Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral home must accept a casket or urn you purchase elsewhere and may not charge a handling fee for doing so. Retail casket sellers, online retailers, and even warehouse clubs sell the same models funeral homes stock, often at a fraction of the price. For cremation, a simple cremation container is all that's required; for urns, anything that holds the remains — including something the person owned and loved — can serve.
When you’ll need them
Chosen in the first days, usually during the funeral-home arrangement conference. Online orders can ship overnight.
What it typically costs
Caskets typically $2,000–$5,000 at funeral homes (median metal casket around $2,500); comparable retail models often 30–50% less. Cremation containers from about $150. Urns typically $75–$350.
Typical U.S. ranges, for orientation only — prices vary widely by region and provider. Always ask for an itemized price list.
Questions worth asking
- May we see the full casket price list, not just the showroom?
- What's the least expensive option you offer? (They must tell you.)
- If we order elsewhere, how should delivery be timed?
Related guides
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