Choosing a Casket
Casket prices vary from less than $300 to more than $8000. Some factors that affect the cost of caskets include:
- The material from which the casket is constructed
- Type of wood
- Type of the steel used in casket construction (20-gauge is least expensive; thicker gauges [18-gauge and 16- gauge] are more expensive.
- Casket design (square corner, round corner, urn shape)
- Interior materials used and nature of the finish of those materials
- Exterior hardware and accessories, such as handles
- Type of exterior finish
Delivery options also affect your costs and options. Many online services now offer next day delivery which can inflate your costs, but can be very convenient.
Funeral caskets are important because they will be seen at memorial services. The deceased individual will be buried in it and it will be the last memory that many friends and family will have of the deceased. Selecting a funeral casket is a decision that many family members must all agree on.
Funeral directors are required by law to provide a list of prices for every casket they sell before showing them, but they don't always have all models available on display. If you don't see inexpensive models when you're shown the selection, ask about them.
In fact, you needn't purchase the casket from the funeral home at all. Third-party dealers selling reduced-cost caskets have sprung up in the past decade; caskets are now available for purchase over the Internet, at funeral supply stores and even at some Costco stores. Funeral directors are required by law to accept caskets purchased from these outlets, and they cannot legally charge you a fee for doing so.
