Casket handling fee
A fee some funeral homes try to charge when a family buys a casket from a third party (Costco, Amazon, an online supplier). Illegal under federal law.
The FTC Funeral Rule explicitly prohibits funeral homes from charging a 'casket handling fee' or any equivalent surcharge for accepting a casket the family bought elsewhere. The home must accept delivery and use the casket without penalty.
Third-party caskets typically cost 40–70% less than the same casket bought through a funeral home. A casket the home prices at $3,000 often sells for $900–$1,200 online. This is the largest single area of savings for families who choose burial.
Some homes rebrand the handling fee as a 'casket inspection charge,' a 'storage fee,' or an 'increased basic services fee.' All of these are illegal. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- GPL (General Price List)— The itemized price list every funeral home in the US is legally required to give you on request — in person, by phone, or by email.
- FTC Funeral Rule— The federal regulation governing what funeral homes can and cannot do. In effect since 1984. Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
- Casket— The container the body is placed in for viewing and burial. Required for traditional funerals; optional for direct cremation (a cardboard 'alternative container' suffices).
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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