When a family chooses cremation, the next question often arrives quickly and quietly: “Can we still have a viewing?” For many people, seeing the person’s face one last time, hearing prayers in a familiar room, or gathering around the body before the farewell is not about formality—it is about reality. It is the moment grief becomes tangible, and love has a place to go. At the same time, families are balancing time, budget, and the practical side of funeral planning.
That tension is happening in a country where cremation is now the majority choice. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 61.9% for 2024. The Cremation Association of North America reports a 2024 national cremation rate of 61.8% in its annual statistics preview. When cremation becomes the norm, families naturally look for options that preserve meaningful rituals without forcing an “all or nothing” choice between a traditional funeral and a minimal direct cremation.
This is where a rental casket comes in. If you are asking what is a rental casket, you are not alone. It is one of the most practical ways to have a viewing before cremation—including, in many cases, an open casket service before cremation—while still proceeding with cremation afterward.
What a Rental Casket Is
A rental casket is a ceremonial casket used for a visitation, viewing, or funeral service when the family plans cremation afterward. Instead of purchasing a casket that will never be buried, the family pays a rental fee to use a high-quality outer casket for the service. The key detail is that the casket you see is not the container that goes into the crematory.
In most rental setups, the body rests inside a separate removable container—often called an insert. After the service ends, that insert is removed and used for the cremation. The outer casket is then respectfully cleaned and prepared for future services. That “two-part” design is what makes how rental caskets work different from buying a casket outright.
Families tend to choose a rental casket when they want a traditional experience of gathering around the body, but they also want the flexibility of cremation. Sometimes the reason is emotional, sometimes religious, sometimes practical, and often it is all three at once.
How Rental Caskets Work
The Outer Shell You See at the Service
The exterior of a rental casket is typically designed to look like a traditional casket you might see at a funeral. It may be made of wood or metal, and it often has the kind of finish and interior presentation that supports a formal viewing. This can matter for families who want a familiar setting or who feel that dignity includes the look and feel of the room.
The Removable Insert That Makes Cremation Possible
The insert is the part that holds the body. It is placed inside the rental casket for the viewing, and then removed afterward. Depending on the funeral home, the insert may be a cremation container with a simple interior or a more structured tray-like unit designed specifically for rental systems. The important point is that the insert—not the outer casket—is what is cremated.
If you are planning cremation with rental casket use, it can help to picture the process in a gentle sequence: preparation (which may include embalming if there is a public viewing), placement into the insert, the viewing or service, the removal of the insert, and then cremation. Families often appreciate knowing this in advance because it reduces worry about what happens “behind the scenes” after the goodbye.
Rental Casket vs. Buying a Casket for Cremation
Many families first consider renting because of cost. The cost of rental casket vs purchase can be meaningfully different, especially when the family is already paying for staff, facilities, transportation, and other service-related charges. Renting typically costs less than purchasing a casket of similar appearance, because you are paying for temporary use rather than ownership. That said, rental casket pricing varies widely by location and by the type of service, and the rental fee is only one line item in the total.
A more accurate way to think about the decision is to separate the “casket choice” from the “service choice.” If you want a viewing, there may be additional costs regardless of whether you rent or buy: preparation, possible embalming, cosmetics, use of the visitation room, staffing, and coordination. If you are trying to get clear about how much does cremation cost when a viewing is included, it is often helpful to read a plain-language breakdown like How Much Does Cremation Cost? Average Prices and Budget-Friendly Options, then compare it to the funeral home’s own General Price List.
If you are feeling uncertain or pressured during pricing conversations, it can help to know that you have consumer rights around itemized pricing. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule explains that funeral homes must provide itemized price information and allow consumers to choose only the goods and services they want. That does not eliminate grief or time pressure, but it can make it easier to ask calm, practical questions.
Why Some Families and Faith Traditions Choose This Option
Families choose rental caskets for many reasons that have nothing to do with “saving money,” even though the financial piece matters. For some, the decision is about tradition: the body is present, prayers are said, and the community has a chance to pay respects in the way they understand. For others, it is about timing: cremation may be scheduled later, while the family gathers now. For many, it is about emotional clarity. A viewing can feel like a turning point that helps the mind accept what the heart already knows.
When faith is part of the picture, the details can become even more personal. Different communities have different teachings and expectations about cremation, about the presence of the body, and about what “respect” looks like. A rental casket can allow families to honor the ritual or pastoral needs of a viewing, even if cremation is chosen afterward. If you are navigating faith views on rental caskets, it is often wise to include a trusted clergy member early, so the service aligns with your beliefs and your conscience.
Funeral Home Rental Casket Policies to Ask About
Because rental caskets involve an insert system and a chain of custody from viewing to cremation, it is reasonable to ask specific questions. These do not need to be confrontational—they are part of responsible funeral planning, and most funeral directors expect them.
- Is the rental casket appropriate for an open casket service before cremation, and are there any limits on timing or condition?
- What, specifically, is the insert—does it become the cremation container, and is it included in the rental fee?
- What preparation is required for a viewing before cremation (including embalming policies and any exceptions)?
- What are the total charges connected to the viewing (facility, staff, preparation, transportation), beyond the rental itself?
- How is the transition handled after the service, and when should the family expect the cremated remains to be available?
- If the family wants a private final moment after the public viewing, is that possible, and how is it scheduled?
It can also help to read a broader explanation of casket choices, including rentals, so you feel more oriented before you sit down for arrangements. Funeral.com’s guide Casket Choices Explained: Materials, Features, Rental Options, and Saving on Costs walks through the vocabulary families often encounter in that meeting.
After the Viewing: Choosing an Urn and Deciding What to Do With Ashes
Once the viewing and cremation are complete, many families discover that the “casket decision” was only the beginning. The next decisions are about what happens to the ashes—how to hold them, where to place them, and how to honor the person in a way that feels steady over time. This is where cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, and memorial keepsakes become part of the story, not as a purchase, but as a continuation of care.
If you want one main urn for the full amount of ashes, families typically start with a full-size choice from cremation urns for ashes. If you want a smaller footprint for a shelf or a discreet memorial space, small cremation urns can be a practical fit. If the family plans to share a portion among siblings or children, keepsake urns make it possible for more than one person to have a tangible connection.
For some families, the most meaningful option is wearable. cremation jewelry is designed to hold a symbolic, very small portion of ashes, allowing someone to carry that presence through daily life. If you are exploring cremation necklaces in particular, you can browse options like cremation necklaces, and it can be reassuring to read a calm explanation first, such as Cremation Jewelry 101.
If you feel unsure about how to match the urn to your plan—home display, cemetery burial, scattering, travel, or sharing—Funeral.com’s guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Fits Your Plans is built for exactly that moment when families want clarity, not pressure.
Keeping Ashes at Home
Many families choose keeping ashes at home, at least for a time, because it creates space to grieve without rushing into a final decision. This is not just anecdotal. On the National Funeral Directors Association statistics page, NFDA shares findings from its cremation and burial reporting, including that among people who prefer cremation, substantial portions prefer either keeping cremated remains at home in an urn or scattering them, alongside those who prefer burial or interment of cremated remains. If home is where your loved one feels closest, you may find practical reassurance in keeping ashes at home guidance that covers safety, family conversations, and long-term planning.
Water Burial, Scattering, and Other Plans
Sometimes the most fitting “place” is not a shelf or a cemetery, but a landscape—an ocean, a lake, a river, a favorite trail. If you are thinking about water burial or scattering at sea, it helps to understand the practical rules and the ceremony options before you commit to a container. Funeral.com’s guide water burial explained walks through what typically happens, including the use of biodegradable containers designed for water release. If you are not sure which direction you are going yet, it is okay to choose a secure urn now and make a scattering plan later. The best decision is often the one that protects you from regret.
And if you are still sitting with the bigger question—what to do with ashes—it may help to give yourself permission to decide slowly. An urn decision can be immediate. A final placement decision can be patient.
How to Make a Rental Casket Decision Without Regret
When families worry about choosing a rental casket, the worry usually is not about the container. It is about whether the goodbye will feel “real enough,” respectful enough, faithful enough, or loving enough. A rental casket is simply a tool that supports a meaningful viewing while keeping cremation as your chosen disposition.
If you are weighing your options, it can help to anchor yourself in three questions. First, do we need a viewing to meet our emotional or spiritual needs, or would a memorial service after cremation feel more natural? Second, what is our budget, and what tradeoffs would feel acceptable to us if costs rise? Third, what do we want the next chapter to look like—an urn at home, shared keepsakes, a cemetery placement, or scattering?
From there, you can choose with clarity. If a viewing matters, cremation with rental casket use often offers the balance families are looking for: tradition without unnecessary expense, dignity without pressure, and time to decide what memorialization should look like next. And when you are ready to take the next step, Funeral.com’s collections for cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, and cremation jewelry can help you find something that feels like a continuation of love, not just a decision you had to make.
Finally, if your family is also carrying pet loss—whether recent or long ago—many people find comfort in creating a memorial space that includes both. Funeral.com’s collections for pet urns for ashes, pet cremation urns with figurine designs, and pet keepsake cremation urns can support families who want a shared place of remembrance.
