Yes, you can rent a casket for cremation. Rental caskets are a great option if you want to have a viewing and/or traditional funeral where the casket is on display. These types of caskets are also known as ceremonial caskets because they are just used for the ceremonies, not for cremation or burial. Renting a casket is often more affordable and more environmentally friendly than buying and burning a cremation casket.
The idea of a rental casket can feel a little weird at first – “how many others have used the same container?” Once you know a bit more about them you may change your mind or not. Either way it’s ok. I’ve gathered some alternatives to casket rental if you’re not convinced.
Key Things to Know About Rental Caskets
- It still costs a lot to rent a casket, usually $800-$1,200.
- Rental caskets use a removable, single use insert to hold the body.
- The body never touches the casket or lining. If it does, that part may need to be replaced.
- Renting a casket is usually a more affordable alternative to buying a cremation casket.
- Renting a casket is more environmentally friendly because it is less wasteful than buying and burning a cremation casket.
Table of Contents
What is a Rental Casket?
A rental casket looks just like a regular burial casket but is designed for bodies to be slid in and out on an insert so that it can be reused without needing to come into direct contact with the bodies. Rental caskets have a trap door, usually at the foot of the casket that opens and closes to receive the insert with the body.
The casket itself is usually made of solid wood like oak, but can also be made of metal. Many families choose to rent so that they still have a fine looking casket for the viewing and funeral service but at reduced cost and waste. Rental caskets can be used prior to burial or cremation.
While rental coffins may exist, caskets are much more common. The shape of a coffin, with its narrow base, makes it more difficult to use with inserts. Furthermore, as the rentals need to appeal to a wide customer base, funeral homes are more likely to have caskets for rent as these are more popular than coffins.
Rental Casket Costs
A rental casket costs an average of $800-$1,200. Some funeral homes charge up to $1,800 or more. The price for a rental casket may be included in the packages offered by some funeral homes.
Not all funeral homes offer casket rentals, but most do. It is possible to rent from a different funeral home if you don’t like your funeral home’s prices or selection.
Why do rental caskets cost so much?
Rental caskets cost a lot because funeral homes are trying to cover profit that they aren’t making on casket sales. Casket sales from funeral homes are a large part of how they make money. If more people choose to rent rather than buy caskets, this puts funeral homes at a disadvantage. By pricing rental caskets at high levels funeral directors are trying to make casket purchase look more reasonable by comparison.
Funeral homes will cover the cost of the rental casket in one or two uses. There is no limit to the number of times a rental casket can be used, although industry experts say they are typically replaced after 25-30 uses due to wear and tear.
What is included in the price of rental?
The rental price for caskets covers the following:
- Use of the casket
- The insert used to hold the body.
- Moving the body into and out of the casket
- Cleaning and disinfecting the casket between uses.
Rental Casket Construction
Rental caskets were traditionally made mainly of oak. These days more options are available, including poplar, pine and cherry hardwoods. Metal options are also becoming more available but are less common than wood construction. The caskets are typically lined with crepe or velvet and look just like traditional burial caskets.
Rental Casket Inserts
Rental caskets are designed for multiple uses and to fit removable inserts. These inserts are like trays, made from heavy duty cardboard or fiberboard, often with reinforced bases to support the body. The inserts are usually lined with cloth like satin or velvet, so that when they are inserted, it is hard to tell a rental casket from a normal one.
The casket and inserts are designed so that the body doesn’t ever touch the casket itself. The inserts are also leak-proof, further protecting the casket.
The cost of the insert is usually included in the cost of the rental.
Why Would You Rent a Casket for Cremation?
The most common reasons to rent a casket for cremation are because of the lower cost and reduced waste compared to buying a cremation casket. With a rental you can still have a nice-looking casket for a public viewing or funeral without having to pay the full cost of buying the casket. With cremation being the end result, many people consider it wasteful to use a cremation casket that’s just going to be burned. When using a cremation casket it is burned together with the body during the cremation process. Compared to burning a cardboard container this is a lot more wasteful.
Rental caskets look more like “real” caskets. Cremation caskets must be made of combustible materials, so the handles, hinges and finishings are usually made from wood. Rental caskets can be made from anything, so you can have a more luxurious looking casket with metal handles and finishings.
Pros and Cons for Renting a Casket for Cremation
The decision to rent a casket is not always straight-forward and there are some pros and cons to consider.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More affordable than buying a casket of similar quality | Still expensive |
| Less wasteful than burning a casket | May appear worn (check first) |
| More attractive than basic cremation containers and caskets | Limited choice |
| Looks like a real casket | Can’t personalize |
| Possible to have a metal casket | Can feel weird to rent |
Apart from the practical concerns, one of the main downsides to renting a casket is that it can feel weird to use a casket that other bodies have used as well. If this is how you feel, consider these points:
- Rental caskets are cleaned and sanitized between uses. Your fee covers the cost of cleaning. Ask your funeral director for more information on their procedures.
- Bodies don’t actually touch the casket itself. By using the leak-proof rental casket inserts, the body doesn’t touch the casket.
- Rental caskets can look “good as new”. Check first the condition of the casket before making your decision to rent.
If you still don’t feel comfortable renting a casket, that’s ok. It’s your choice. Read on for some alternatives to consider.
Alternatives to Rental Caskets for Cremation
If you want to consider alternatives to renting a casket for cremation here are some possibilities:
Lower cost alternatives to renting a casket for cremation:
If affordability is your main concern, consider these alternatives to casket rental:
- Conduct the funeral service or visitation after cremation with an urn present, rather than a casket.
- This is the cheapest option.
- Have a memorial service instead, where the body is not present.
- Use a standard cardboard cremation container but dress it up. You could lay a nice blanket or sheet over the container, cover it with flowers, and add photos or other keepsakes.
- Purchase a modest cremation casket designed for viewing. These options can be had for around the same price as renting a casket if bought online ($800-$1200)
- Simple wooden box – can be further personalized and decorated by you.
- Fabric covered fiberboard, such as wool or cotton.
More environmentally friendly alternatives to renting a casket for cremation:
If reducing waste is your primary concern, consider these alternatives to renting a casket before cremation:
- Have the funeral service after cremation, with the urn present. This is the most environmentally friendly option.
- Purchase a cremation casket made from local, fast growing materials like seagrass or bamboo.
- Remember to consider where the materials were sourced. A bamboo casket shipped from China is not as eco-friendly as one made locally from locally grown materials.
- Consider purchasing an environmental offset.
- You could buy a carbon offset.
- You could contribute to environmental causes such as reforestation or pollution reduction initiatives.
Rental Caskets vs Cremation Caskets
Rental caskets are designed to be used multiple times and are not cremated. Cremation caskets are single use and are designed to be cremated, meaning all parts are combustible.
Rental caskets usually have a fold-down flap at the foot of the casket to enable the insert with the body to slide in and out. The insert is usually made of heavy-duty cardboard or fiberboard and often has a satin lining and pillow so that it looks just like a normal casket when set up.
Rental caskets can be made of metal or wood, or wood with metal parts. Cremation caskets can only be made of materials that will burn, like wood, cardboard or plant-based fibers. That said, most rental caskets at funeral homes are made of wood, specifically oak.
Cost
The cheapest wooden cremation caskets cost about the same as renting a casket ($800-$1,200). Cardboard or fiberboard caskets will cost less. Some funeral homes set their prices so that renting a casket is more expensive than wooden caskets.
If affordability is a concern remember that you don’t need to purchase a casket from your funeral home. You can search online or even at Costco or Walmart for more affordable options.
Rental Caskets vs Caskets for Burial
The key difference between rental caskets and normal burial caskets is that rental caskets are designed to house removable inserts to hold the body and are designed for multiple uses. Burial caskets do not have removable parts and are designed for a single use. Apart from that, rental caskets look just like burial caskets.
While burial caskets can be customized, rental caskets cannot.
Final Thoughts
While renting a casket for cremation is an environmentally friendly choice, it’s not always as friendly on your pocket as you might think. As with all aspects relating to planning for death, I’d encourage you to consider your options and work out what’s most important to you and your loved ones before deciding. You don’t need to do what you think everyone else does. You don’t need to follow the funeral director’s suggestions. You should acknowledge and remember the life of your loved one in a way that feels meaningful to you, while not costing more than it needs to.
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