Do I Actually Need a Casket?

Many families assume a casket is simply a required part of any funeral or burial — but the actual requirement is narrower than most people expect, and varies by exactly what’s being planned.

Is a casket required for cremation?

No - the FTC Funeral Rule specifically addresses this: a funeral home cannot represent a casket as legally required for cremation, because it isn’t. Crematories are required to offer an alternative container - often a simple, unfinished box or basic wood frame - as an option for direct cremation. If a funeral home suggests otherwise, that’s worth questioning directly.

Is a casket required for burial?

This depends on the specific cemetery rather than a universal law. Unlike cremation, there’s no single federal rule governing burial containers, which means the actual requirement comes down to the specific cemetery’s own policy rather than a universal law. Some cemeteries require at least a simple container of some kind. Others - particularly those offering green or natural burial - accept a shroud alone, without any casket at all. This variation is exactly why it’s worth asking a specific cemetery directly what they require, rather than assuming either that a casket is mandatory or that a shroud will automatically be accepted everywhere.

What’s an alternative container?

For families choosing cremation without a traditional casket, an alternative container is typically simple - sometimes cardboard, sometimes an unfinished wood frame - built specifically to be functional rather than for display or viewing. It’s a legitimate, cost-effective option, not a lesser substitute, and funeral homes are required by the FTC Funeral Rule to offer it.

Can I use a shroud instead of a casket?

Many cemeteries offering green or natural burial specifically accept shroud burial - wrapping the body in a simple cloth rather than using any casket - without any casket at all. This has become an increasingly available option, though it’s not universally available, so confirming with a specific cemetery in advance matters, but it’s a genuine, growing choice rather than a niche exception.

Requirements vary by state, cemetery, and crematory - confirming directly with the specific provider is the most reliable way to know what applies.