Your Guide to Funeral Planning | 11.28.2022

Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying A Coffin For Your Loved Ones

Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying A Coffin For Your Loved Ones

Reviewed By: Elizabeth Siegel

Cross Checked By: William Prout

Buying A Coffin Is A Major Decision

If a parent, a spouse, a sibling or a friend of yours has passed on, you may find yourself in charge of putting everything together for the funeral. However, planning a funeral can be a tough and challenging exercise, particularly if this is the first time you are hosting a ceremony. There are many things you will have to take care of. Buying a coffin for the burial or the cremation is one of the most significant decisions you will have to make. 

A coffin is an integral part of any funeral service, particularly if it is a burial. However, it may also be necessary for cremation because you will need a safe space to contain your loved one before the cremation ceremony or if your family wishes to have a viewing before the actual cremation. 

5 Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying A Coffin For Your Loved Ones

There are different types of coffins available for purchase today, and if you are planning a funeral, this purchase decision can quickly become overwhelming. However, buying a coffin for a cremation or a burial can become easier if you know what to be mindful of. So, here are 5 important things to remember before buying a coffin for a funeral ceremony.

1. The type of coffin
There are various types of coffins that you can choose from today. You have traditional coffins, which may be more ornate and carved from conventional materials like walnut or oak wood. There are also other contemporary options like bamboo coffins, cardboard coffins, printed pictorial coffins, pine box coffins and more. Before buying a coffin for a funeral you are planning, make sure you check out your options, compare the types of coffins available and only then decide on which kind to purchase. This way, you can avoid making a hasty decision that you may regret later. 
2. The size of the coffin
Coffins also come in different sizes. There are regular coffins, which are created for the average individual, and then there are oversized coffins, which are better suited for people who are taller or larger than average. There are also small coffins for children and babies and pet coffins for various pet animals. You need to browse your options and choose a coffin that comes in the right size. Whether it is a coffin for burials or for cremations, it should neither be too small nor too large.
3. The need for any customizations
You may choose to buy a coffin as it is. However, if you want to personalize the product more to add some sentimental value to the coffin, you can even opt for customizations if you have the time and the budget for it. Many sellers allow you to customize the color, material or design of the coffin. You can even add a photo to be printed on the exterior if you decide to get a picture coffin to commemorate and honor your loved one this way. 
4. The customer reviews 
Before buying a coffin, it is also extremely important to check the customer reviews and the experiences that previous buyers have had with the seller of your choice. This will give you a better idea of whether or not the seller will make the whole purchase experience smooth and hassle-free for you. This is particularly important if you are buying the coffin from an online seller, since you cannot inspect the product in person before the purchase. It is also useful if you are running on a tight schedule, since you can avoid choosing sellers who may delay the delivery. 
5. Your budget 
Lastly, one of the most important things to keep in mind before buying a coffin is the budget. There are many things that you will have to pay for if you are planning a funeral, like the fees for the funeral director and staff, the rent for the venue, the cost of renting the hearse and many other expenses. Overspending in one area of the ceremony may mean you will have to cut down the costs in another. So, have a clear idea about how much of the total budget you can allocate to buying a coffin, and choose one accordingly. 

Make An Informed Choice And Honor Your Loved One Today

These are crucial things to keep in mind when you are shopping for a coffin, whether it is online or offline. Online purchases may be more convenient, particularly if you have a lot of other tasks to handle as a part of planning the ceremony. Today, many trusted online retailers have a variety of coffins listed for sale online. Alternatively, you can even choose to buy a casket instead of a coffin. The essential things to keep in mind will remain the same, irrespective of whether you opt for a coffin or a casket. You can find a good casket online from trusted sellers like Titan Casket. 

Scott Ginsberg

Scott Ginsberg Scott Ginsberg

Scott Ginsberg

About Scott

Casket entrepreneur and market disruptor Scott Ginsberg has been a driving force in the casket industry for nearly three decades manufacturing and supplying caskets and building and shaping the direct-to-consumer casket market.

Scott Ginsberg founded Titan Casket in 2016. He owned and developed Northern Craft Casket where he realized the potential of the DTC market. Scott’s desire to support people in their time of need and vision of the untapped casket marketplace emerged as Scott dream of Titan Casket emerged. His interest in this space was born out of his desire to help people, and to shake up an industry that hasn’t innovated in a century that was ripe for disruption as consumers become comfortable making complex purchases online as well as offering more choices.

Scott received his BA from Salem State University and his MBA from Columbia Business School; he is based in Boston.