Cheap Caskets Online: Where to Buy and What the Law Says

The Price Gap Is Real

A mid-range 20-gauge steel casket at a funeral home runs $2,000 to $3,500. Current online listings for steel caskets run from about $950 to $1,650, depending on the model and retailer. That gap is largely markup. Funeral homes buy caskets at wholesale and sell them at 300% to 500% above cost.

Buying a casket online and having it delivered to the funeral home can save hundreds or more, depending on the model and delivery cost.

Your Legal Right to Bring Your Own Casket

The FTC Funeral Rule makes this unambiguous. Funeral homes must accept a casket purchased from any third-party source — online retailer, local woodworker, Costco, Amazon — and they cannot charge you a handling fee, a restocking fee, or any surcharge for doing so. They also cannot require you to be present when the casket is delivered.

If a funeral home tells you they "don't accept outside caskets" or quotes a "casket handling fee," they are violating federal law. You can file a complaint with the FTC, and the funeral home risks fines up to $53,088 per violation.

Where to Buy

Costco currently lists steel caskets for about $1,350 to $1,600, with shipping included. Its casket delivery is limited to the contiguous 48 states, and its FAQ says standard delivery is by the end of the third business day after an order is placed before the cutoff. Confirm the delivery date with Prime Caskets before ordering. Costco does not operate showrooms — you order from photos and specifications on their website.

Walmart lists caskets online from third-party sellers, with current listings ranging from about $900 to $2,500. Shipping times and charges vary by seller. Read the seller ratings and confirm the return policy before ordering.

Amazon may carry caskets from third-party sellers, but availability and prices change. Check the current listing, seller, delivery date, and return policy before ordering.

Specialty online retailers (Titan Casket, Best Price Caskets, Overnight Caskets) focus exclusively on caskets and offer a wide selection. Current Overnight Caskets listings start around $1,100 for steel and $1,000 for wood. Delivery timing depends on retailer and destination; for example, Titan Casket says standard ground orders typically arrive in 2 to 6 business days. Confirm a delivery date and any expedited-shipping charge before ordering.

What to Watch For

Shipping timeline. If the burial is in three days, call the retailer and the receiving funeral home before ordering. Ask for a delivery date confirmed for that destination and the total expedited-shipping charge; both depend on the seller and route.

Delivery to the funeral home. Give the funeral home advance notice that a third-party casket is arriving. Provide the tracking number and the estimated delivery date. They are required to accept it, but a heads-up avoids any "we didn't know" friction at the door.

Interior and construction. Online casket descriptions list gauge (thickness) of steel, wood species, interior lining material, and dimensions. A 20-gauge steel casket is standard for a viewing and burial. If cremation is the plan, you do not need a casket at all — an alternative container (cardboard or fiberboard, $50 to $200) is sufficient and far cheaper.

Return policy. Caskets are difficult to return once delivered and opened. Confirm the seller's return policy before purchasing. Some retailers accept returns within 30 days if the casket is unused and in original packaging; others are final sale.

When a Casket Is Not Necessary

If you are choosing direct cremation, no state requires a traditional casket. Crematories must offer an inexpensive alternative container — cardboard, pressed wood, or fiberboard — that costs $50 to $200. The FTC Funeral Rule requires this option to be listed on the General Price List.

If you are choosing a green burial, the burial ground typically requires a fully biodegradable container — wicker, bamboo, cardboard, or a natural shroud — which runs $200 to $800.

The casket is the largest single merchandise expense in a traditional funeral. Understanding when it is legally required (it is not, for cremation) and where to buy it at fair market price (online, not at the funeral home) shifts hundreds to thousands of dollars back to the family.

The Funeral Planning on a Budget toolkit includes a price comparison worksheet that tracks casket quotes alongside other line items, so you can see exactly where your money is going before the arrangement conference.