The Difference Between a Coffin and a Casket

What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?

One of the questions we are most commonly asked is ‘what is the difference between a coffin and a casket’ and ‘are they just the same thing?’

Although the purpose of both are the same - to hold the body of the person who has died - there is a difference.

Coffin and casket difference

A coffin has a tapered shape, narrow at the base and wider at the shoulders, before getting a little narrower at the head - a similar outline of a person. Coffins often have handles (although not always) and screws at the top or sides where the lid is closed.

Our ‘Day of the Dead’ coffin

A casket is the same shape all the way round - this could be rectangular or curved. They are often bigger than coffins, especially American Caskets that are usually around 7ft long. You may hear funeral directors refer to ‘English caskets’ as well - these are typically made of wood like oak or mahogany or wood veneer, and have a flat lid (as opposed to the curved lid of an American casket).

Our European style oak casket

You can choose a coffin or a casket in willow or natural materials. Most come in either a curved end shape or a traditional coffin shape. Most caskets and coffins are suitable for both burial and cremation, but the handles will need to be plastic or wood instead of metal for cremation. The plastic handles are finished to look like metal though, so most people won’t be able to tell the difference.

A curved willow casket, painted in our custom pewter shade

Some people may choose to have a religious symbol on the coffin or casket - like an ohm, cross, or Khanda. Others choose to have the coffin or casket painted a bright colour, or even decorate it themselves. The coffin can be a central part of the funeral service and really reflect the person whose life is being remembered. Whether the most important factor is being eco friendly, making a big impact, or keeping things simple, there is a huge range of possibilities.