What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
The coffin or casket is often the biggest single item on a funeral bill, and the one families are quickest to overpay on. Under pressure, and wanting to do right by the person, many choose the one shown to them in the showroom without seeing the full range or what each option costs.
Coffins in Australia start at around $300 for a simple cardboard option and run past $10,000 for premium timber, with caskets more still. It is one line item where a simpler choice can make a real difference to the total.
This guide covers the difference between a coffin and a casket, the materials and roughly what each costs, the eco-friendly options, and how to avoid paying more than you need to. Take it at your own pace.
What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
People often use the two words interchangeably, but a coffin and a casket are built differently. There are three main differences.
The form. A coffin is the tapered kind, wide across the shoulders and narrowing towards the feet. A casket is rectangular, the same width from end to end.
The lid. A coffin has a single lid that lifts or hinges open. A casket usually has a split, two-piece lid, so the top half can be opened for a viewing while the lower half stays closed.
The lining and the price. A casket is generally lined and finished more elaborately, which is part of why it costs more. Caskets are the common choice in the United States, while in Australia and the UK the coffin is far more common.
How much does a coffin or casket cost?
The chart below shows the typical range and pricing for the main coffin and casket types, from a plain cardboard coffin up to a premium casket. Prices are a guide only and vary by supplier and region.
Plain and light, used for direct cremation or natural burial.
Pine or veneer, the common mid-range choice.
Solid oak, mahogany or similar, polished and heavier.
Rectangular, lined, for open viewing. Metal caskets run higher again.
Bars show the advertised base price spread. The marked point is what most families pay. Figures are indicative and vary by branch and circumstance.
These figures come from the Funerals Direct team's review of published coffin and casket pricing in 2026. In its 2019 funerals investigation, consumer group CHOICE reported that the coffin is "the product with the greatest markup, according to members of the industry", and that "industry insiders say funeral businesses routinely sell coffins for anything between two and ten times what they pay a wholesaler." It is one reason it pays to see the full range rather than only the display models.
What are coffins made of?
Coffins and caskets come in a range of materials, from plain cardboard to solid hardwood, and the material drives both the look and the price. This table sets out the common options.
| Material | What it is like | Rough price |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard | Plain, light, often for direct cremation or eco funerals | From around $300 |
| Pine or veneer | Simple timber look, the common budget choice | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Solid hardwood | Oak, mahogany or similar, traditional and polished | $2,500 to $6,000 |
| Wicker, bamboo or seagrass | Woven and biodegradable, for natural burial | $800 to $3,000 |
| Metal or premium casket | Rectangular, lined, split lid for viewing | $5,000 to $15,000+ |
Eco-friendly and natural coffins
If a lighter environmental footprint matters to you, a natural coffin is worth asking about. Cardboard, wicker, bamboo, seagrass and untreated pine are all biodegradable, break down cleanly in a natural burial, and burn more efficiently in a cremation than a heavy lacquered timber coffin. They usually cost between $800 and $3,000. Cardboard coffins are among the lowest-cost options: The Last Hurrah in Melbourne lists one at $300 including postage, and Daisybox gives a recommended retail price of $395 for a plain casket, rising to around $1,395 for a custom-printed design. Many funeral directors supply them only inside a package rather than as a separate item. These are the usual choice for a natural or bushland burial, so raise it early with your funeral director if you are leaning that way.
How can you avoid overpaying on a coffin?
The coffin is largely an aesthetic choice, and whichever way you go, cremation or burial, it is worth pausing before you overspend. The tips below can help you keep it in proportion.
- Ask to see every coffin and its price, not just the ones on display, as showrooms tend to lead with the more expensive models.
- Ask what other options are available, including plainer or eco coffins that may not be out on show.
- The ACCC has flagged funeral directors requiring you to buy your coffin only from them (a practice called "tying") as a competition concern. Ask your provider directly whether they'll accept an externally supplied coffin and what handling fee, if any, applies.
- Remember that a cremation only requires a rigid, combustible container, which a simple or cardboard coffin meets, so there is no need to spend more.
For more traps to watch, see hidden funeral costs and the itemised cost breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?
How much does a coffin cost in Australia?
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Working out the rest of the cost
This guide is general information to help Australian families, editorially reviewed by the Funerals Direct team from publicly available sources. It is not legal or financial advice. Every figure here is a working guide rather than a quote, because funeral prices change by provider, suburb, cemetery and crematorium. Before you sign anything, ask for an itemised written quote that separates the funeral director’s professional service fee from third-party costs such as the crematorium, cemetery, celebrant, flowers, notices and death certificate fees, and ask which of those items are legally required and which are optional. For prepaid funerals, bonds, or insurance, consider speaking with an independent financial adviser or a free financial counsellor on 1800 007 007.
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