Cardboard Casket for Cremation: Cost, Rules, and Where to Buy

What a Cardboard Cremation Container Costs

An alternative cremation container — the industry term for a basic cardboard or fiberboard box — costs $50 to $200. Compare that to the $1,875 to $15,000+ range for traditional caskets, and the savings speak for themselves.

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral provider covered by the Rule that offers direct cremation must make an alternative container available. This is not optional. The General Price List must include the option and its price, and the funeral provider cannot steer you away from it or pressure you into a more expensive casket.

No US state law requires a traditional casket for cremation. The crematory needs a rigid, combustible container — cardboard, fiberboard, or unfinished wood all qualify.

Your Right to Bring Your Own

A funeral provider covered by the FTC Funeral Rule must accept caskets and alternative containers purchased from third-party sources. It cannot charge a handling fee, refuse delivery, or require you to be physically present when the container arrives.

If a funeral director tells you they only use their own containers, they're violating federal law. You can report violations to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Where to buy cardboard cremation containers:

Online retailers like Titan Caskets, Costco, and Amazon sell alternative containers for direct cremation, typically $50 to $150 with shipping included. Some eco-friendly options — cardboard with a simple fabric exterior — run $100 to $300.

Order at least three to five business days before the cremation date to account for shipping. Coordinate delivery directly with the funeral home — give them the tracking number and expected arrival date.

What About a Viewing First?

Cardboard containers aren't designed for traditional viewings, but families planning a home vigil or a brief private goodbye before cremation use them regularly. Some suppliers offer "viewing-ready" cardboard caskets with a reinforced frame and simple fabric drape for $200 to $400.

If you want a full open-casket viewing followed by cremation, a common approach is renting a display casket from the funeral home for the viewing ($500 to $1,000), then transferring the body to a cardboard container for cremation. This avoids buying a $3,000+ casket that gets cremated along with it.

Ask the funeral home whether they offer casket rental — many do, though not all advertise it. The FTC requires them to list rental options on the General Price List if they offer them.

UK and Canadian Options

In the UK, the cheapest cremation container is a simple chipboard coffin, starting around £150. Eco-friendly options — willow, bamboo, or water hyacinth — range from £300 to £800. Funeral directors must present options at different price points under the CMA's Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021, and unattended direct cremation packages typically include the basic coffin in their flat price.

In Canada, alternative containers for cremation start around CAD $75. Provincial regulations vary, so confirm the accepted container and current prices with the crematorium. In Ontario, the Bereavement Authority regulates funeral services; ask the provider for its container options and prices before purchasing.

Making the Decision

Choosing a cardboard container doesn't diminish the service or the memory. What matters is what the family needs — and for the 60%+ of Americans now choosing cremation, a simple container fulfils every practical and legal requirement.

The Funeral Planning on a Budget toolkit includes a GPL breakdown spreadsheet that separates legally required fees from optional extras, so you can see exactly what a direct cremation should cost — container included — without paying for items you didn't choose.