# Choosing a coffin, casket or shroud

> A coffin can be made from wood or wood-effect board, wicker or willow, bamboo or cardboard, or you can use a cloth shroud. A casket is a rectangular coffin. Crematoria and burial grounds each set rules on materials and size, so check before you choose. You can buy a coffin elsewhere, but ask your funeral director first.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/coffins-caskets-and-shrouds/ — updated 2026-09-26 — FuneralFinder

The coffin is often one of the first things a funeral director asks you to choose, and the range can feel overwhelming. You don't need to spend a lot: a simple coffin is part of every funeral director's standard price. This guide explains the main types, the difference between a coffin and a casket, the rules crematoria and burial grounds set, and whether you can buy your own.

## Key points

- **Coffins** are six-sided and tapered; **caskets** are rectangular. **Shrouds** are cloth wraps used instead of a coffin.
- Common materials include **wood-effect board, solid wood, wicker or willow, bamboo and cardboard**.
- **Crematoria** need coffins that burn cleanly, with **no metal fittings or PVC**.
- **Natural burial grounds** usually want **biodegradable** coffins or shrouds. Every site sets its own rules.
- You **can buy a coffin yourself**, but agree it with your funeral director first.
- Tell the funeral director early if a **larger coffin** is needed.

## Coffin, casket or shroud?

**Coffin.** The traditional British shape: six-sided, widest at the shoulders and narrowing towards the head and feet.

**Casket.** A rectangular box, often with a hinged or two-part lid, in the American style. Check its outside measurements if it's for a cremation (see sizes below).

**Shroud.** A cloth wrapping, sometimes used with a rigid board underneath for carrying. Shrouds are central to **Muslim** and **Jewish** burial customs and are popular at natural burial grounds. Some cemeteries accept burial in a shroud without a coffin, while others require a coffin. See [Muslim funerals](/faiths/muslim/) and [Jewish funerals](/faiths/jewish/).

## Types of coffin

| Type | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| **Wood-effect board** | Chipboard or MDF with a wood veneer or wood-effect finish | Widely available. Check whether a natural burial ground accepts it |
| **Solid wood** | For example pine or oak | Check that finishes and fittings meet the site's rules. Untreated wood is more likely to be accepted at natural burial grounds |
| **Wicker or willow** | Woven willow, seagrass, rattan or similar | Light and biodegradable. Popular for natural burials. Check handles and base strength for carrying |
| **Bamboo or banana leaf** | Woven plant materials | Biodegradable. Check the crematorium or burial ground accepts it |
| **Cardboard** | Strong, lightweight card | Can be plain or printed, and families can decorate it. FBCA guidance says cardboard coffins shouldn't use chlorine-based wet-strength agents, so ask the supplier |
| **Wool or felt** | Woven or felted wool | Biodegradable. Used at some natural burial grounds |
| **Shroud** | Cloth wrap, sometimes on a board | Needed for some faith burials. Check whether the site accepts burial without a coffin |

## Rules for cremation

Crematoria set their own rules. Most follow the **Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (FBCA)** Code of Cremation Practice, and FBCA guidance for funeral directors says the coffin must:

- be made of material that **burns easily** without giving off smoke, toxic gas or drips
- have **no metal fittings or furniture**. Metal can only be used where needed for safe construction.
- contain **no PVC, melamine, polyurethane or nitro-cellulose varnish**. Water-based lacquer or a suitable cloth covering can be used.
- have only a thin polythene lining if one is needed, and **no sawdust, cotton wool or shredded paper**
- **clearly show who is inside**. The FBCA's Code of Cremation Practice says a crematorium must not accept a coffin without adequate identification.

What goes inside matters too. The FBCA recommends **natural-fibre clothing**, and no PVC shoes or items of glass or plastic. Items placed in the coffin for a viewing must be **removed before it goes to the crematorium**, and jewellery can't be recovered afterwards. Floral tributes can't go into the cremator with the coffin. See [visiting the chapel of rest](/uk/guides/visiting-the-chapel-of-rest/) and [what happens at a cremation](/uk/guides/what-happens-at-a-cremation/).

## Rules for burial and natural burial

**Cemeteries and churchyards** set their own rules. Check with them if you want a shroud-only burial, an unusual material or a larger coffin, as it may affect the grave.

**Natural and woodland burial grounds** are stricter. Most want:

- a **biodegradable** coffin or shroud, such as cardboard, wicker, bamboo, wool or untreated wood
- biodegradable handles and fittings, and sometimes **natural-fibre clothing**
- often **no embalming**

Every site has its own list, so ask before you buy. See [natural and woodland burial](/uk/guides/natural-woodland-burial/).

## Sizes and larger coffins

Coffins come in a range of standard sizes, and funeral directors can order larger or made-to-measure ones. Tell them early if the person was tall or large.

Size matters most for cremation. FBCA guidance asks funeral directors to **consult the crematorium as soon as possible** if a coffin's outside measurements are likely to be more than about **206cm long, 71cm wide or 56cm deep**. Not every crematorium can take a larger coffin, so this can affect which one you use. Larger coffins may also need a larger grave or a different vehicle.

## Buying your own coffin

You don't have to buy the coffin from your funeral director. GOV.UK confirms you can [arrange a funeral yourself](/uk/guides/arranging-a-funeral-without-a-funeral-director/), and the CMA's price list template reminds families that they can take care of some arrangements themselves or use a different supplier.

If you still want a funeral director for everything else:

- **Ask first.** Some funeral directors will use a coffin you supply and some won't. Others may charge a handling fee, or may not reduce a package price that already includes a coffin.
- **Get it in writing**, including any change to the price.
- **Check the rules** of the crematorium or burial ground before ordering.
- **Plan delivery**: where and when it will arrive, and who will place the person in it.
- **Check it's strong enough** to carry, with suitable handles or a base.

## Personal touches

Coffins can be personalised in many ways:

- **colour, finish and handles**, within the site's rules
- **printed designs or photos**, offered by some suppliers
- **writing messages or drawing** on a cardboard coffin, which some families do together, including children
- a **nameplate**, which also serves as identification
- a favourite blanket, flag or drape laid over the coffin during the service

For a cremation, anything that stays on or in the coffin must be suitable for burning. A drape, flag or photo on top can be taken off before the committal.

## What it costs

Coffin prices vary widely, so we don't quote averages. What you should know:

- Every funeral director's **Standardised Price List** includes "providing a suitable coffin" in its attended funeral price, with a description of that coffin. Ask to see it.
- Choosing a different coffin **usually changes the total**. Ask for the price difference in writing.
- The **Funeral Expenses Payment** can pay up to £1,000 towards other funeral costs, which GOV.UK says can include the coffin. See [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/).
- For a child under 18 in England, the **Children's Funeral Fund** can pay up to £300 towards a coffin, shroud or casket. See [funerals for a baby or child](/uk/guides/funeral-for-a-baby-or-child/).

For typical total funeral costs, see [funeral costs in the UK](/uk/funeral-costs/).

## Next steps

- Compare what's included: [how to choose a funeral director](/uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-funeral-director/)
- Decide between [cremation and burial](/uk/guides/cremation-vs-burial/)
- Thinking of a green funeral? See [natural and woodland burial](/uk/guides/natural-woodland-burial/)
- Find local help: [funeral directors near me](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?

In the UK, a coffin is traditionally six-sided, wider at the shoulders and narrower at the head and feet. A casket is rectangular, often with a hinged or split lid, in the American style. Both can be used for burial or cremation if they meet the site's rules.

### Can I buy my own coffin?

Yes. There's no law against it, and you can also arrange a funeral without a funeral director at all. Some funeral directors will use a coffin you supply and some won't. Others may charge to handle it or not reduce a package price that includes a coffin. Agree the details in writing before you buy.

### Can you be buried without a coffin?

Sometimes. Some cemeteries and many natural burial grounds accept burial in a shroud, often with a board underneath. Others require a coffin. This matters for Muslim and Jewish burials in particular, so check with the burial ground or a funeral director who knows your faith's customs.

### What coffins can be cremated?

The coffin must burn cleanly. Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities guidance says no metal fittings, no PVC, melamine, polyurethane or nitro-cellulose varnish, and only simple linings. Wood, board, wicker, bamboo and suitable cardboard coffins are all used, but ask the crematorium before buying.

### What is the cheapest type of coffin?

There's no single answer, because prices vary between funeral directors and suppliers. Every funeral director's Standardised Price List includes a suitable coffin in its attended funeral price and describes it. Choosing a different coffin usually changes the total, so ask for written prices and compare.

### Can we decorate the coffin ourselves?

Often, yes. Families write messages or paint pictures on cardboard coffins, and some suppliers print photos or designs. For a cremation, finishes must be suitable for burning, such as water-based lacquer. Floral tributes can't be cremated with the coffin.

## Sources

- [Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities – Instructions for funeral directors](https://www.cremation.org.uk/content/files/FBCA%20Instructions%20for%20Funeral%20Directors.pdf)
- [Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities – Frequently asked questions](https://www.fbca.org.uk/information/faq/)
- [Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities – Code of Cremation Practice](https://www.fbca.org.uk/code-of-cremation-practice/)
- [CMA – The Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021 (Standardised Price List)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60c8b3c4e90e07439684be6b/Funerals_The_Funerals_Market_Investigation_Order_2021_150621.pdf)
- [GOV.UK – Children's Funeral Fund for England](https://www.gov.uk/child-funeral-costs)
- [GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment: what you'll get](https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/what-youll-get)
- [GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies: arrange the funeral](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral)
- [Citizens Advice – Arranging a funeral](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/arranging-a-funeral/)
- [gov.scot – Funeral Director Code of Practice: care of the deceased](https://www.gov.scot/publications/funeral-director-code-practice-2/pages/3/)