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Rental Caskets – Complete Guide + Pricing

Introduction

Did you know you could rent a casket? You can. If you are planning a funeral service for your loved one but cannot afford to purchase a traditional casket (or just want to consider a more affordable option), rental caskets are a great option.

Rental caskets have become more popular in the past decade because of their cost-saving benefits. Besides being inexpensive, caskets for rent are safe, sanitary, and even eco-friendly.

Note: In this article, we use the word “casket” and not “coffin”. Though often used interchangeably, the two words have distinct meanings.

What Is A Rental Casket?

open wooden casket

A rental casket is simply a casket that you can temporarily rent for viewings and ceremonial purposes. They look just like traditional caskets but use a replaceable insert (typically made of cardboard or wood) that sits inside. The insert holds the body and will be removed after the service, leaving the casket to be reused.

Purchasing traditional caskets with elaborate designs and finishes can cost thousands of dollars. With rental caskets, you get to use expensive, elaborate caskets for the funeral service without buying a new one. Rental caskets are suitable for both burials and cremations. (Though, of course, the casket itself will not be buried or cremated.)

How It Works

After the body is embalmed and dressed, it will be placed in a removable insert. The insert can be a simple wooden box—like a pine casket—or a plain cardboard container. Next, the insert will slide in from the bottom end of the rental casket (resembling a drop-down door).

When the funeral service is over, the removable insert will slide out and then be transported to the crematory or burial site.

Rental caskets will be used many times, but eventually they get damaged or just wear out and are retired at the funeral home’s discretion.

How Much Is A Rental Casket?

According to the NFDA, the average cost of a rental casket in 2019 was $995. The price will still vary depending on the style and material of the casket you prefer.

To give you an example, we selected two funeral homes offering caskets for rent at different price points. Both of these caskets are available online.

rental casket

The Sonoran Skies Mortuary offers its Amherst Rental Oak Casket at $695. This rental casket is made of oak and it has a white crepe interior.

rental casket

On the other hand, Rose Mortuary has its Barrett Rental Casket made of solid cherry and ivory velvet interiors. This rental casket costs $1,195.

Note though that aside from renting the casket, you may also have to purchase the removable insert fitted inside the casket. Most rental casket prices include this fee—especially at funeral homes—but if not, a cardboard container normally costs less than $100. Wooden boxes may cost several hundred dollars more. Any additional items, like pillows and other decorations, will cost an extra fee.

Trivia: According to the FTC, the average cost of a standard casket is slightly more than $2,000, which may still increase for up to $10,000 depending on the material and design. The takeaway? Renting a casket can save you a lot of money.

Renting Caskets From Funeral Homes

Many funeral providers offer the option of renting a casket. If your funeral home does offer rentals, their available choices should be stated on the General Price List. Simply ask your funeral director about this option and they will happily assist you with a rental.

In almost every case, renting directly from your funeral home is the most affordable option.

Benefits of Rental Caskets

Rental caskets can offer the following advantages:

  • More affordable.
  • Suitable for viewings and ceremonies.
  • Environmentally friendly.

Affordable

You can save thousands of dollars by choosing to rent a casket instead of buying a regular casket.

The casket is one of the most expensive items to purchase (or rent) for a funeral service.

As an option for those who cannot afford to purchase a brand new casket, rental caskets became popular to avoid spending a huge amount of money. Families simply use the insert for burial or cremation.

Suitable for Viewings and Ceremonies

man holding flowers

A rental casket looks just like a standard casket with fine linings, luxurious finishes, and expensive materials.

Also, the removable insert of a rental casket is hidden inside the casket. No one will know if you are using a rental casket.

Environmentally Friendly

cemetery

Because you avoid buying a casket that could take decades or centuries to fully biodegrade, your choice of opting for a rental casket is actually eco-friendly. As you use fewer resources, you both save money and the environment.

Regulations on Rental Caskets

A rental casket is permitted by law as long as it meets the following provisions:

  • Must be manufactured specifically for multi-use and must be fitted with a new removable insert after each use.
  • Cannot be reused if a non-removable portion has been soiled, stained, or contaminated by the body placed in the removable insert.
  • The customer who rents the casket must be informed in writing that the casket may have been used already and that it will be reclaimed by the funeral establishment renting it.

FAQ

Can I rent a casket (or coffin)?

Yes. Renting caskets is a popular option for those who cannot afford to buy a standard casket. Also, a rental casket is cost-saving especially if you want a funeral service prior to burial or cremation.

What is a rental casket (of coffin)?

A rental casket is simply a casket for rent. It looks just like a traditional casket but it has a removable container fitted in the interior bedding, which is where the body is placed. After the service or viewing, the removable container carrying the body will slide out and then be transferred for cremation or burial.

How much is a rental casket?

According to the NFDA, the average price of a rental casket in 2019 was $995. The price will vary depending on your preferred style, material, and design of the casket. A rental casket is still a lot cheaper than purchasing a brand new one, which has an average cost of $2,000 and can go up to $10,000.

Is a rental casket sanitary?

Yes. After each use, a rental casket is sanitized and replaced with a new removable insert. The inserts are also fitted in such a way that the body will not touch the outer casket at any time. If any part of the rental casket has been soiled or stained, it will be disposed of and not used anymore (this is a legal requirement). 

Is renting a casket legal? 

Renting caskets is legal and not prohibited as long as certain sanitary provisions are followed: replacing the inner container after each use, disposing of a rental casket that has been soiled or stained, and informing the family in writing that a rental casket may have been used previously.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! We hope you find this helpful. If you have suggestions or feedback, send us an email at info@in-valhalla.com.

Cardboard Caskets – Complete Guide + Pricing

Introduction

If you are looking for a modest casket option for a simple funeral or cremation, you should consider buying a cardboard casket. They are a low-cost and eco-friendly alternative to traditional caskets. Although they are made of a simple material, cardboard caskets have a lot to offer in terms of durability, style, sustainability, and value for the price.

Read more and find out everything you need to know about cardboard casket options.

Note: In this article, we use the word “casket” and not “coffin”. Though often used interchangeably, they mean different things.

What Is A Cardboard Casket?

A cardboard casket is a burial container usually made of corrugated or honeycombed cardboard—a common material that is widely produced. They usually contain a base made of thicker cardboard or plywood to maintain stability and prevent leaks.

cardboard

Cardboard caskets require few resources to build. Like paper, it is easy to burn, making it a good option for eco-friendly cremations.

How Much Is A Cardboard Casket?

To give you a ballpark figure of cardboard caskets according to various styles, we selected a few examples that are available online in the UK.

England is way ahead of the United States in terms of green burials. Your local crematorium will likely have cardboard options available at prices less than or equal to the following.

Almost every funeral home and crematorium will offer a simple cardboard casket for less than $100 USD.

The cheapest cardboard casket you’ll find is in plain white or brown. It is a good option if you want a straightforward and simple casket for burial or cremation. The Cardboard Coffin Company sells its Manila Cardboard Coffin for £192 ($226.33 USD). 

plain cardboard casket with spray
Source: Cardboard Coffin Company

A cardboard casket can get more expensive if you want it in a more luxurious style. It can be made in a wood-like finish such as Compare The Coffin’s Light Woodgrain Cardboard Coffin that costs £299 ($352.49 USD).

cardboard casket with wooden finish
Source: Compare The Coffin

If you want to have your cardboard casket customized with a design of your choosing, it’ll cost you about one hundred more pounds. This picture cardboard casket with bluebells and cloud design by Earth to Heaven costs £485 ($571.77 USD).

picture casket
Source: Earth To Heaven

These are just a few examples of consumer retail prices. The price will likely be cheaper at your local crematorium.

Benefits of Cardboard Caskets

Cardboard caskets have the benefit of being

  • Durable
  • Customizable
  • Eco-friendly
  • Low-cost
  • Lightweight

Lightweight Yet Durable

Although it may seem that cardboard is a simple material, cardboard caskets are built to be sturdy enough to handle hundreds of pounds of weight. In fact—though a casket can weigh as little as 26 pounds—they are strong enough to handle a 300-pound body.

If one needs to support something heavier, a plywood tray can be inserted into the coffin for reinforcement. Regardless of the expected load, a cardboard casket is fashioned with a bottom liner (still made of cardboard) to prevent leaks.

Another benefit unique to cardboard caskets is that they are collapsible and easy to ship.

Cardboard Caskets Can Be Customized

A cardboard casket does not have to be plain. A white or brown cardboard casket can serve as a canvas for your imagination. They can be painted with a wide range of colors. Another option is to create a wood-like appearance by using a painted treatment of faux cherry or pine finish.

Cardboard coffins can also be decorated with any scene, pattern, or picture of your choice. Casket retailers can print pictures and apply them using a biodegradable material wrap. The end result is a container commonly called a picture casket. This allows you to personalize the tribute on the box specifically to the person or pet.

Custom caskets designs are a growing trend that allows for personal expression, whether it be religious, cultural, family, or individual interest. You can learn more about the possibilities at Casketwraps.

Decoration As Grieving

If you want to personalize a coffin for your loved one, you can also write messages or put drawings on a cardboard casket. This process can serve as effective grieving as you artistically express your feelings on your loved one’s coffin. This can also be a cathartic activity for a small group. Families and friends can be asked to actively participate in the casket decorating and share the experience.

Lastly, you can decorate a cardboard casket with pictures, flowers, and other symbols reminiscent of your deceased loved one. This type of personalization is a good way to make a funeral intimate and touching.

Cardboard Caskets Are Eco-Friendly

Cardboard caskets offer another important benefit by being 100% biodegradable. They do not contain any metal parts. Therefore a cardboard casket decomposes easily into the soil—in contrast to most traditional caskets.

Cardboard caskets are made from recyclable materials. They also produce 90% less carbon emissions when cremated compared to hardwood options.

These features make cardboard caskets friendly to the environment. Other eco-friendly casket options are pine box caskets and wicker caskets.

Cardboard Caskets Are Low-Cost

A cardboard casket is a lot cheaper than a standard casket because of raw material cost. Cardboard is widely available, easily produced and it still strong enough to serve its purpose as a casket. Conventional caskets, on the other hand, are generally made from expensive and chemically-treated woods or metals—materials that will not easily biodegrade.

Traditional caskets cost thousands of dollars. It is completely reasonable to avoid this cost and consider the cardboard alternative. In fact, the growing Green funeral movement encourages this as a way to avoid wasting money on something that will only serve its purpose for a few hours—a casket that will only be seen for a short time during ceremonies and viewings.  

There are many ways to honor those that have gone. Spending money on a casket is an individual’s choice.

Cardboard Cremation Caskets

A container of some kind is required for all cremations. As a standard, the cremation container must be enclosed, rigid, leak-proof, and combustible. (Some crematories allow for burial shrouds.)

The cheapest option for this is a cardboard container, (also known as an alternative container). Because of this fact, cardboard containers are primarily used for cremations. Read our post about all your options for cremation caskets to learn about the alternatives.

Trivia: According to the book Grave Matters by Mark Harris, 80% of cremations nationwide use cardboard containers.

As opposed to traditional caskets, a crematory will consume less fuel and release fewer pollutants while cremating cardboard cremation caskets—just another reason why cardboard caskets are great for the environment.

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Cardboard Caskets

If you want to build your own cardboard coffin, DIYing Free offers a free step-by-step guide to building a cardboard coffin.

(This is a coffin, not a casket—it has six sides and not four.)

  1. Download the file for the cardboard coffin design
  2. Gather your cardboard,
  3. Laser cut it using the file
  4. Assemble your casket using the instructions provided

The cardboard you gather must match the surface area of 21 sheets measuring 61 x 96 cm (24.02 by 37.80 inches). You can source cardboard for free from bike shops, grocery stores and appliances stores.

For the laser cut step, DIYing Free offers a list of FabLabs where you can have the file cut.

The rest of the steps are available in this instructional guide.

Cardboard is the perfect material to make a coffin out of: it is often free because it’s a waste product, it is very strong in relation to its weight and it biodegrades quickly.

Justin Tyler Tate of DIYing Free

Where To Buy Cardboard Caskets

Your local crematory or funeral home may have an available cardboard casket. You’ll probably have to ask for it specifically, as cardboard caskets rarely make it to the showroom.

You can also buy from any local casket retailer, although they may not offer personalization.

Best Option: Purchase Online

keyboard with cart button

As a great way to choose from a wide range of options and to ensure that you save money, your best option is to purchase a cardboard casket online (if you’re in the UK).

A lot of online coffin sellers offer high-quality cardboard caskets with unique and beautiful styles. Simply search for cardboard caskets on Google and browse from shops that cater directly to the general public. From there, you can have it shipped directly to your address or to your funeral home.

Unfortunately, we haven’t been to find an online cardboard casket manufacturer that sells direct to consumers. If you find one in the US, please let us know.

Tip: According to the FTC, every funeral home is required to accept any casket bought elsewhere. Moreover, they cannot charge you any fee if you purchase from another retailer. Lastly, your funeral home cannot require you to be there when the casket is delivered to them.

FAQ

What is a cardboard casket?

A cardboard casket is simply a low-cost coffin made of cardboard. It is often used for cremations as an alternative container because it is easily combustible. However, it can also be used for burials—particularly green and natural burials—because of its eco-friendly feature.

How much is cardboard coffin?

In the UK, they can range from £165 up to £499 ($195 to $588 USD) depending on the style and design. A plain brown cardboard coffin is usually the cheapest, while a picture casket printed with colorful designs are the most expensive.

What are the advantages of using a cardboard casket?

Cardboard caskets are durable, environmentally friendly, customizable, and cheap. Although they are made of simple and common material, cardboard caskets are still strong and sturdy enough to handle a 300-pound body. A cardboard coffin is also 100% biodegradable and made of recyclable materials, making it friendly to the environment. Lastly, it can be personalized and decorated with various designs while still being less expensive than a traditional coffin.

Can I be buried in cardboard casket?

Absolutely. Cardboard caskets are one of the best options if you are opting for a green and natural burial because it is biodegradable. Other eco-friendly casket options are pine caskets and wicker coffins. However, before using a cardboard casket for burial, it is best to contact the cemetery operators first regarding their policies.

Are cardboard caskets biodegradable?

Yes. Cardboard caskets are biodegradable. They usually do not contain any metal components such as screws or other fittings that are not natural.

Are cardboard caskets strong?

Yes. A cardboard casket is engineered and tested to carry a body weighing 300 pounds or more.

Can I decorate a cardboard casket?

Yes. You may write messages, draw, or paint on a cardboard casket. You may also put pictures, flowers, or other decorations that you want in order to personalize your loved one’s cardboard casket.

Can you carry a body in a cardboard casket?

Of course! It wouldn’t be a very good casket if you couldn’t move it. Cardboard is a surprisingly strong and durable material.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! We hope you find this helpful. If you have suggestions or feedback, send us an email at info@in-valhalla.com.