Why are caskets so expensive?

Caskets can be expensive because of retail markup. It’s a good idea to compare costs before you buy. Caskets are traditionally sold by funeral homes that often do not display lower-priced models. Ask the funeral home to see a written casket price list. The FTC’s funeral rule requires a funeral home to show you these prices.

You may be able to save money by buying a casket elsewhere, such as Amazon, Costco or Walmart. The funeral rule prohibits a funeral director from refusing to handle a casket or urn bought elsewhere or charge you a fee to use it.