There are many different types of coffins to choose from to reflect your loved one and their taste.
For support arranging a funeral that includes all of the essentials without any costly extras, our knowledgeable team can offer guidance. Give us a call on 01543 212000.
The types of coffins available for modern funerals are not limited to the traditional wooden style. Coffins and caskets come in different colours, materials and price ranges, allowing you to make a choice that you feel suits your loved one.
Familiarising yourself with the coffin options available lets you find a coffin that reflects the style of funeral you are arranging and fits your budget.
Those who had extravagant preferences in life may have left their wishes requesting a luxurious coffin. Low cost funerals with simple inexpensive coffins are also available to suit those with modest budgets or tastes.
The first step to choosing a coffin is getting to know your options. At Distinct Cremations, we specialise in simple cremations so our cremation services include a simple light oak style coffin.
Choosing a simple coffin or coffin alternative is a practical choice if you would like to keep funeral costs low, but still make sure your loved one has a dignified send-off.
An elaborate coffin complements an extravagant funeral but will cost more.
Coffins made of natural materials usually have the smallest environmental footprint.
A coffin may be included in the cost of the funeral you have chosen. If not, a coffin can cost from a few hundred pounds to thousands for the ornate end of the scale. Thinking about what your loved one would have wanted can help you decide how much to spend.
In 2025, 16% of people chose to prioritise money elsewhere by choosing a cheaper coffin.*
Crematorium Manager, Mercia Forest Crematorium
"Coffin choices are extremely personal to individuals and families. Those planning a funeral may be surprised by the variety in the types of coffins available. In my role as Crematorium Manager at Mercia Forest Crematorium, I’ve seen many varied and unique coffins.
“Some people choose to reflect their loved one’s personalities with ornate or highly decorative coffins. But a traditional or understated coffin can also perfectly reflect someone. There are no wrong choices so trust your gut on what feels right for you and your loved one.”
* In 2025, 16% of people chose a cheaper coffin (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
The type of funeral you or your loved one has chosen may place some restrictions on the type of coffin you can use.
Cremation funeral
Some more ornate coffins are not suitable for cremation because of the materials they are made from. Some crematoriums will also require a coffin to be used not a shroud.
Woodland burial
The coffin for a woodland burial will need to be made from biodegradable natural material. There may also be restrictions on embalming as the chemicals used are bad for the soil.
If you're not sure whether the coffin you want is suitable for the funeral you'd like to have, ask your funeral provider. They can offer guidance about the coffin options available to you.
Being chosen to carry someone’s coffin, which is otherwise known as being a pallbearer, can help you to feel more connected to your loved one during their funeral. However, it can be somewhat daunting if you don’t know what to expect.
Pallbearers are a traditional part of a funeral service but you do not have to have them if you’d prefer a simpler, more modern send off.
Hiring pallbearers can add an additional cost to the funeral arrangements. Asking friends and family members to take on the duty can be a way to make them feel included and help them pay respects but can also add to the stress of an already emotional day.
The alternative to pallbearers is to have a simplified service. At our funerals the coffin is already resting in the chapel when the mourners enter so there is no need for pallbearers.
For our unattended direct cremation services, the coffin is brought into the chapel through the front door and rested in the chapel while a piece of music plays. A chapel attendant is present throughout.
Arrange a funeral with Distinct CremationsTo make the funeral more personal and to bring comfort that your loved one has something special close to them, sentimental items can be placed in or on the coffin.
Common items include:
Make sure no personal items are placed into the coffin that you or your friends and family could want to keep or look back on in future. Once they are cremated or buried they are gone.
At Distinct Cremations we offer the option to place personal effects in the coffin, as well as have a photo on the coffin during the funeral.
Our compassionate customer service specialists can support you with your arrangements for a simple and affordable cremation funeral. Call us on 01543 212000.
Alternatively, see more guidance to help you plan a funeral service
If you know you would like a cremation funeral, you may also like to research the type of urn which best fits your plans for your loved one's ashes.
How to choose a funeral urn
Giving back can bring positivity to your loved one's funeral arrangements and honour their memory by supporting those who helped them in life.
Funeral donations to charity
Find out more about our no fuss funeral options to help you decide whether a Distinct Cremations funeral is right for your loved one.
Arrange a funeralWe offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.
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Over 76,000 cremations a year
Westerleigh Group including Distinct Cremations carried out over 76,000 cremations in 2025.
