Glossary
What is 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.
Crematories require a sturdy, leak-resistant, fully combustible container so the body can be handled safely and with dignity during the process, but this does not have to be an expensive casket. An alternative container — sometimes called a cremation casket or minimum container — made of unfinished wood, pressed board, or heavy cardboard satisfies that requirement at a fraction of the cost.
The FTC Funeral Rule directly addresses this point: a funeral provider that offers cremation must make alternative containers available, and may not tell you that state or local law requires a casket for direct cremation when it does not. The provider also cannot refuse to use, or charge a fee to use, a container you supply.
If you want a viewing before cremation, many funeral homes offer a rental casket — a presentation casket with a removable, replaceable cardboard or wood insert that holds the body. The body is cremated in the insert, so you pay only a rental fee rather than the full price of a casket that would otherwise be destroyed.
Related terms
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.
Cremation
Cremation is the use of intense heat to reduce a body to bone fragments, which are then processed into cremated remains and returned to the family. It is an alternative to burial and can be paired with a funeral, a memorial, or no service at all.
Direct cremation
Direct cremation is cremation that takes place soon after death with no viewing, visitation, or ceremony beforehand. It is usually the lowest-cost cremation option, and any memorial the family wants can be held separately, later, and anywhere.
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 Cremation container
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.