Glossary
What is casket?
A casket is the container, traditionally rectangular with a hinged lid, in which a body is buried or sometimes cremated. Caskets are made from wood, metal, or other materials and vary widely in price depending on construction and finish.
Caskets are one of the larger costs in a traditional funeral, and prices range broadly from simple to ornate. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral home must show you a casket price list before showing the caskets themselves.
You have the right to buy a casket from a third-party seller, and the funeral home must accept it without charging a handling fee. For cremation, a lower-cost cremation container or rental casket is often available instead.
Related terms
Cremation container
A cremation container is the rigid, combustible container that holds the body during cremation. It is usually a simple wood or cardboard box rather than a casket. The FTC Funeral Rule bars funeral homes from requiring you to buy a casket for cremation.
Burial vault
A burial vault is a sealed outer container, usually concrete or reinforced material, that encloses the casket in the grave. It supports the soil above and helps keep the ground level. Many cemeteries require a vault or a grave liner.
General Price List
A General Price List, or GPL, is the itemized list of prices a funeral home must provide under the FTC Funeral Rule. It lets you see the cost of each good and service separately so you can compare providers and choose only what you want.
FTC Funeral Rule
The FTC Funeral Rule is a US Federal Trade Commission regulation that gives consumers rights when buying funeral goods and services. It requires itemized pricing, lets you buy only what you want, and bars certain misrepresentations by funeral homes.
See also
Common questions about Casket
Sources
Explore with AI
This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.