Green Burial Cost

A green burial can be more cost-effective than a traditional burial, depending, of course, on the options you choose. Green burial bypasses the cost of embalming, concrete vaults or grave liners, and headstones, which can add up to thousands of dollars in costs. If you opt for a home funeral or hold a funeral service at a church or synagogue, you will also forgo the costs associated with the use of a chapel and other services provided by a funeral home. 

What’s more, green caskets can be considerably less costly than the hardwood and steel caskets typically used today. A 2022 cost comparison of products offered by the Natural Burial Co. shows the average cost of a woven willow casket is between $1750 and $2700 while a seagrass casket is about $1600.  The store also offers a cardboard casket that buyers assemble themselves for just under $500. 

Shrouds are even less expensive, at an average cost of about $300 to $500 each. By contrast, a standard steel casket costs between $1000 and $2000, hardwood caskets are about $3500, and some high-end copper caskets can cost $10,000 or more. 

Keep in mind, however, that green burials can be just as costly as traditional burials due to other costs, such as fees to maintain the site in its natural state. You will also need to purchase a burial plot, which, depending on availability, may be more costly than in a community cemetery. The cost of transporting the body to the graveside and opening and closing the grave must be considered, as well as the funeral home’s non-declinable basic services fee. To ensure that you make the best choice for you, use our Comprehensive Step-by-Step Planning Guide: Planning Funeral Arrangements and Disposition and the accompanying checklist to help you assess costs in advance. 

Sources

Planning Your Natural Funeral: Ensuring an Eco-Friendly Burial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeKiQgAmyr8

“Biodegradable Coffins, Eco Friendly Caskets, and Ash Burial Urns for North America”. Natural Burial Company. https://www.naturalburialcompany.com/2009/09/biodegradable_coffins.html