Have you been tasked with planning a funeral on a budget? One way to do that is to look for affordable casket options.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Can You Buy Caskets at Costco?
- How Much Do Caskets Usually Cost at Costco?
- What Types of Caskets Does Costco Offer?
- Tips for Buying a Casket at Costco
Let us help you find a cheap casket by giving you the rundown on buying a coffin at Costco. We’ll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of purchasing a casket at the membership warehouse club, as well as the types of Costco caskets you can get. We’ll also give you some tips on how to buy a casket at Costco.
Can You Buy Caskets at Costco?
Yes, you can buy caskets at Costco’s online store.
Please note that caskets are only available at Costco’s online store. You will not be able to purchase one of those amazing layered cakes for the repast at the same time you buy a casket for the funeral.
Keep reading to learn about the types of caskets available at Costco.
Benefits of buying a casket at Costco
One of the most significant benefits of buying a casket is Costco is that you could potentially save a lot of money on the purchase. Costco caskets may be a bit more expensive than some of the products you can buy from Costco’s online competitors, but you need to read the fine print to compare the products. A solid poplar casket may cost $1,600 online and you can get a similar casket from Costco for $1,000.
Again, Costco does not have the cheapest online caskets but has reasonable prices for high-quality products.
Drawbacks of buying a casket at Costco
One of the drawbacks of buying a casket from Costco is that it is not immediately available. According to Costco’s website, here is its delivery schedule, based on when you order the item:
- Orders placed Monday at 10 a.m. PST will arrive Thursday.
- Orders placed Tuesday at 10 a.m. PST will arrive Friday.
- Orders placed Wednesday at 10 a.m. PST will arrive Monday.
- Orders placed Thursday at 10 a.m. PST will arrive Tuesday.
- Orders placed Friday at 10 a.m. PST will arrive Wednesday.
Costco’s website also says that “acts of God, weather-related conditions and states of emergencies” can delay delivery beyond the stated delivery schedule. The website only mentions that caskets can be returned “due to freight or cosmetic damage from shipping.”
Nowhere in the fine print does it state that you can return the casket if it does not arrive on time. Consider contacting Costco’s customer service number at 1-800-955-2292 or email customerservice@costco.com if you're seeking a refund for a coffin that does not arrive on time for the service.
Another drawback of purchasing a casket from Costco is that at this time, there are only nine options available. If you have a specific style of casket in mind, you may not be able to find one through this retailer. Even though many choose to purchase a highly personalized casket for their loved one’s funeral, this is not an option when buying a casket at Costco.
Finally, you may also feel strange buying a casket, of all things, from a national warehouse chain. It may feel more appropriate to purchase a casket from a man dressed in a dark suit who works at a funeral home rather than buying one from the place where you buy organic milk and romaine lettuce. You may feel that others will judge you for making such an important purchase from a discount store.
The reality is that most people have to plan a funeral on a budget. While it may feel unsettling to examine and compare casket prices, you may be able to save a lot of money doing so.
It may help you to consider how your deceased loved one would have approached the purchase if still alive. Would your loved one have bought a high-end casket for himself without asking the price? If he would have comparison shopped when making the purchase, then so should you.
How Much Do Caskets Usually Cost at Costco?
Most of the caskets on Costco’s site cost $999.99, although there is one listed at $899.99 and another at $1,299.99.
Casket prices vary depending on the type of material used in their construction. It may be helpful to learn the average cost of varying kinds of caskets before you decide whether Costco prices are reasonable or not.
Caskets vary in quality. You may be able to get a less expensive casket from other online retailers, but they may not be made with quality materials. It is up to you to determine whether purchasing a high-end casket is essential or not.
Tip: Even though Costco sells caskets for a relatively low cost, a casket is still a major investment. If you need some help with end-of-life expenses, consider creating an online memorial page with fundraising. Visitors to the page can write tributes to your loved one and make donations to help with funeral costs.
What Types of Caskets Does Costco Offer?
Here are the types of caskets Costco currently offers on its website. Of course, Costco may periodically change its product line.
Costco only offers half-couch caskets on its website. “Half-couch” (as opposed to a "full-couch" casket) refers to the style of lid, which is split down the middle. This allows the top half of the body to be displayed during an open-casket visitation.
Eighteen-gauge steel casket
Steel caskets are measured by the thickness of the material. Here’s how it works: a casket made with 18-gauge steel means it would take 18 sheets stacked against each other to be equivalent to one-inch thickness. This means that 18-gauge steel is made with thicker sheets compared to 20-gauge steel. Eighteen-gauge steel caskets are typically more expensive than 20-gauge steel caskets.
Costco sells a version of an 18-gauge steel casket with the Lord’s Prayer written on the inside of the lid. It also sells 18-gauge steel caskets in a variety of colors, including blue and silver. You can purchase a steel casket explicitly marketed for mothers. You can also buy one with a pinkish hue and the image of a rose on the lid’s interior.
Solid wood casket
Costco also sells two caskets made of solid poplar wood.
One of the wood caskets is appropriate for display during an open-casket visitation as well as cremation. You’ll notice that there are no metal handles visible on this casket. The description does not verify that this product is entirely metal-free, which is a requirement for some religious groups.
While this attractive casket is only $1,000, you may be able to rent a casket for the visitation and purchase a cremation-only casket from the funeral home as a less expensive option.
The other wood casket option offered on Costco’s website uses metal for the handles and construction. It would not be appropriate to use for cremation.
Tips for Buying a Casket at Costco
As you would expect, you can read some fine print about purchasing a casket through Costco. We read all the details, and here’s what you need to know.
1. You must be a Costco member to purchase a casket
The website requires that you enter your Costco membership ID before making your purchase.
You may find that the prices for high-quality caskets through Costco are so reasonable that it may be worth purchasing a membership for this specific purchase.
2. You can’t purchase a Costco casket in every state
Currently, you can purchase a Costco casket from 37 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Please note that both the bill-to and ship-to addresses must be from one of the preceding states or your order will be canceled.
3. Funeral homes must accept your casket delivery from Costco
The Federal Trade Commission requires funeral homes to accept any casket purchased from any retailer.
No additional fees can be charged to you for using a Costco casket instead of one purchased from the funeral home. You do not need to be present at the funeral home when the coffin is delivered.
4. You must confirm the details of the order before it is delivered
Be prepared to confirm the shipping time, date, and address before the order will be delivered.
5. Caskets from Costco can only be shipped to a funeral home
Costco does not allow a casket to go anywhere but a funeral home. When purchasing a casket through the website, you must provide the deceased’s name and the address and phone number of the funeral home or mortuary.
6. You cannot pre-purchase a casket through Costco
Some funeral homes allow you to pre-purchase a casket before a person’s death. Costco does not let you do this.
7. The cost of the casket includes shipping
Not all online retailers include the cost of the shipping in the price of the casket. When you purchase a casket with Costco, you won’t pay additional shipping fees.
8. You cannot make any changes to the color or style of a Costco casket
Many casket retailers allow you to personalize the casket by choosing a specific liner color or engraving an image on the outside of the coffin. This is not possible when you purchase a Costco casket.
Alternatives to Costco Caskets
Costco isn't the big-box retailer offering affordable caskets. You can also shop for quality caskets on Amazon, as well as Walmart's online store.
And today, you have plenty of options when it comes to honoring your departed loved ones and respecting their remains. If you choose to forgo a casket in favor of cremation, you can design a one-of-a-kind urn with Foreverence. You can even transform your loved one's ashes into something beautiful, like a real diamond or cremation stones.
It’s Not Wrong to Try to Save Money When Planning a Funeral
Spending a lot of money on a person’s funeral isn't the only way to show your love and respect. And there’s nothing wrong with planning a funeral on a limited budget. If buying a casket through Costco saves you money, it's smart to consider that option.