billed at $300+)
Your Rights When Buying a Casket
Under the FTC Funeral Rule:
- You may buy a casket anywhere — online retailers, Costco, Walmart — and the funeral home must accept delivery without any handling fee
- The funeral home must show you a price list before showing you caskets
- Funeral homes must accept third-party caskets in the same condition policy as their own
In practice, ordering online takes one day: the retailer ships directly to the funeral home, which stores it until the service. Families who do this typically save $1,000–$3,000 on an identical unit.
Cremation Caskets and Rental Caskets
For cremation, a rental casket (a shell with a removable insert) allows a viewing before cremation for $500–$900 — versus buying a $2,300 casket that will be destroyed. For direct cremation without viewing, a simple alternative container ($50–$300) is all that's needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reasonable price for a casket?
Between $1,000 and $2,500 for a perfectly dignified steel or cloth-covered casket. The national average purchase is around $2,300 — but the same product costs 40–60% less online.
Can a funeral home refuse a casket I bought online?
No — that's a violation of the FTC Funeral Rule. They must accept it and cannot charge a handling fee. Report violations to the FTC.
Do you need an expensive casket for burial?
No. Cemeteries require a container, not luxury. A simple cloth-covered or pine casket is legal, dignified, and increasingly chosen — especially with the growth of green burial, which requires only a biodegradable container.