Casket vs. Coffin: What's the Difference?

Side-by-Side Visual

The Eight Key Differences

Why the US Uses Caskets and Europe Uses Coffins — A Brief History

The original burial container was the coffin. Tapered, hexagonal, made of plain wood — this was the standard worldwide for centuries. It used less material than a rectangle, which made it cheaper to produce, and the tapered shape fit naturally around the body.

The casket emerged in mid-1800s America alongside the rise of the modern funeral industry. As funeral homes became professional businesses (rather than something families did themselves at home), funeral directors began marketing the rectangular shape as more dignified, more spacious, and more appropriate for viewing. The word "casket" itself was a deliberate rebrand — it had originally meant "a small box for holding precious things," like jewelry or letters. Coffins held bodies; caskets held loved ones.

By 1900, the casket had largely replaced the coffin in American funerals. By 1950, the coffin was nearly extinct in the US except for very specific cultural or religious contexts. Today, ordering a "real coffin" in the US usually means special-ordering from a specialty manufacturer, often at a premium price.

In the UK, Ireland, most of Europe, and Australia, the coffin remained standard. The funeral industry there evolved differently — generally with more focus on cost containment, less on display, and stronger cultural ties to traditional funeral practices. A British funeral today still uses a tapered coffin in roughly 90% of cases.

Casket vs. Coffin Price — Why Caskets Cost More

For families looking at the bottom line, this is often the deciding factor.

Comparing equivalent quality (solid pine):

• A solid pine casket: $1,200–$2,000 at retail
• A solid pine coffin (US-imported or specialty): $400–$900 at retail

A casket of equivalent quality typically costs 2–3x more than a coffin. The price difference comes from four factors:

1. More material. The rectangular casket shape uses about 30% more wood or metal than a tapered coffin of the same length.
2. More hardware. Caskets typically have a split lid with hinges, decorative corner pieces, and ornate handles. Coffins use simpler hardware — sometimes just rope handles.
3. More interior finishing. Caskets come with quilted velvet or satin linings, an interior pillow, and sometimes a mattress. Coffins typically use a simple cloth shroud or basic lining.
4. Higher funeral home markup. Funeral homes mark caskets up 200–400% over wholesale. The same markup applied to a coffin would still leave it cheaper because the wholesale base is lower.

If price is a major concern and the funeral practice allows it, asking for a coffin instead of a casket can save $1,500–$3,000 or more.

What About a Sarcophagus?

A third term often comes up in this comparison: the sarcophagus.

A sarcophagus is a stone or marble outer container, historically used for above-ground entombment. The word comes from Greek meaning "flesh-eater" — early sarcophagi were carved from limestone, which was believed to accelerate decomposition.

Today, sarcophagi are rare in modern funerals. They appear mostly in:

• Mausoleum and crypt entombments (a casket may be placed inside a sarcophagus for above-ground burial)
• Historical or royal funerals
• Specific religious traditions

A sarcophagus is not a replacement for a casket or coffin — it's an outer container that holds one. If you've ever seen a stone tomb in a cemetery with the body resting inside, that stone tomb is the sarcophagus, and the actual burial container inside is typically a casket.

For 99% of modern funerals, the choice is between a casket and a coffin. A sarcophagus only enters the picture for specific entombment situations.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose a casket if you're planning a US funeral with traditional viewing

This is the default in America. If you're working with a US funeral home and don't specifically request otherwise, you'll get a casket. Most funeral homes only stock caskets, and most American religious and cultural traditions expect them.

A casket also makes sense if:

• You want a split-lid design for an open-casket viewing
• The deceased had specific casket preferences
• You're following American religious or cultural tradition (Catholic, Protestant, secular)

Choose a coffin if you want the historic shape, lower cost, or simpler ceremony

Coffins are worth asking about if:

• You're planning a green burial (coffins use less material and are typically biodegradable)
• You prefer the historic, traditional shape over the modern American casket
• Lower cost is a priority
• You're planning a funeral in the UK, Ireland, EU, or Australia
• The deceased was Jewish or Muslim — many traditional Jewish (aron) and Muslim funeral containers are actually coffin-shaped: simple wooden boxes, no metal, biodegradable

Most US funeral homes will need to special-order a coffin, but they cannot refuse to use one if you provide it. The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home to accept burial containers purchased from a third party.

For cremation, neither is required

If the body will be cremated, you don't need a traditional casket or coffin at all. Crematories require only a "combustible container" — which can be a simple cardboard cremation box for $75–$200. Many families choose to:

1. Rent a casket for the viewing service ($300–$800), then transfer the body to a cardboard cremation container for the actual cremation
2. Use a cardboard or biodegradable container for both the service and cremation
3. Do a direct cremation with no service at all (no container needed beyond the cremation box)

Where to Buy a Casket or Coffin

The biggest cost-saving secret in funeral planning is this: federal law requires every US funeral home to accept a casket or coffin purchased elsewhere. They cannot charge you a handling fee, an inspection fee, or a storage fee for using your own.

Funeral home retail markup on caskets is typically 200–400%. Online retailers cut that markup dramatically, and the funeral home is legally required to use what you brought.

wvfuneralboard.com may earn a referral fee from Titan Casket and Walmart at no extra cost to you. We don't earn from Costco — listed for completeness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

If you're planning a US funeral and not specifically requesting otherwise, you'll get a casket — that's what funeral homes stock and what's expected at American services.

If you want the historically traditional shape, lower cost, simpler design, or you're planning a green burial, a coffin is worth asking about. Most US funeral homes will need to special-order it, but they cannot refuse to use one you provide.

Either way, the single biggest savings opportunity is buying online. Funeral home markup runs 200–400%, and federal law requires them to accept what you bring.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453), National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Green Burial Council, Cremation Association of North America. This guide is for general information only. Specific funeral practices and pricing vary by funeral home and region. Always request a written General Price List (which the FTC requires every funeral home to provide) before committing.