What do caskets cost

More exotic materials, including certain hardwoods, are often imported from far away, adding even more to the price tag. An intricately-carved hardwood casket will cost more, for example, than a plainer hardwood casket. You can find caskets that are relatively plain or more detailed. The more detailed the carving or design on the casket, the more expensive you can expect the casket to be. In addition to the casket itself, the price of a casket includes details like the liner.

A casket liner can be made of inexpensive materials, like polyester fiber, or more expensive ones like pure cotton or silk. You can also add other details like interior decorations. Most casket sellers and funeral homes offer some level of customization or personalization for their caskets. All of these added details, no matter how small or large, will add to the price tag of a casket.

Caskets often pass through multiple middlemen before reaching their final prices. From the manufacturer to the primary seller, to the funeral director, and finally to you, the price of the casket can be marked up multiple times along the way.

The biggest markup usually happens at the funeral home itself. If you want to avoid the middle-man, try buying a casket online instead. Here are some tips to get you started.

Biodegradable caskets are often much cheaper than traditional caskets. The Green Burial Council offers a list of vendors who have green burial-certified products that can be used for your final arrangements. Whether the need is immediate or you are planning for the future, one of the most important questions you can ask is whether a funeral home is independent or is owned by a corporation. A report from the Consumer Federation of America and the Funeral Consumers Alliance surveyed prices of independent funeral homes in 10 major metropolitan areas, comparing them to prices at 35 funeral homes owned by Service Corporation International — SCI — in the same cities.

The study found that median prices at funeral homes owned by SCI, which most often uses the name Dignity Memorial, were 47 to 72 percent higher than at the independent funeral homes. That is, you do not have to accept a package that may include items you do not want. You can also learn about our funeral planning checklist. Read our full list of questions to ask a funeral home. Typically preparation of the body hairdressing, cosmetics, clothing, etc.

Other cheap funeral costs include obituary notices and pamphlets for the service. Much of the same items must be purchased, and even though the casket is smaller it can still cost several thousand dollars. If an executor does not exist, any next of kin is usually responsible. Additional benefits may be available. People who retire out-of-state but still desire to be buried back home should plan to cover these additional costs. If a person dies overseas while on vacation or business, shipping costs will be even higher.

In these situations, families often set up fundraising accounts like GoFundMe in honor of the deceased. Car washes, church offerings, and bake sales can all be used to raise additional funds. How Much Does a Funeral Cost? Table of Contents. Get Help Paying for Funeral. Funeral Insurance Cost. Other Types of Funerals. Average Costs by State. Know Your Rights. Pre-Paying Expenses. Overspending is common for several reasons: The emotional impact of losing someone can cloud judgment. There are often pressing time constraints.

Many on-the-spot decisions must be made. Most families have no prior experience in funeral planning. Some funeral homes and cemeteries may take advantage of the situation and put profit ahead of saving the family money.

Funeral homes are required to give you general pricing information upon your request. Some funeral items, such as caskets or liners, can be purchased outside the funeral home. By price shopping and providing certain items from a third party, families can often save thousands of dollars without sacrificing any final arrangements. Another way to save on funeral costs is the embalming process. The Federal Trade Commission says there are no states that require routine embalming for every death, but there are regulations related to preserving remains prior to burial or cremation, which is more about the length of time between death and disposal to prevent the breakdown of the body.

If you choose direct burial or cremation, you may be able to eliminate embalming altogether. Also, memorials can be held at a private home or a place that held special meaning for the deceased which can create a meaningful service at a much lower cost.

If you are certain you want a burial rather than a cremation , typical expenses include: Burial plot cost and gravesite expense Casket price Vault or coffin container Basic service fee Transportation fee s , including hearse or van use Cost of opening the ground, placing the remains in the ground, and burial Price shopping funeral items and services can uncover savings and allow you to still have a beautiful and memorable funeral.

Save Money On Funeral Costs. The Funeral Rule gives you the right to: Buy only goods and services you want. Be offered pricing information by phone. Be provided with an itemized statement of all goods and services. After a cremation the ashes are typically stored in an urn until the final resting place is decided. The only real requirement is that the urn has a lid. You can also choose your own container to use instead of an urn, provided it has a lid. This is normally purchased from the cemetery with the assistance of a Funeral Director.

Costs will vary depending upon the cemetery, what sort of burial site is required and even which state you live in. Below are some rough costs you can expect.

Generally the cost of arranging a cremation will be less than a burial. The fees associated with cremation will usually include:.

Like a burial, these fees will generally be in addition to the cost or arranging a funeral ceremony itself. The funeral director will help make all these arrangements for you and the crematorium will contact you to arrange for memorialisation if you so choose or collection of the cremated remains.

Memorials come in all shapes and sizes and include anything from more traditional plaques and headstones through to full scale monuments or even memorial trees, gardens and benches.

Memorials will generally be organised directly with the memorial park of your choice but your funeral director should be able to help. Search for funeral homes in your area, compare inclusions and get free funeral quotes that will help you make informed decisions on which funeral home best suits your needs. Benefits of prepaid funerals. Charges for other services and merchandise , include costs for optional goods and services such as transporting the remains; embalming and other preparation; use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony or memorial service; use of equipment and staff for a graveside service; use of a hearse or limousine; a casket, outer burial container or alternate container; and cremation or interment.

Cash advances are fees charged by the funeral home for goods and services it buys from outside vendors on your behalf, including flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, officiating clergy, and organists and soloists. Some funeral providers charge you their cost for the items they buy on your behalf. Others add a service fee to the cost.

The Funeral Rule requires those who charge an extra fee to disclose that fact in writing, although it doesn't require them to specify the amount of their markup. The Rule also requires funeral providers to tell you if there are refunds, discounts, or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance item. The funeral provider must give you an itemized statement of the total cost of the funeral goods and services you have selected when you are making the arrangements.

If the funeral provider doesn't know the cost of the cash advance items at the time, he or she is required to give you a written "good faith estimate. The Funeral Rule does not require any specific format for this information. Funeral providers may include it in any document they give you at the end of your discussion about funeral arrangements. Many funeral homes require embalming if you're planning a viewing or visitation. But embalming generally is not necessary or legally required if the body is buried or cremated shortly after death.

Eliminating this service can save you hundreds of dollars. Under the Funeral Rule, a funeral provider:. A casket often is the single most expensive item you'll buy if you plan a "traditional" full-service funeral.

Caskets vary widely in style and price and are sold primarily for their visual appeal. Typically, they're constructed of metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass or plastic.