A casket is rectangular with a lid and a coffin is six-sided, wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. Caskets are more commonly used in the United States and Canada than coffins.
What is the Difference Between A Casket And A Coffin?
When someone dies, their body is typically placed in a coffin or casket for burial. The word “casket” originally referred to a small, ornate box or chest used to hold valuable items, but it eventually came to be used for burial containers as well. Today, caskets are typically made of wood, metal, or fiberglass.
While the terms “coffin” and “casket” are often used interchangeably, there are some subtle differences between the two. Coffins are typically narrower than caskets, and they are tapered at the head and foot to facilitate easier carrying and burial. Caskets, on the other hand, are typically square or rectangular in shape and have parallel sides.
Caskets are often lined with padding and a fabric lining, and they usually have some sort of hardware, such as handles or hinges, made of brass or other metals. Coffins, on the other hand, are typically simplified versions of caskets and are usually made of wood or fiberboard. They may or may not be lined, and they typically don’t have any hardware.
The choice of coffin or casket is typically up to the family of the deceased, though some cemeteries or funeral homes may have restrictions. For example, some cemeteries require that all burials be in concrete vaults, in which case a coffin or casket is not necessary.
If you’re planning a funeral or memorial service, you may be wondering what kind of container is right for your loved one. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask your funeral director.