When planning for a funeral, caskets are one of the things that people have to think about. How much should you budget for a casket? What’s a good material for it? This handy guide will give you a broad idea of the types of caskets in Singapore and the factors to consider during selection.
Casket vs coffin: What’s the difference?
First things first, what’s the difference between a casket and a coffin? The answer is in their shapes. While caskets are four-sided and feature a rectangular shape (like a bed), coffins are six-sided and hexagonal. The tapered design of coffins matches the shape of the human body, as our shoulders are wider than our feet.
Coffins, like the E180 model above, are hexagonal.
However, many people use the terms ‘casket’ and ‘coffin’ interchangeably. And among Singaporeans, the gentler-sounding ‘casket’ appears to be the preferred choice of word when it comes to referring to burial/cremation containers. So, we’ll be using the more popular term for ease of reference throughout the rest of the article.
Materials used for caskets
Caskets come in a variety of materials including metal, fibreglass, and wood. Metal caskets, like the Batesville Puritan Copper that we offer, are extremely solid and boast a modern appearance. At Direct, we also import caskets made of quality wood, such as chengal and teak, from across the globe.
Apart from natural wood, more and more caskets these days are constructed from a type of engineered wood known as medium density fibreboard (MDF). MDF is formed by first breaking down wood into fibres. Next, the fibres are combined with wax and a resin binder, then treated with heat and pressure to create sturdy panels. This manmade wood is smooth and blemish-free as well, making it an ideal material for caskets.
How to choose a casket for cremation
For years now, cremation has surpassed ground burial as the favoured option for afterlife arrangements in Singapore. It’s important to note that cremation caskets cannot be made of metal. With that aside, one of the most straightforward ways to help you decide on a casket is based on your budget. Caskets here in our country typically start from around $1,500 and can go all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Other than the price, you might also want to take into consideration the casket’s colour and design. The choice of colours usually includes brown, black, and white. Some caskets come with engravings, while others do not have any kind of embellishment.
Beautiful lotus flower engravings on the W220 model.
To make a more informed decision, it’s best to head down to the funeral home of your choice and view the actual products. Or, you could request for a comprehensive casket catalogue. If you’re looking for help with casket selection, we’re always here for you.
For enquiries on caskets and funeral planning, please email us at info@directfuneral.com.sg or call our 24/7 helpline at +65 6555 1115 to make an appointment to visit our showroom.