The short answer to coffin vs casket is shape. A coffin is tapered, widest at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. A casket is rectangular, with a hinged lid and usually a more structured, lined interior. In Australia, coffins are by far the more common choice. Neither one says more about your love for the person, and there is no right amount to spend.
Choosing a coffin is often the first decision a family makes that feels irreversible, and it usually arrives when everyone is exhausted. It can also feel oddly like shopping, which sits uncomfortably alongside grief.
It helps to know that this is a smaller decision than it feels in the moment. The service, the words spoken and the people in the room are what families remember. What follows is a plain explanation of the options, so you can make a choice quickly and then think about it no further.
Quick Links
- Coffin or casket: the practical difference
- Materials, from simple to solid timber
- Eco-friendly options
- Personalising a coffin
- Does the choice change for burial or cremation
- How much to spend
- Frequently asked questions
Coffin vs Casket: The Practical Difference
Shape, Lid Style, and What Families Here Usually Choose
The two words are often used interchangeably, and no one will correct you if you use the wrong one. The difference is straightforward:
| Coffin | Casket | |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Tapered, widest at the shoulders, narrower at the feet | Rectangular, the same width along its length |
| Lid | Usually a removable lid | Usually hinged, and can be opened part way |
| Interior | Lined, simple finish | Often a fitted mattress and satin lining |
| Common in | Australia, the UK, New Zealand | North America |
| Typical cost | The wider range, from very simple to premium | Generally the higher end |
In Coffs Harbour, the great majority of families choose a coffin. Caskets are available and we are glad to arrange one, and they are sometimes chosen where a family’s cultural or religious tradition calls for that style, or where a part-open lid is wanted for a viewing.
Materials, From Simple to Solid Timber
Material is what drives most of the difference in price and appearance. All the options below are perfectly suitable and are handled with the same care.
MDF and Timber Veneer
Most coffins in Australia are built from MDF, often finished with a timber veneer so the grain of oak, maple or blackwood shows on the surface. They look like solid timber to anyone in the room, they are lighter for pallbearers to carry, and they sit at the more affordable end. For most families, this is the practical middle ground.
Solid Timber
Solid timber coffins and caskets are heavier, more expensive, and have a depth of grain and weight that some families feel is right for the person. If your family has a woodworking connection, or the person had a lifelong feel for timber, that reason is as good as any.
Worth knowing before you decide: solid timber is noticeably heavier to carry. If you are planning on family pallbearers rather than our staff, mention it to us and we will make sure the numbers are right.
Eco Options: Cardboard, Bamboo, Banana Leaf and Wicker
We offer a range of eco-friendly coffins made from cardboard, bamboo, banana leaf and wicker.
- A cardboard coffin is far sturdier than the name suggests, is fully suitable for cremation, and takes decoration beautifully. Some families give children textas and let them draw on it, which can be a gentle way for grandchildren to take part.
- A wicker coffin, or one woven from bamboo or banana leaf, has a natural, handmade look that many families find softer than a polished finish. These are popular for natural burial and for services held outdoors.
If a lower environmental footprint matters to your family, tell us early. Some cemeteries have their own requirements for natural burial sections, and we will check those for you rather than leaving you to. Biodegradable and grow a tree urns are available for cremation as well, so ask us what is currently offered locally.
Personalising a Coffin
Image Wraps, Custom Paint, Sprayed Finishes, Vinyl and Stickers
This has changed enormously in the last decade. A coffin can now be wrapped in a printed image, sprayed in a colour, or finished with vinyl panels and decals. Over the years we have arranged coffins for farmers, footy fans, gardeners, bikers, surfers, artists and veterans.
Themes Families Choose
- Sport, most often rugby league colours and club crests
- Cars and motorcycles, sometimes a photograph of the actual vehicle
- Nature, from the ocean to the Dorrigo rainforest to a favourite garden
- Hobbies, such as fishing, music, quilting or the greyhounds
- Landmarks and places that mattered, including local beaches and the family farm
- Faith and cultural symbols
Designing Your Own
Families can supply their own photographs, artwork or messages to be wrapped around the coffin. A collage of family photos is one of the most requested, and it gives everyone something to gather around and talk about before the service begins.
Personalisation takes a little lead time, so raise it at your first meeting with us. You can read more about the wider options on our personalising a funeral page, and see our full range on the coffins page or in person at Park Avenue.
Does the Choice Change for Burial or Cremation?
What Is Needed Either Way
A coffin, or an approved container, is required for both burial and cremation in New South Wales, so this is not a cost you can avoid by choosing one over the other.
A few practical differences:
- For cremation, the coffin is cremated with the person. We carry out all cremations ourselves at Hogbin Drive Crematorium & Memorial Gardens, so we can tell you exactly what is suitable. Combustible materials are required, which rules out metal fittings and some finishes. Cardboard, MDF, timber and the woven eco options are all suitable. Handles are typically timber or a suitable substitute rather than metal.
- For burial, the cemetery may have its own requirements, particularly in a natural burial section where untreated or plant-based materials are often specified.
- For a viewing, families sometimes prefer a hinged lid, which is where a casket is occasionally chosen.
If you are still weighing up the two paths, our guide to burial or cremation walks through the decision without pushing you either way. Cemeteries and crematoria in this state are regulated by Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW, which publishes independent guidance on planning a burial or cremation.
How Much to Spend, and What Actually Matters
Choosing What Suits the Person, Not What Feels Expected
There is a quiet pressure in grief to spend as a way of showing love, and it is worth naming. A more expensive coffin is not a better goodbye. Plenty of families choose a simple coffin and put the difference towards a wake, a memorial bench or a donation to a cause the person cared about.
It is also worth remembering that the coffin is only one line on the invoice. Our funeral costs page explains how the pieces fit together, and our guide to how much a funeral costs in Australia gives a broader picture.
Ask us for the full range, including the lower-cost options. We will show you everything, and you will never be steered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
A coffin is tapered, wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet, and usually has a removable lid. A casket is rectangular with a hinged lid and a more structured, lined interior. Coffins are the standard choice in Australia, while caskets are more common in North America.
Do you need a coffin for cremation in NSW?
Yes. A coffin is required for cremation, and it is cremated with the person. It must be made of combustible materials, which is why cardboard, MDF, timber and woven eco coffins are all suitable and metal fittings are not used.
Are cardboard coffins strong enough?
Yes. Cardboard coffins are engineered to carry weight safely and are used routinely for cremations and natural burials. They are also easy for families to decorate, which many people find meaningful.
Can we put photos or a design on the coffin?
Yes. Coffins can be wrapped in printed images, sprayed in a colour, or finished with vinyl panels. Families can supply their own photographs, artwork or messages. Let us know early, as personalised coffins need a little extra lead time.
Can we see the coffins before we choose?
Yes. You are welcome to view the range at our funeral home at 42 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour. Many families find it easier to decide in person than from a brochure or a screen.
What is the cheapest coffin option?
Cardboard and simple MDF coffins sit at the lower end of the range. Prices change, so rather than quoting a figure here, please ask us for a current list. We will always show you the full range, including the most affordable options.
The Right Choice Is the One That Feels Like Them
There is no wrong answer here. Tapered or rectangular, cardboard or blackwood, plain or wrapped in photographs of a life, what matters is that it feels like the person it is for.
You are welcome to come and see the range for yourself at our funeral home at 42 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour, and we can talk you through what suits a burial or a cremation without any pressure. Call us any time on (02) 6652 1999, or send an online enquiry whenever you are ready. You can also browse our full range of coffins, urns and monuments.
This article was written by the team at Keith Logue & Sons, a fourth-generation, family-owned funeral home that has cared for families across Coffs Harbour and the Mid North Coast for over five decades. It is general information and is not a substitute for personal or professional advice.
[REFERENCES]
- Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW, planning a burial or cremation and industry regulation, https://www.cemeteries.nsw.gov.au/
- Keith Logue & Sons, Coffins, https://loguefunerals.com.au/coffins/
- Keith Logue & Sons, Funeral Costs, https://loguefunerals.com.au/funeral-costs/
