Most purchased coffins are made from chipboard with a good quality wood veneer or wood effect film finish. These are normally finished with brass-effect handles, nameplates and ornaments made of plastic materials. Most people using a funeral director's services will purchase a coffin as part of the funeral package. You can provide your own coffin if you want to.
There are many types of coffins which you can view online:
Traditional wooden coffins or caskets (for example, oak or pine)
Cardboard coffins
Veneered MDF, usually made to look like wood
Wool coffins or woollen burial shrouds
Wicker coffins, willow coffins
Personalised picture coffins with bespoke designs
There are certain things to be aware of for safety and environmental reasons when selecting or making a coffin or shroud. The product must be sufficiently robust to load bear the weight and size of the deceased, this is applicable to any carrying handles or straps that are not solely fitted for decorative purposes. Regardless of materials used, the coffin base should be rigid, flat and smooth. A cremation coffin will need to be easily combustible and materials used should not produce dangerous toxins during the combustion process. Please confirm with your supplier especially if purchasing online and from outside the UK.
Eco coffins used in green funerals are designed to easily decompose and be environmentally friendly. They are usually made from:
Cardboard
Banana leaf
Wicker
Bamboo
Willow
Cotton shroud*
*Shroud burials are allowed in the woodland burial section at Kingston Cemetery. Other eco-friendly burial grounds may have differing requirements so you may want to check first before purchasing a shroud or coffin for your loved one.
Please note: the full name of the deceased, the date of death and their age (in years) must be displayed on the coffin or shroud either in the form of a plate or card. This is the only means of confirming identification that is available to cemetery and crematorium staff. If the deceased's identity can not be confirmed then the service may be delayed or even postponed.
You can find many instructional videos and downloadable plans available online. The coffin dimensions should be relative to the measurements of the deceased. Please do not oversize the coffin. Typical internal dimensions (length x width x depth) are:
5’8″ x 20″ x 12″
6’0″ x 22″ x 13″
6’5″ x 24″ x 14″
A coffin is normally wider at the shoulders than at the base and has six sides (i.e. hexagonal unlike a casket which is rectangular).
Use fully combustible materials such as wood (e.g. pine wood), blockboard, chipboard or MDF.
Cardboard, plaited willow, wicker or bamboo, the coffin must have a smooth, rigid base typically made from plywood or MDF
If you don’t want to use wooden pegs and dowels, a small number of ferrous screws can be used, with wood braces or cross pieces to give strength (but not placed on the underside). Wooden strips placed lengthways can be used to strengthen the bottom of the coffin.
PVC, sealant, plastic, rubber, lead or any other heavy metal must not be used.
Line the inner coffin with polythene not exceeding 75 microns in thickness (in the funeral industry this is known as crem film which you can buy online).
You can overlay the polythene with a decorative lining such as silk, satin, lace or calico material overlay.
You can also pad out the coffin using absorbent cloth, cotton sheets or cotton wadding. Materials such as lead, zinc, saw dust, cotton wool, polystyrene or shredded paper must not be used.
External coatings to a coffin must not produce smoke during combustion. Water based paint or lacquer (free from additives containing heavy metals) may be used for coating of a coffin.
High varnish, gloss, melamine or oil-based paint finishes, metal furniture or fittings (e.g. metal handles) must not be used as these can cause the coffin to flash flame prior to being fully received in a cremator and release harmful chemical toxins to the environment.
Please note: if the deceased is very tall, large or heavy then please contact the Kingston Cemeteries and Crematorium team for further advice at cemeteries@kingston.gov.uk
Guide to a sea burial in UK waters (coffins fit for sea burial must follow strict guidelines)
Guide to repatriation from the UK (coffins fit for repatriation must follow strict guidelines)