In America, we tend to use the terms “coffin” and “casket” interchangeably. In actuality, they are not the same.
At the most basic level, coffins and caskets differ in shape: coffins are hexagonal in shape with 6 sides that taper from the shoulders to the feet. Caskets have 4 sides and are rectangular like a box.
Coffins are most often associated with the “Old World”: they’re seen as historical, traditional, and unique in the U.S. This hasn’t always been the case: well into the 1800s, coffins were the norm in the United States.
It was during the Civil War that caskets gained dominance both in shape and in word. Coffins were needed in vast numbers, and simply put, rectangular boxes were easier and cheaper to mass produce. At the same time, the term “casket”, which historically meant a box to store precious goods, was introduced as a softer way to reference the end of a life.
As industry grew in the States, so did the move toward metal caskets. This was largely a business proposition: it became possible to produce caskets in volume without the need for skilled craftsmen.
Over time, many traditions were weaved into American funerals, and this further cemented caskets as the only option for American funerals.
At US Coffins, we are passionate about our unique and quality offerings. We engineer our coffins with old world European craftsmanship while tailoring for American traditions.
