In the United States, most people are still buried in cemeteries and the selection of your casket for the burials is perhaps the most costly part of arranging a funeral. Some believe that it can account for as much as half the total funeral bill. So, this section of the Funeral Planning Guide will provide you with the type of knowledge that will  help you make more responsible choices when it comes time to buy one. 

Traditionally, caskets have been sold only by funeral homes. They typically have a wide selection and typically will show you the most expensive ones . The federally enacted Funeral Rule states the the funeral director must show you all of the prices if you ask. Please be sure to ask.

With increasing frequency, however, independent showrooms and websites operated by "third-party" dealers are selling caskets. You can buy a casket from one of these dealers and have it shipped directly to the funeral home. The Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to agree to use a casket you bought elsewhere, and doesn't allow them to charge you a fee for using it.

Besides the casket, burials require a marker which can be either an upright monument or ground marker. Once again, you can either purchase these through the funeral home which will typically be more expensive than products found under Monuments section of our website.