The casket is often the single most expensive item a family buys for a funeral, and it’s usually chosen in a showroom within a day or two of a death. Prices for caskets that look similar can differ by thousands of dollars depending on the material, the seal, and where you buy it.
Quick answer: The FTC says the average casket costs slightly more than $2,000, and the NFDA’s median price for a metal casket is $2,500. Simple caskets bought online can start under $1,000, while mahogany, bronze, or copper models can reach $10,000 or more.
How Much Does a Casket Cost on Average?
How much does a casket cost on average? About $2,000 to $2,500 for a typical funeral home casket, based on the FTC’s average and the NFDA’s 2023 median metal casket price of $2,500. The Funeral Consumers Alliance, as cited by Funeral.com, says many caskets fall around $2,000 to $5,000, and some designs exceed $30,000.
| Casket type | Typical price range |
| Cremation container (cardboard, pressboard) | 50–300 (NFDA median $160) |
| Eco-friendly (wicker, bamboo, cardboard, seagrass) | 500–2,500 |
| Steel (20- or 18-gauge) | 1,000–3,000+ |
| Stainless steel | 2,000–5,000 |
| Solid hardwood (oak, cherry, mahogany, walnut) | 2,000–7,000+ |
| Bronze or copper | 3,000–10,000+ |
Ranges: Parting Stone 2026 casket price guide (“commonly reported ranges”), FTC, and NFDA 2023.
The core cost factors
Four things drive casket price: material, metal thickness (gauge), interior and hardware, and where you buy it.
- Â Â Â Â Material: Pine and poplar cost less than cherry, mahogany, or walnut. Copper and bronze cost the most.
- Â Â Â Â Gauge: In steel caskets, a lower gauge number means thicker metal. 20-gauge is the standard entry level, 18-gauge is thicker, and 16-gauge is thicker still.
- Â Â Â Â Interior and hardware: Velvet or satin linings, custom panels, and premium handles add to the price.
- Â Â Â Â Sales channel: The same casket often costs less from an online seller or warehouse club than from a funeral home showroom.
Your federal protection: the FTC Funeral Rule
The FTC Funeral Rule lets you buy a casket anywhere and requires the funeral home to accept it without charging a fee. It also requires funeral homes to show you a casket price list before you see the caskets themselves.
Casket Prices by Material: From Basic Pine to Luxury Metals
Casket prices by material run from a few hundred dollars for a cardboard or wicker casket to $10,000 or more for bronze or copper. Steel and softwood caskets cover most of the middle of the market.
Wooden caskets: pine, poplar, cedar, oak, cherry, and mahogany
How much does a wooden casket cost? Softwood and poplar caskets sit at the low end, while solid hardwood caskets commonly run $2,000 to $7,000 or more.
- Â Â Â Â Pine box and poplar caskets: the simplest solid wood option, often used for green or traditional religious burials. Costco, for example, sells a solid poplar casket.
- Â Â Â Â Cedar: a softwood with a natural aroma. Prices usually sit between pine and the hardwoods.
- Â Â Â Â Oak and maple: durable hardwoods in the middle of the wood range.
- Â Â Â Â Cherry: a premium hardwood with a rich finish.
- Â Â Â Â Mahogany and walnut: the most expensive woods. The FTC notes some mahogany caskets sell for as much as $10,000.
Veneer caskets (a thin layer of hardwood over a wood composite) cost less than solid hardwood but look similar.
Metal caskets: 20-gauge, 18-gauge, 16-gauge, and stainless steel
How much does a metal casket cost? Most steel caskets fall between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, and the NFDA’s 2023 median metal casket price was $2,500. Stainless steel commonly runs $2,000 to $5,000.
| Steel type | Thickness | Price position |
| 20-gauge steel | Thinnest common gauge | Entry level |
| 18-gauge steel | Thicker | Mid range |
| 16-gauge steel | Thicker still | Upper range for carbon steel |
| Stainless steel | Rust-resistant alloy | 2,000–5,000 |
Gasketed vs. non-gasketed. Many metal caskets have a rubber gasket that seals the lid. Sellers may call these “protective” or “sealer” caskets.
Note: The FTC says gaskets and sealers are meant to delay water and rust, and providers can’t claim they preserve remains indefinitely. They mainly add to the cost.
Semi-precious and luxury metals: bronze, copper, and gold
How much does a bronze casket cost, and how much does a copper casket cost? Commonly $3,000 to $10,000 or more. Bronze and copper don’t rust, which is why they’re priced as premium options.
Gold-plated and solid gold caskets: myth vs. reality. Most caskets marketed as gold have a gold-colored or gold-plated finish over steel, copper, or bronze. A solid gold casket is extremely rare, and there’s no reliable public retail price for one. If a funeral home shows a gold casket, ask exactly what metal it’s made of and request the price list entry.
Eco-friendly and alternative options
Wicker, bamboo, seagrass, and cardboard caskets commonly cost $500 to $2,500. They break down naturally and are often required or preferred at green burial cemeteries.
For more on natural burial, read our guides to green burial cost and eco-friendly burial.
DIY and custom builds: how much does it cost to build a casket?
Building a simple pine box yourself can cost a few hundred dollars in lumber and hardware, depending on local wood prices. Kits are also sold online. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes can’t refuse a casket you bought elsewhere, but check cemetery rules on casket construction before building one.
Casket cost by material and retail channel
| Material category | Online / retail price | Typical funeral home price | Durability / gasket | Ideal burial profile |
| Cardboard / fiberboard | Lowest | Low | Not gasketed | Cremation, simple burial |
| Wicker / bamboo / seagrass | 500–2,500 range | Similar or higher | Not gasketed; biodegrades | Green burial |
| Pine / poplar | Often under $1,500 | Higher | Not gasketed | Simple, traditional, religious |
| 20- / 18-gauge steel | Often under $1,500 | Around the $2,500 median | Usually gasketed | Standard burial |
| Stainless steel | Varies | 2,000–5,000 | Usually gasketed | Mid to upper budget |
| Solid hardwood | Varies | 2,000–7,000+ | Usually not gasketed | Premium wood look |
| Bronze / copper | Varies | 3,000–10,000+ | Usually gasketed; no rust | Premium budget |
Online and retail prices vary by seller and include shipping in some listings. Always compare the same model across sellers.
Where to Buy a Casket: Funeral Homes vs. Costco, Amazon, & Online Direct
You can buy a casket from the funeral home, a warehouse club like Costco, an online retailer, or a casket store, and the funeral home must accept it. Buying outside the funeral home often costs less for a comparable casket, but you have to manage the timing.
How much does a casket cost at a funeral home?
Funeral home caskets usually cost more than comparable caskets from third-party sellers. The NFDA’s 2023 median metal casket price at funeral homes was $2,500, and many showroom models are priced well above that.
Why showroom prices run higher:
- Â Â Â Â Funeral homes carry inventory and display costs.
- Â Â Â Â Caskets are a major source of merchandise revenue.
- Â Â Â Â Families shopping under time pressure are less likely to compare prices.
For a full breakdown of funeral home charges, see our funeral home costs guide.
How much does a casket cost at Costco, Amazon, and direct vendors?
Costco has listed caskets from about $900 to $1,500 with shipping included, according to Clark.com’s review of December 2021 prices. Current Costco listings may differ, so check the live price.
What to know about buying from retailers:
- Â Â Â Â Delivery speed: Costco’s casket listings say delivery takes about 3 business days when ordered before 10 a.m. Pacific time. Call the seller to confirm before ordering.
- Â Â Â Â Delivery to the funeral home: You don’t have to be present when a casket is delivered to a funeral home.
- Â Â Â Â Online marketplaces and casket stores: Prices and delivery times vary widely. Confirm the delivery date, dimensions, and return policy before paying.
Note: If the funeral is within a few days, confirm the delivery date with both the seller and the funeral home before you order.
Your FTC Funeral Rule rights
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral home must accept a casket you bought elsewhere and can’t charge you a fee for doing so. You also have the right to:
- Â Â Â Â See a casket price list before you’re shown the caskets.
- Â Â Â Â Get prices by phone.
- Â Â Â Â Receive an itemized General Price List (GPL) when you meet in person.
- Â Â Â Â Buy only what you want, instead of a package.
- Â Â Â Â Hear no false claims that gasketed or sealer caskets preserve remains indefinitely.
- Â Â Â Â Be told the truth about vaults: no state law requires an outer burial container, though many cemeteries do.
If a funeral home charges a handling fee for your casket or refuses delivery, you can report it to the FTC.
Rental and cremation caskets
Families who want a viewing before cremation can often rent a casket for the visitation and funeral, then use a simple container for the cremation. The FTC lists casket rental as an option for this situation. Rental prices vary by funeral home, so ask for the price on the General Price List.
How much does a cremation casket cost? For direct cremation with no viewing, funeral homes must offer an inexpensive alternative container, such as unfinished wood, pressboard, cardboard, or canvas. The NFDA’s 2023 median price for an alternative cremation container was $160.
Buying channel comparison
| Vendor channel | Typical price range | Delivery speed | Handling fee allowed? | Pros and cons |
| Funeral home | Around the $2,500 median and up | Immediate | Not applicable | Convenient; usually highest prices |
| Costco | About 900–1,500 (2021 prices; check current) | About 3 business days | No | Lower price, shipping included; limited models |
| Online retailers | Varies widely | Varies | No | More choice; confirm delivery timing |
| Local casket stores | Varies | Varies; ask | No | Fast and local; compare prices |
| Rental casket | Varies by funeral home | Immediate | Not applicable | Viewing without buying; cremation follows |
| Cremation container | Median $160 | Immediate | Not applicable | Lowest cost; no viewing casket |
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Total Burial Expenses: Vaults, Shipping, Regional Costs, & Full Funeral Totals
The casket is only part of the bill. The NFDA’s 2023 median for a funeral with viewing and burial was $8,300, rising to $9,995 with a vault, and that still doesn’t include the cemetery plot or headstone.
How much does a vault and casket cost together?
Based on NFDA 2023 medians, a metal casket (2,500)andaburialvault(1,695) together cost about $4,195. That’s roughly 42% of the $9,995 median funeral with viewing, burial, and vault.
Why cemeteries require vaults. No state law requires an outer burial container, but many cemeteries do, because a container keeps the ground from sinking as the casket breaks down. A grave liner is usually the less expensive option. A vault is sturdier and costs more. Neither is designed to prevent decomposition.
Note: You can buy a vault or grave liner from a third party too. Ask the cemetery for its exact requirement first.
Shipping and transport: how much does it cost to ship, transport, or fly a casket?
Transport costs depend on distance, the funeral homes involved, and whether the body travels by hearse or by air. Funeral homes list transport as separate items on the General Price List, such as body pickup, hearse, and other vehicles.
- Â Â Â Â Ground transport: Many funeral homes charge a base fee plus a per-mile rate beyond a set distance. Ask for the rate in writing.
- Â Â Â Â Flying a casket or body: Airlines carry remains as cargo, and the sending funeral home must be a TSA-approved Known Shipper. The cost depends on weight and distance, plus the shipping container, a forwarding fee from the sending funeral home, and a receiving fee from the destination funeral home.
- Â Â Â Â Embalming: Some states require embalming when a body crosses state lines or travels by common carrier.
- Â Â Â Â Shipping an empty casket: If you buy online, shipping is often included in the price. Confirm it before ordering.
Regional cost spotlight: how much does a casket cost in Ohio?
Ohio’s average funeral with burial costs about $8,280, nearly identical to the national NFDA median of $8,300. That figure comes from Choice Mutual’s state table, based on NFDA 2023 data. Direct burial in Ohio averages $4,949, per Funeralocity data (valid March 2026).
Ohio casket prices follow the same national pattern. Compare funeral home casket price lists in your area against Costco and online sellers, and remember the funeral home must accept a casket you buy elsewhere.
How much does a funeral cost with a casket in total?
A traditional funeral with a casket, viewing, and vault has a national median of $9,995, before cemetery costs. The final total depends heavily on the cemetery plot, opening and closing fees, and headstone, which vary widely by location.
Total funeral and burial budget blueprint
| Expense item | Typical cost | Can you save money? | Recommended action |
| Basic services fee | Included in NFDA medians | No (non-declinable) | Compare GPLs across funeral homes |
| Casket | $2,500 median (metal) | Yes | Buy from Costco or online; choose steel or pine |
| Burial vault | $1,695 median | Yes | Ask if a grave liner meets cemetery rules |
| Embalming and viewing | Included in NFDA medians | Sometimes | Skip public viewing or choose a private family viewing |
| Transport and hearse | Varies | Sometimes | Get per-mile rates in writing |
| Cemetery plot, opening/closing | Not in NFDA medians; varies widely | Sometimes | Compare cemeteries; check veteran benefits |
| Headstone or marker | Not in NFDA medians; varies | Yes | Buy from a monument company |
| Funeral with viewing, burial, and vault | $9,995 median (NFDA 2023) | Â | Plan the cemetery budget separately |
Medicaid and health insurance generally don’t pay for funerals directly, though some states offer limited burial assistance. See our guides on whether Medicaid covers funeral expenses and whether funeral expenses are tax deductible.
Pre-Planning & Funding Funeral Expenses with M Life Insurance
The surest way to avoid overspending on a casket is to choose it, price it, and fund it before it’s needed. Planning ahead turns a rushed showroom decision into a calm comparison.
Avoiding emotional overspending during grief
Families making decisions within hours of a death often choose more expensive options out of guilt or time pressure. A written plan helps your family say no to upgrades you wouldn’t want. Include:
- Â Â Â Â Burial or cremation, and whether you want a viewing.
- Â Â Â Â Casket type and price limit (for example, “steel or pine, under $2,000”).
- Â Â Â Â Where to buy it (funeral home, Costco, online).
- Â Â Â Â Cemetery, vault or liner requirement, and headstone.
- Â Â Â Â Who pays, and from which policy or account.
Prepaid funeral plans are another option, but they come with trade-offs. Read our guide to the pros and cons of prepaid funerals.
Using final expense life insurance to cover casket and burial costs
Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy that pays a cash benefit to your beneficiary once the claim is approved, to cover the casket, funeral, and other final bills. Life insurance death benefits are generally not taxable income to the beneficiary, and the beneficiary can use the money with any funeral home or seller.
Sample monthly rates for final expense coverage (non-tobacco):
| Age | $10,000 female | $10,000 male | $25,000 female | $25,000 male |
| 50 | $24 | $31 | $55 | $71 |
| 60 | $33 | $43 | $76 | $103 |
| 70 | $53 | $70 | $127 | $169 |
| 80 | $98 | $135 | $241 | $332 |
Source: Choice Mutual published final expense sample rates (valid March 9, 2026). Your rate depends on health, tobacco use, state, and carrier.
A $10,000 policy roughly matches the NFDA median for a funeral with viewing, burial, and vault. A $15,000 to $25,000 policy leaves room for cemetery costs and a headstone.
Note: Most final expense policies have level premiums that don’t rise with age. Some guaranteed-acceptance policies pay only a refund of premiums (sometimes with interest) if death occurs from natural causes in the first two years.
Step-by-step: compare level-premium policies with M Life Insurance
- Price the funeral -> Get GPLs and casket prices from 2–3 providers
2. Add cemetery costs -> Plot, opening/closing, vault or liner, headstone
3. Choose a benefit -> Round the total up to the next $5,000
4. Compare policies -> Work with M Life Insurance to compare carriers
5. Name a beneficiary -> The person who will make the arrangements
6. Share the plan  -> Give family your casket choice and price limit
For more options, see our guides to affordable burial insurance and funeral insurance for parents.
Conclusion:
A typical casket costs about $2,000 to $2,500, but the same quality can often be bought for less from Costco or an online seller, and the funeral home must accept it without a fee. The bigger budget question is the full burial, which has a national median near $10,000 before cemetery costs.
| Your situation | Best next step |
| A death just happened | Ask for the casket price list and GPL; compare with Costco or online |
| Tight budget | Choose a steel, pine, or cardboard option and a grave liner |
| Viewing, then cremation | Ask about a rental casket |
| Direct cremation | Use the alternative container (NFDA median $160) |
| Green burial | Look at wicker, bamboo, or plain pine |
| Planning ahead | Write down your casket choice and price limit |
| Want the cost covered | Compare final expense policies sized to the full burial |
A few minutes with a price list, and a policy set up while you’re healthy, can save your family thousands of dollars.
Secure Peace of Mind with M Life Insurance
Make sure your casket, funeral, and burial are paid for, so your family doesn’t have to make money decisions while grieving. Explore policy options at M Life Insurance.
M Life Insurance specialists can help you:
- Â Â Â Â Estimate the coverage you need for a casket, funeral, vault, and cemetery costs.
- Â Â Â Â Compare level-premium final expense and burial policies across carriers.
- Â Â Â Â Find coverage options if you have health conditions.
- Â Â Â Â Name the right beneficiary so the benefit reaches the person handling arrangements.
Call (800) 661-8136 or request a free quote. There’s no obligation to buy.
Secure Your Family's Future with Confidence
Don’t leave your loved ones' financial security to chance. Use our expert tools and free resources to find the perfect coverage today.
FAQS
$10,000 usually covers a traditional funeral with viewing, burial, and vault at the national median of $9,995 (NFDA 2023), but it often won’t cover the cemetery plot, opening and closing fees, and headstone too. Choosing a lower-cost casket, a grave liner, or a third-party casket can stretch $10,000 further. For direct cremation or direct burial, $10,000 is usually more than enough.
Neither is automatically cheaper. A coffin has six sides and tapers at the head and foot, while a casket has four sides and is rectangular. Price depends mainly on the material and finish, not the shape. In the U.S., caskets are far more common, so you’ll have more low-cost casket options to compare.
For most families, yes. $15,000 covers the $9,995 national median for a funeral with viewing, burial, and vault, and leaves about $5,000 for the cemetery plot, opening and closing, and a headstone. In high-cost cemeteries or cities, cemetery costs alone can use up that buffer, so get cemetery prices before deciding.
The casket is usually the most expensive single item. The NFDA’s 2023 median metal casket price was 2,500.Together,thecasketandburialvault(1,695 median) make up about 42% of the $9,995 median for a funeral with viewing, burial, and vault. Cemetery costs, which aren’t included in that median, can also be significant.
No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you can buy a casket from Costco, an online seller, or a local store, and the funeral home must accept it without charging a handling fee.
Sources and 2026 Verification
All sources were opened and checked on October 28, 2026.
- Â Â Â FTC: Funeral costs and pricing checklist: average casket slightly over $2,000; up to $10,000 for mahogany, bronze, or copper; gasket claims; outer burial containers; rental caskets; alternative containers; third-party caskets.
- Â Â Â Funeral.com: 2025 funeral merchandise costs: NFDA 2023 medians (metal casket $2,500, vault $1,695, alternative container $160, funeral with viewing, burial, and vault $9,995) and Funeral Consumers Alliance ranges.
- Â Â Â Parting Stone: Casket prices by material, 2026 (July 16, 2026): commonly reported price ranges by material.
- Â Â Â Choice Mutual: Funeral cost by state (updated March 9, 2026): Ohio average funeral cost (NFDA 2023 data) and direct burial (Funeralocity).
- Â Â Â Clark.com: Costco caskets: Costco casket prices as of December 2021.
- Â Â Â Costco: The Oxford Casket by Prime: solid poplar construction and delivery timing.
- Â Â Â Everplans: How to transport a body by airplane: TSA Known Shipper, forwarding and receiving fees.
- Â Â Â Â Choice Mutual published final expense sample rates (valid March 9, 2026).
Note: Prices in this guide are averages, medians, and commonly reported ranges, not quotes. Casket prices vary by seller, region, and model, and retailer prices change frequently. NFDA medians exclude cemetery costs. Insurance rates depend on age, health, tobacco use, state, and carrier.
Joyce Espinoza, Expert Life Insurance Agent
Joyce Espinoza is a trusted life insurance agent at mLifeInsurance.com. She’s been in the insurance industry for over ten years, helping people, especially those with special health conditions to find the right coverage. At MLife Insurance, Joyce writes easy-to-understand articles that help readers make smart choices about life insurance. Previously, she worked directly with clients at Mlife Insurance, advising nearly 3,000 of them on life insurance options.
