Shroud Burial: How Burial Without a Casket Works (and What to Know About Wrapping and Rules)

Most families don’t start funeral planning thinking, “Maybe we won’t use a casket.” They start with something simpler and more human: the wish to do right by someone they love. Sometimes that wish looks traditional. Sometimes it looks minimal. And sometimes it looks like returning to the oldest version of care we know—one that’s quietly reappearing in modern life for families who want a meaningful, low-impact goodbye.

Shroud burial—sometimes called burial without a casket or natural burial without casket—is exactly what it sounds like: the body is wrapped in a shroud (a large piece of fabric designed for burial) and placed in the ground without a conventional casket. Depending on the cemetery, a simple supporting board, tray, or biodegradable container may be required for transport and lowering. The details matter, but the heart of it is often the same: simplicity, dignity, and a feeling of closeness that can be deeply comforting.

If you’re exploring this option, you’re not alone. Interest in green and alternative choices has grown as families look for lower-impact, more personalized ways to honor a life. And at the same time, cremation has become the most common disposition in the U.S. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the projected U.S. cremation rate for 2025 is 63.4% (with a projected burial rate of 31.6%). The Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% for 2024, reflecting how many families are now navigating decisions about memorialization and what comes next.

That context matters because many families compare options side by side: a shroud burial, a simple casket, or cremation with plans for ashes. There isn’t one “right” way. There is only the way that fits your values, your loved one’s wishes, and the rules of the place where the burial will happen.

What a shroud burial really involves

The word “shroud” can sound mysterious until you see it in plain language. A burial shroud is a piece of fabric used to wrap and carry the body for burial. It can be very simple—like a tailored sheet with ties or handles—or more structured, designed to make transfer and lowering easier. In many traditions, shrouding has long been a normal part of death care, not an unusual one. The modern version is often paired with the values of green burial: fewer permanent materials in the ground, fewer chemicals, and more direct contact with the earth.

The practical steps are usually straightforward, especially when a funeral home or a natural burial cemetery is guiding the process. There is care of the body, wrapping, transportation, and then the burial itself. Funeral.com’s guide Burial Shrouds Explained walks through what families can expect, including the role of a carrier board when it’s needed. If you’re in the early “we’re not sure yet” stage, What Is a Burial Shroud? is also a steady place to start.

One important note: shroud burial does not automatically mean “no funeral.” You can still have a visitation, a service, prayers, music, military honors, or a graveside gathering. The container is different; the care and ceremony can be as traditional or as personal as you want.

Shroud materials, wrapping, and what “how to wrap” means in real life

Families often ask about shroud material and how to wrap a body for burial because they want clarity without overwhelm. The good news is that the process is typically handled by professionals or guided educators in a way that is respectful and not graphic. “Wrapping” usually means the body is placed on the shroud, the fabric is folded around, and the shroud is secured with ties—often at the shoulders, hips, and feet. Some shrouds include handles or reinforced edges to support carrying.

Material matters for two reasons: what feels right to your family, and what the cemetery allows. Natural fibers are common in green burial settings. Many educational resources describe cotton, linen, hemp, and wool as typical choices, and the Green Burial Project lists natural fibers like cotton, linen, hemp, and wool among common materials used for green burial shrouds.

If you’re choosing a green burial shroud, it’s also wise to ask about finishes and add-ons. Some cemeteries are fine with simple stitching and natural ties. Others may restrict synthetic liners, plastic components, or treatments that don’t break down cleanly. A gentle but practical mindset helps here: “biodegradable” should mean the whole system—fabric, thread, ties, handles, and any reinforcement.

For a more detailed, family-friendly discussion of costs and materials, Funeral.com’s guide Green Burial Shrouds: Materials, Costs & How to Wrap a Body explains what to look for and what to confirm before you purchase anything.

Transport and lowering: why a board, tray, or container may be required

One of the most important “rules” questions isn’t really about the shroud itself. It’s about logistics: how the body is moved and how the cemetery safely lowers the body into the grave. Some natural burial grounds allow a shroud alone. Others require a simple carrier—often called a board, tray, stretcher, or shroud bearer—to support the body during transport and lowering.

These supports are not the same as a conventional casket. They may be as simple as a wooden board with handholds, a woven tray, or another biodegradable support. The purpose is safety and dignity: preventing shifting, supporting pallbearers, and making the lowering steady and controlled.

Even if the cemetery allows a casketless burial, you may still hear language like “container required.” That can mean many things. Some cemeteries mean a rigid support for lowering. Some mean a biodegradable alternative to a casket. And some mean a vault requirement (which would not align with green burial). Before you decide, ask for the cemetery’s written policy and clarify what they mean by “container.” Funeral.com’s article Eco-Friendly Caskets and Shrouds is helpful for understanding the common scenarios and the reasons rules vary from one cemetery to another.

For broader context, the National Funeral Directors Association explains green burial as interment directly in the earth without a concrete vault or metal casket, using biodegradable materials such as wooden caskets or shrouds. The details will still come down to your cemetery, but it’s a useful baseline when you’re evaluating whether a location can accommodate your plan.

Cemetery rules and casketless burial policies: what to ask before you commit

Families are often surprised by how much casketless burial rules can differ even within the same state. The cemetery might be guided by local regulations, liability policies, equipment limitations, or long-established traditions. And many conventional cemeteries require outer burial containers or vaults—especially in lawn cemeteries designed for easier maintenance—while many natural burial grounds do not.

When you’re calling a cemetery, it can help to ask in a calm, specific way. You’re not asking them to “break rules.” You’re asking them to interpret their rules clearly.

• Do you allow a shroud burial (burial without a casket)?
• If yes, do you require a board, tray, or other carrier for transport and lowering?
• Do you require an outer burial container or vault for any burial type?
• Are there restrictions on shroud fabric, stitching, ties, dyes, or treatments?
• Can the burial be witnessed, and can family members participate in carrying or lowering if desired?

This is also the moment to ask about timing and preparation. Some cemeteries require a shorter timeline if embalming is not used. Others have policies that allow refrigeration or dry ice as temporary preservation. If your family is considering a home funeral or a faith-based care tradition, be upfront so your plan can be supported instead of rushed.

Cost expectations and what “simple” actually means financially

A shroud burial is often described as a simpler, lower-impact choice, but “simple” doesn’t always mean “cheap.” Cemetery costs (plot, opening and closing, fees) can be the largest portion of burial expenses regardless of container. Still, families sometimes find that avoiding a conventional casket, vault, and certain services can lower the total.

The shroud itself ranges widely based on material, construction, and features like handles or reinforcement. A plain, natural cloth shroud may be more affordable; a tailored shroud with carrying handles may be more. Transportation, staff time, and cemetery fees can shift the total in either direction.

Because many families compare burial and cremation costs as part of decision-making, it’s worth naming the question people often whisper: how much does cremation cost? Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? explains what’s typically included in direct cremation versus full-service options, and what fees can change the bottom line. Even if you ultimately choose shroud burial, understanding the cost landscape can make family conversations steadier—especially when different relatives assume different price points.

How shroud burial fits into modern funeral planning

One of the quiet gifts of shroud burial is that it invites a different pace. Families often describe it as more intimate, less “transactional,” and more connected to the idea of returning to the earth. But that same intimacy can bring tender questions: Who will be present? Will it feel too hard? How will we explain it to children? What will the service look like?

In funeral planning, it helps to separate two decisions that often get tangled together. The first is disposition—burial, cremation, or another method. The second is memorialization—how you gather, what you say, what you keep, and where remembrance lives after the day is over. Shroud burial answers the first question in one specific way. The second question is still open, and it can be shaped gently.

Some families choose a graveside service with readings and music. Others hold a memorial at home after the burial. Some invite close family only for the burial and hold a larger celebration later. There is room for all of it.

And because modern families are often geographically spread out, memorialization sometimes includes choices outside burial entirely. If your family is also considering cremation—either now or for another loved one in the future—knowing the landscape can help you plan without pressure.

If your family is comparing cremation options too: urns, keepsakes, and jewelry

It’s common for families to compare shroud burial with cremation, especially when cost, travel, or personal beliefs are part of the discussion. If cremation is on the table, memorialization decisions often shift toward what happens with ashes: where they’ll be kept, whether they’ll be shared, and how to create a meaningful tribute without turning the home into a shrine that feels heavy.

For families who want a “home base” memorial, cremation urns can be a steady starting point. Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection gathers many styles and materials, and the companion guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn Before You Buy helps translate practical questions—capacity, placement, material—into a calmer decision.

When families want to share ashes among siblings or create more than one memorial location, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can reduce tension. Funeral.com’s Small Cremation Urns for Ashes and Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes collections are designed for those “shared remembrance” plans, and the article Keepsake Urns Explained walks through what families typically find reassuring (including how filling and sharing can be done carefully and calmly).

For many people, cremation jewelry is less about style and more about connection—especially in the months after a loss, when grief shows up unexpectedly. If you’re exploring cremation necklaces or other memorial pieces, Funeral.com’s Cremation Jewelry and Cremation Necklaces collections offer a range of options, and the guide Cremation Jewelry 101 explains how these pieces typically work and what to consider for daily wear.

And if part of your plan includes keeping ashes at home, you’re not unusual. Many families do, at least for a time. Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: What’s Normal, What’s Not offers practical, compassionate guidance for making that choice feel safe and respectful.

Pet loss, too: when shroud burial leads families to think differently about memorials

When a family chooses a simpler, nature-forward approach for a human burial, it sometimes opens a broader conversation about how they handle other losses—especially pets. Pet grief is real grief, and it often carries the same longing for something gentle and tangible.

If you’re navigating pet loss, pet urns and pet urns for ashes come in many forms—from traditional styles to artistic tributes. Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes options for different sizes and aesthetics, and Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes can feel especially meaningful when you want the memorial to reflect personality, not just loss. For families who want to share a small portion, Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes is designed for that “everyone keeps a little close” approach. The guide Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide can help you choose calmly, without guesswork.

Water burial, biodegradable options, and the question of “what to do with ashes”

Whether your family chooses shroud burial or cremation, many people eventually circle back to one of the most tender practical questions: what to do with ashes? Some families keep ashes at home. Some place them in a cemetery. Some scatter. Some choose a water burial with a biodegradable urn designed to float briefly and then dissolve.

If a water setting mattered to your loved one, Funeral.com’s guide Biodegradable Water Urns for Ashes explains how different designs float, sink, and dissolve. For broader eco choices, the Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns for Ashes collection is a practical place to explore options, and What to Do With a Loved One’s Ashes walks through common paths with the rules and emotional realities families tend to encounter.

Even if you are choosing shroud burial now, these resources can be helpful for blended families where different loved ones wanted different things, or for future planning when you want your family to feel confident—and united—when the time comes.

Choosing with confidence: the simplest plan is the one that matches your values and your cemetery

Shroud burial can be beautifully straightforward when three things line up: the cemetery’s policies, the practical plan for transport and lowering, and a shroud made from appropriate materials. When those pieces fit, families often describe the experience as peaceful—less about the container, and more about the moment.

If you’re deciding now, you don’t have to know everything at once. Start by calling the cemetery. Ask for the policy in writing. Confirm whether a carrier board or biodegradable container is required. Then choose a shroud that meets those rules and feels right to your family.

And if your decision is still in motion—if you’re comparing burial without a casket with cremation, or weighing simplicity against tradition—try to keep one guiding question in the center: “What choice will we look back on and feel we honored them well?” The answer is rarely a perfect formula. It is usually a thoughtful, loving decision made with the information you had and the heart you brought to it.

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