Casket Prices: How Much Do Caskets Cost? Online Coffin Prices.
Casket prices at funeral homes are between $900 and $10,000, and if you order online, prices vary from $600 to $6,000. The material used for caskets affects the price the most, and you can find metal caskets for $about 900 and wood caskets for over $4000. Metal caskets made of 18-gauge stainless steel, oak, and bronze models can cost a lot. Where you buy your casket from it's also crucial, and details come next.
Whether it’s a casket or a coffin you’re thinking about using for a funeral with traditional burial (they’re not the same thing, but people use the terms interchangeably), it's entirely up to you. Buying a casket is always difficult, and we recommend you to take it slowly. Most families decide to hire a funeral home, but the funeral costs may empty your pockets a lot faster than you’d think. Funerals can bring financial worries to many families.
Many people chose to hire a funeral home when it comes to a funeral as they manage the funeral planning from beginning to end. However, rest assured that the funeral costs for the services are high, and you will be able to save money if you're handling the funeral planning on your own.
The Funeral Home
Buying a casket from a funeral home is the easiest thing to do. However, we need to remind you that the funeral home or funeral director MUST provide you a Casket Price List (CPL) before even showing you a casket. The general price list from the funeral home provided by your funeral director must include all the funeral expenses, so make sure you check out your budget before hiring a funeral home and start your funeral arrangements. The average funeral is expensive, and the quality of the caskets from the funeral home may not be as great as you would expect. In most cases, it is beneficial to use your own casket, bought from an online casket company, so you can save money on funeral costs.
More often than not, the funeral director from your funeral home will show you three kinds of caskets, with low, medium, and high prices. Typically, families shop from the mid-range option, and we have to watch out because funeral homes pay attention to consumer psychology.
Caskets vary widely, most caskets are made of metal, wood, fiberboard, plastic, or fiberglass. An average casket may cost around $2,800 (18-gauge and 20-gauge steel) at funeral homes, whereas mahogany, copper, or bronze caskets can go as high as $10,000.
As people can now buy caskets and even burial vault for their own funeral and memorial service from third-party retailers and online casket companies like Trusted Caskets, more and more funeral homes are trying to match their prices with online casket prices. With caskets costing started from about $900 online, it makes perfect sense that funeral homes would need to cut down the average funeral expenses, in order to survive and thrive.
The high street casket retailer
It may sound surprising, but there are actually plenty of independent high street casket retailers. They also provide showrooms like funeral homes, but they only carry caskets. The majority of the retailer companies save you more than a buck or two for the funeral services. However, they're not direct sellers.
Some states even promote a local lobby, which surpasses the Funeral Rule from the Federal Trade Commission, with licensed funeral establishments as the sole caskets sellers. The fee will add to the funeral and burial expenses.
If there’s a high street casket retailer nearby, and you can find what you like, you may use it and get the casket in time for the funeral. You can find mahogany caskets, for instance, for a bit over $3000
Online Casket Retailers
The Internet has changed the consumer markets for good, and the casket marketplace doesn't make an exception. The number of online casket retailers is high, and they provide fast shipping. You can even have the casket the next day when you live in the United States, and the shipping might be free with some sellers.
When it comes to online shopping for a funeral, make sure that you search for a reputed and trustworthy company. The company should provide after-sale service or any assurance. You purchase from a direct seller, so the costs are always the lowest, and you and your family members can save a decent amount of money on funeral expenses.
You save money when shopping online, and the average funeral cost will be the lowest. The cost for a casket is affordable, and you can select from a great variety of materials, colors, finishes, or features. Our company provides you with a casket catalog where you find all sorts of combinations of materials and colors for the interior, with prices starting at $900. Check out our caskets company Trusted Caskets for direct purchasing and compare the casket prices with your funeral home prices. You will find a casket model you prefer according to your budget, and free shipping is available in most cases. By buying a casket online your average funeral costs would be significantly less.
Interestingly enough, even retail giants such as Walmart and Costco started to sell caskets online. You can check the limited selection from Costco Wholesale with the 5-day standard delivery, with prices starting a bit over $1,000. Walmart also offers an excellent range of caskets, with prices beginning at about $1,200. Take a moment and compare prices to make the best deal for you. Keep in mind that free shipping may not be available, and these retailers are ship the caskets only to the funeral home.
Good thing is that by buying there you can save on the funeral cost, but the issue is - both of these big retailers often don't have caskets in stock, and they never tell you about the availability of the casket online. So, unfortunately, the family can end up paying for the casket which is out of stock, which can be a big problem for on-time funeral arrangements, and funeral services, so be aware.
The funeral home cannot charge you service fees for buying a casket from a third-party seller. It's part of their services to handle the casket for free once our company ships it. Take time to check out the Funeral Rule and see what services are mandatory to be free with no service fee.
Does the material count for the casket price?
If you search for a casket, you will notice numerous models in terms of materials. Like everything else, some materials are cheaper than others, and you can purchase the most affordable casket for yourself. When buying from a direct seller, you will pay less than when buying from a funeral home.
Fiberboard/cardboard caskets
Should you have a thin wallet for the funeral costs or the final disposal of the remains is cremation, the fiberboard/cardboard caskets are probably the most appropriate choice. You can purchase a cremation casket for as low as t $20, and the costs can go as high as $350.
When you want to purchase a cremation casket made of cardboard, fiberboard, or softwood, you should prepare for prices ranging from $200 to $1,000. The cloth used for interior and exterior also impact price; the amount of material used can also increase the casket prices.
You can find cremation caskets for $85, but it’s just one piece of cardboard covered with some cloth. When you want a cremation coffin also lined with some crepe, you may pay less than $700, whereas a solid-pine casket that is also cloth-covered may range from $850 to $2,000.
Metal caskets
Metal caskets can cost anything from $1,200 to $5,000 and up. However, as thickness (the gauge reflects it) says a lot about the quality of steel, 20-gauge steel caskets are cheaper than the 18-gauge models.
Should you set on a casket made of stainless steel, copper, or bronze (they’re semi-precious materials), you can end up paying anything from $3,000 to $12,000. Copper caskets are in the low-price area.
You also need to select between gasketed or non-gasketed models, with the gasketed metal models being pricier than the latter. Big retailers sell metal caskets for $1500 to $9,000, but metal caskets purchased online have lower costs than when purchased from a funeral home.
Wood caskets
Coffin prices for pine or other solid softwood models are affordable, with prices ranging from $1000 to $3,500. Pine caskets are the most affordable within the category. The plushness of materials and the quality affect the final price for wood models. Hardwood caskets (made of mahogany maple or oak) can cost from $2,200 to $6,500. It doesn't mean that you cannot find coffins prices as high as $10,000.
Can you find cheap caskets?
There are plenty of alternatives to think about when your money is tight. The cheapest caskets usually made out of cardboard or wood veneer. The best way to get a good price for the funeral casket is to buy it online from casket companies like Trusted Caskets. Keep reading for the details.
Veneer/engineered wood
Caskets with veneer-finishes or made of engineered wood begin at $1,200 and can get as high as $3,500, these caskets can afford most families. If you search for a plush and more sophisticated style with exotic hardwoods and expensive veneers, you may pay something from $1,200 to $7,000.
High-end caskets
The details, the funeral decoration, and the customization you wish to have for a casket can make it quite expensive. Along with the materials used, they all play a role in casket prices. When you compare an affordable casket with the high-end model, the results could be shocking. The luxurious caskets start at 15,000 dollars and even higher than 30,000 dollars. Of course, we’re talking about the gold-plated caskets.
What is the cheapest funeral cost?
Many people ask what is the cheapest funeral costs, the answer is: the less expensive option for funerals is direct burials in which bodies are laid down shortly afterward without being embalmed or visited, with no funeral ceremony, no graveside service, and sometimes even without burial containers. Direct cremation is the alternative way, which is even cheaper.
Average funeral costs breakdown
In an online survey, the National Funeral Directors Association gathered data to determine median funeral costs. In 2021 the average burial cost in the US was $7884. The cemetery headstone costs are not included. This is the list of funeral cost estimates based on the average funeral cost in the NFDA for 2021. Many cemeteries require to use burial vaults in order to protect against falling over, they also known as outer burial containers. The vault has been reinforced for protection against groundwater and insects. When determining the costs of death, the burial casket may be included.
Average funeral costs breakdown in 2021 compared to 2016:
| Item | 2021 | 2016 | % Change |
| Nondeclinable basic services fee | $2,300 | $2,100 | 9.5% |
| Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home | $350 | $325 | 7.7% |
| Embalming | $775 | $725 | 6.9% |
| Other preparation of the body | $275 | $250 | 10.0% |
| Use of facilities/staff for viewing | $450 | $425 | 5.9% |
| Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony | $515 | $500 | 3.0% |
| Hearse | $325 | $325 | 7.7% |
| Service car/van | $150 | $150 | 0.0% |
| Printed materials (basic memorial package) | $183 | $160 | 14.1% |
| Metal burial casket | $2,500 | $2,400 | 4.2% |
| Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Burial | $7,848 | $7,360 | 6.6%* |
| Vault | $1,572 | $1,395 | 12.7% |
| Total with vault | $9,420 | $8,775 | 7.6% |
| * The overall rate of inflation was 13.98% for the same period. | |||
Cremation vs burial
Cremation prices typically vary between $1,000 and $8,000. Cremation is usually less expensive than a funeral because different fees are paid to funeral homes. The common cost of burial can exceed $9000 depending on what services and items are chosen (for example flower arrangements and transportation, burial graves, casket). While funeral items such as cremation or burial caskets and gravestones may cost thousands of dollars.
Funeral home fees
Most funeral services charges include services common to any funeral, whatever arrangement the funeral is held. The most non-dedicated service charges are between $2500 - $4500. An average funeral cost includes a copy of the death certificate, the required permits for the burial of the body, and coordination with the arrangements. The cost isn't covered by other services like caskets. When choosing a funeral service to use there is a good chance you have many choices. Contacting several funeral homes will help you find an extensive list of the service providers offering services at your location.
Is the size important for the coffin's price?
The size of the casket doesn’t give just the weight, but it also matters for the price. It also can add the price to burial costs, since the casket would need more space.
Standard casket
A casket that is 24in wide and 79 to 83 in long is considered to be standard. It's because such size will fit most persons, as long as they're not taller than 6.5ft. However, if the funeral director is willing to bend the body's knees a bit, a person that is 6.7" or 6.8" can also fit in a standard casket.
When selecting the size of the casket, the width of the body also counts. So, to give you an idea, a regular casket will fit a body that doesn’t weigh more than 350pounds. But, of course, the price is more affordable for a standard casket, and you would avoid any funeral home fees for an oversized casket.
Are oversized caskets more expensive?
A regular casket width ranges from 24 to 27 inches. However, because of obesity, requests for oversized caskets have been rising for some years now.
Oversize caskets are typically larger and may range from 27 to 31 inches wide. Some manufacturers can even make caskets up to 51 inches wide. So, as demand is rising, it makes sense that the prices get better too.
It goes without saying that an oversized casket will be cheaper when buying from us (a bit over $1,200), whereas buying it from a funeral home can cost you more than $2,500. Also, the funeral home shouldn't charge you a fee for managing an oversized casket. You're paying for services like handling the casket, preparing the funeral service, etc.
How will the body of the deceased be disposed of?
What happens with the body after the funeral service can also count for funeral costs. In the case of a traditional funeral with burial, you can buy almost any kind of casket. However, the cemetery may have strict rules about having to buy a vault. Therefore, as the price for a vault is high, you have to add it to the final expenses.
If the body is cremated, you can either rent a casket for the display at the funeral service or buy a cremation casket. The funeral homes provide clients with services for direct cremation (without funeral service and viewing of the body). The typical expenses for these funerals are less than traditional ones, or even direct burial, so in most cases, this is the cheapest funeral option.
Do the fittings and the furnishings alter the price?
Everyone knows that no casket is made exclusively out of wood or steel. Decorations and functional hardware are also used in the making. The hinges, the clasps, and highly functional rods ease
out the lifting and the transportation add up to the final price.
The materials for the hardware, the decorations, and other details that you want to use for the casket can change the cost of a casket. The more details you want and the higher the customization, the more bucks you're going to pay in the end.
Along with the functional hardware, you also need to give the fabrics used inside a thought. Even though nothing says luxury better than velvet, we all know that it's too expensive. Crepe or satin are affordable choices for the interior, so it’s all about how much money you are willing to spend on the casket.
Green burials
Green burials are becoming more and more popular nowadays as some people prefer the idea of the body reconnecting with the earth. Also known as natural burial, green burials are simple, eco-friendly, and incredibly cheap compared to conventional burials. There is no fee for a vault, for cremation, or another type of spending, additionally it is easier to cover funeral costs.
The main principle of a green burial is to place the body in a container that will decompose most naturally—no need for embalming the body before placing it in the container or using an expensive metal casket. The simple container is cheaper than traditional caskets, and you need to search the cemetery that allows green burial. Many funeral homes provide you with these sorts of services at a fraction of the cost of traditional funerals.
Burial shrouds
Similar to the green burials, burial shrouds are also biodegradable and cheap as opposed to conventional caskets. The covers can be made of silks, linen, and cotton. Even if some can be customized with embroidered floral patterns or name initials, they're never as expensive as traditional caskets. This type of burial has been known for a long time in the funeral industry, possibly even longer than traditional funeral people know our days.
Wicker coffins
Even if the wicker coffins are entirely new on the market, more and more people embrace the idea of using wicker coffins for burial. This is because they're environmentally friendly, which counts even more than the cost.
Typically, every wicker coffin is a one-of-a-kind and unique container within its making. Needless to say, a wicker coffin is cheap, and you have to check if the cemetery lets you use a wicker coffin.
Are there other ways to cut down on casket prices?
Some people search high and low for the lowest casket prices or ways to cut down the spending for a casket. However, if you’re the DIY type of customer, you can think about making one yourself. According to the style you’re using, the variety of wood, and other options (lining or split lit, for instance), the price can vary from $400 to $1,300 to make a wood casket on your own.
You can also check to see if the funeral home or funeral provider provides you the possibility of renting a solid wood or metal casket featuring a solid cardboard liner. Once a viewing or a service is completed, the inner liner of the rental can be removed so that the body can be cremated. It's only the outer shell of the casket that is utilized several times. A casket rental can cost you from $550 up to $2,000.
One last piece of advice
Customers should always be informed and knowledgeable about their rights related to a funeral. For instance, the federal Funeral Rule (read more on the Federal Trade Commission website) states that any mortuary or funeral home should give the customer the option of using a casket bought in another place. In addition, according to the Funeral Rule, they cannot charge you any fees for handling a casket purchased elsewhere. We always advise our customers to plan their memorial fund and funeral in advance.
It's common for funeral homes to display the most attractive (sort to speak) caskets, and they're required by the Funeral Rule to provide you a written price list of every casket model they're selling. The file must contain even the cheapest caskets, so don't sit on the fence about whether you should ask about the low-end caskets or not.
Please, remember the Funeral Rule that protects you as a customer!
Blog Author: Tim