Everything You Need to Know About The Different Types of Caskets
During times of grief, making decisions—like which casket to purchase—can feel overwhelming.
Unfortunately, when burying a loved one, it’s a necessary part of the process. You need to make these decisions, and you often need to make them quickly.
We’re here to make this decision easier for you by offering a simple, clear guide to your casket options.
What to Consider When Choosing a Casket
When looking at different types of caskets, you need to consider these 4 things namely cost, materials, design, and viewing.
1. Cost
While you may want to send your loved one off in the best casket money can buy, you also have to be realistic about what you can afford.
You don’t want to find yourself in debt just to have a bronze coffin with elaborate details and an intricate design.
Weigh up your options and look at the prices of the various caskets before you make a purchase. Don’t simply go with the first casket you see.
2. Material
Various types of materials can be used to make caskets, including different kinds of wood, metal, cardboard, and bamboo.
Everyone selects a casket based on their personal preferences. Some people choose a material based on its longevity and how long it will take for the casket to decay. Others might want something that’s beautiful to look at during the funeral.
There are many materials to choose from, and we’ll go through them later in this guide.
3. Design
You may want an intricate design for your loved one’s casket, something truly beautiful that speaks to who they were as a person.
Or maybe you want something simple and elegant.
There are so many design options, and your funeral director can show you catalogs of stunning looks.
If you don’t want something generic, you can also choose to get your own design, especially if you have a wood casket where it can easily be carved into the original piece.
4. Viewing
Depending on how you want to show the body at the funeral, you may want a half-couch lidded casket or a full-couch casket.
A half-couch lidded casket’s lid is split in two, so you can view the top half of the body or the full body.
A full-couch casket only shows the full body. This is best if you’re fine with everybody viewing the full body or if you don’t want to show the body at all.
Types of Caskets
Materials and Features
Wood
Wood is a popular choice for caskets due to its aesthetic appeal and affordability. It can be treated or left untreated, with the untreated option being more environmentally friendly.
Caskets can be made from mahogany, cherry, walnut, oak, maple, or birch. Mahogany, cherry, and walnut tend to be more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Our EcoRest caskets are beautifully crafted from biodegradable wood, making them a natural choice for an eco-friendly burial.
Metal
If you’re looking for a casket that will last, then metal is a good choice. Metal caskets are made from steel, bronze, or copper.
Bronze and copper caskets don’t rust, so they’re a popular option for that reason.
Many metal caskets will include a rubber gasket to help seal and protect the interior from the outside elements. These aren’t required but are often suggested.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass caskets are the more modern and lightweight option. They are durable and long-lasting.
There are many colors and finishes available in fiberglass caskets for you to choose from.
The problem with fiberglass is that, like metal, it’s not an eco-friendly choice seeing that it can take decades to decompose.
Cardboard
Cardboard caskets are an excellent choice for people trying to be eco-friendly in their funeral planning. They are often used in green burials.
They only take between three months and a year to decompose without adding any toxins to the earth surrounding them.
You can also decorate these caskets with messages and designs for your loved one.
Bamboo or Wicker
Bamboo or wicker caskets are also biodegradable and great options for an eco-friendly burial.
They can be woven and crafted into a beautiful casket to have the perfect send-off for your loved one.
These aren’t durable, but that’s because they’re not supposed to be. They’re intended to be good for the earth.
Casket Styles and Aesthetic Options
Pillows and liners
You can add pillows and liners to your casket for a more comforting appearance. People often choose satin because it has a luxurious feel.
There are so many options on the market that you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are a variety of colors and designs available.
However, it’s important to note that the more you add to your casket, the less eco-friendly it will be, as these items need to decompose as well.
Detailing
You can add details to your casket for a more personalized look. It’s easiest to do this with wood caskets because you can add carvings and painted designs.
However, you can also add details to metal caskets—it will just be a little more expensive.
With cardboard caskets, you can add your own DIY designs.
Half-couch lidded caskets
If you choose a half-couch lidded casket, you can choose to show only the top half of the body at the viewing (or the full body).
This is an elegant and respectful way to show the body, which is why it’s so popular these days.
Full-couch casket
This is when the lid of the casket is in one piece, meaning that you can only view the full body when you open it.
This is fine for funerals where you want to view the full body or if you don’t want to show the body at all.
Casket Prices — What to Expect
Caskets range in price depending on what material you choose.
A wood casket will cost you between $600 and $10,000, depending on the type of wood you choose and whether you want any designs.
A metal casket could cost as little as $800 for a steel casket but as much as $15,000 for a bronze casket with all the detailing.
Cardboard caskets are the most wallet-friendly as well as the most eco-friendly, starting at around $200.
Lesser-known Casket Options
Cremation Caskets
If you’re planning on having a funeral followed by a cremation rather than a burial, then you will want to consider a cremation casket.
These caskets are designed to view the body at the funeral and then be burned along with the body during the cremation process.
They are usually made from wood and other natural materials, including wicker, particleboard, or cardboard.
Our EcoRest casket is an ideal option for cremation
Rented Caskets
You can also rent a casket for the funeral if you want to cremate your loved one’s remains afterwards. This is also a popular option for people who want a beautiful casket at the funeral but can’t afford one.
You rent the casket for a period of time and then return it after the funeral. It’s a simple transaction and your funeral director will help you with the details.
A rented casket can cost between $500 and $1,500.
Fantasy Caskets
Fantasy caskets can be made into any kind of shape or design. They’re meant to reflect a passion or love of the deceased.
It can be anything from a car model to an animal, and you can really let your imagination run wild.
It’s a great way to honor your loved one and their memory. Just know that you will end up paying extra for the design and execution of these caskets.
How to Choose the Right Casket for Your Needs
Budget
Different types of caskets will come with different price tags. You need to decide what you are willing and able to spend before you start looking through options.
This guide should have already given you an idea of what you can expect to spend on the various options available.
While you want to show your respect and love for the deceased by purchasing the perfect casket, you also don’t want to end up in debt. So, carefully consider your budget before making any decisions.
Environmental Impact
Caskets can take decades or even centuries to decompose. If you’re aiming for a green burial or want to honor the eco-friendly wishes of your loved one, you need to take into consideration the environmental impact of the type of casket you choose.
Biodegradable caskets are the most eco-friendly option. You can choose between untreated wood, wicker, bamboo, and cardboard. Take a look at our EcoRest range for caskets that are designed to be good for the environment.
Metal and fiberglass caskets are the options that will do the most harm to the environment and will take ages to decompose, leaving a lasting impact on the earth.
Burial or Cremation
You need to choose between burial or cremation. Usually, your loved one would have communicated this before their passing, but if they didn’t, you will have to make the decision.
Traditional burial is the most expensive and least environmentally conscious option. Cremation has less of an environmental impact and is far more affordable, but it still releases harmful emissions during the cremation process.
A green burial is the most eco-friendly option and is still more affordable than a traditional burial, but can be a bit pricier than a cremation.
Look and Style
You should have an idea of the look and style of casket you’d like for your loved one before you start the process.
Do you want a simple and elegant wood casket or a fashionable and modern fiberglass option?
Do you want something colorful or plain and tasteful?
Questions to Ask Funeral Providers About Caskets
When you’re looking at casket options, here are some questions you may want to ask your funeral provider:
What is the price of the casket?
How heavy is the casket?
What materials were used to make the casket?
How durable is the casket?
How eco-friendly is the casket?
Are any harmful toxins used in the making of the casket?
How long will it take for the casket to decompose?
Next Steps
Once you’ve looked at the different types of caskets and decided on the perfect one, it’s time to move on to the next steps.
You can choose between a traditional burial, a green burial, or cremation. This all depends on what your loved one would have wanted, the environmental impact, and affordability.
Next, you need to plan the funeral or memorial service. This includes any religious or traditional elements, eulogies, a chance to pay respects, and often refreshments for mourners as well.
Final Thoughts
Take your time in making this decision about your loved one’s final resting place. Use our guide on the types of caskets to help you choose what would work best for your needs.
We know that this is a difficult time, and making these choices is never easy. Speak to your family and friends and get their input as well to help take the pressure off of you.
If you’re unsure where to start, look at Woodland EcoRest caskets for options that were created specifically with the environment in mind.
