Do They Burn the Coffin When You Get Cremated?
A common question that often arises when discussing cremation is, “Do they burn the coffin with the body?” To those in the funeral industry, the answer might seem obvious, yet it’s a query that comes up frequently. The simple answer is: yes, the coffin is cremated along with the body.
But why is this not universally understood? The reality is that most people don’t dwell on the specifics of cremation, and it’s only natural to avoid thinking too deeply about these matters until the time comes. Yet, understanding the process can bring clarity and peace of mind.
The Process in the UK
In the UK, once a coffin is sealed, it remains untouched. The coffin, along with the body and any personal items the deceased is wearing—such as jewellery—are all cremated together. This practice is standard and adhered to strictly across all crematoria.
What Remains After Cremation?
The intense heat and duration of the cremation process ensure that everything inside the chamber is subjected to high temperatures. While the majority of the materials combust (burn away), there are some elements that do not, such as the larger bones and metal parts. These might include metal pins from the coffin, implants like artificial joints, or metal jewellery.
After the cremation, these metal parts are typically removed. Many crematoria in the UK have implemented recycling programs where these metals are recovered and the proceeds are donated to charitable causes, providing a positive outcome from a solemn process.
What remains after this is the bone matter, which is then reduced to a fine granular powder, known as ashes or cremains. These are the ashes that you will receive from the crematorium or funeral director. I would make one more point here, when people use large wooden coffins particular hardwood like an oak this may result in more ashes (wood ashes in this case)
Considerations Regarding Jewellery
While it might be a comforting thought to leave a loved one with their treasured jewellery, such as a wedding ring, it’s worth considering the lasting value of these items. Jewellery holds significant emotional and historical value and is often linked closely to the life of the person.
Our advice is to remove important jewellery before the cremation. People often say: I want the wedding ring going right through the their life, I would suggest looking it is different way and that it it was connected to their life and in death that ring should pass on. These pieces can then be passed on to family members, kept in a memory box, or even incorporated into new pieces of jewellery as a way to keep the memory of your loved one close. Preserving these items allows them to continue to be a part of your family’s history, rather than being lost during the cremation process.
Renting Coffins: A Different Practice Abroad
Interestingly, in some parts of North America, there is a practice where grand, ornate caskets are rented for the funeral service. After the service, the body is transferred to a simpler coffin for cremation. This practice is very uncommon in the UK, where the same coffin is used from the funeral service through to the cremation.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the cremation process, including what happens to the coffin, can help ease some of the uncertainties during a difficult time. Knowing that everything, including the coffin, is cremated may bring clarity and help you make informed decisions about any personal items you wish to retain. We can help with all the questions you may have Cremation FAQ
This might sound daft to some but I have a teddy bear, I’m 73 and have had him over 70 years. He has some metal in him in that his head is attached to his body with wire and has a music box inside him, otherwise he is stuffed with straw. I don’t like the idea of him being left behind when I pop off – he is of great sentimental value to me but wouldn’t be to anyone else. What would be the chances of him going in the coffin and being cremated with me when my time comes? I’m in the UK and in reasonable health Thanks.
Dear Bridget
I am pleased to hear you are in good health! Shhhh but yes this with the right funeral director I am sure they would accommodate it. I would have look for a good independent funeral director in you area in your area and have a chat with them. I hope this puts you mind at rest.
Kind regards
Richard
Why can’t I get the plaque back to use on my manorial bench
Please can you tell me what happens to the plaque. I asked to have it back but they said it was buried with the body but it was needed to id the ashes. Well how do they do that if it has been incinerated?????. Not sure how brass ends up?
Linda, if there was a brass plaque, the one on the front of the coffin say. Once the cremation is complete the plaque wont’ be useable. The high temperatures will cause the plaque to disfigure and warp, the surface would also be severely impacted. Truthly, I think they are giving you a sensible answer. I can see why you think it would have extra sentimental meaning but it would not be practical.
My father-in-law worked in a U.K. crematorium. He told us that the bodies were collected over a week and all cremated on the same day. No attempt was made to identify the ashes so, in fact, the families could get anyone’s. This was many years ago and one would hope that things have improved. However, with the economy being what it is and all of us dealing with “ shrinkflation” even funeral homes might be tempted to revert to past practices. Are there any controls over funeral homes?
Funeral home have no control over this aspect of the funeral, it is down to the Cremation Authority, there are strict rules in terms of labelling a coffin and making sure what is collected at the end of the process relates to that person. Bodies are generally cremated on the same day, although not always. I have not come across instances of where they are stacked for a week. Although I suspect this may have happened many years ago.
Very interested in learning about this well in advance, as I want to be cremated when I die, both for environmental and personal reasons. And to know what is the fee to use a recycled coffin? Sounds more reasonable to do this, rather to buy one– wasted money.
FYI-cremation is actually not better for the environment. It actually leaves a much larger carbon doorprint than burial. Look into a green cemetery
I would I think the argument hinges on parameters of what is included in the calculations
From everything I have read – local direct green burial (close to the surface) with no mourners is top of the carbon free tree. However this probably wont be the right funeral for many.
I work at a funeral home and if you choose cremation and want a nice casket you can purchase several styles of wood built caskets that will be completely consumed. There are very pretty wood rentals that are very nice and these don’t get cremated as they have a cardboard linner that is placed inside and when it is time for cremation are removed from the casket . The rental casket is just as nice as a standard casket but cost considerably less. It is also unfair to label all funeral directors as crooks as the many directors I have worked with are very compassionate and operate with the highest integrity
I agree – there is a lot of misunderstanding and the majority of funeral directors go into the profession with a good heart. This inner /outer coffin – where in the worked are you located?
If people think they reuse the coffin you have paid for… this is not the case in New Zealand. I have seen the process of cremation so be assured coffin and body go up in smoke. The heat is so intense and will melt handles and jewelery. People need to ask more questions regarding their loved ones funeral after all it can be expensive.
Is coffin burned along with the body?
Yes it is.
My mother is due to be cremated on Monday coming. I was assured by the funeral director the coffin is burnt with my mother in it and as all wood, material and flesh is totally combustible the ashes are from bone particles that will not disintegrate in the extreme heat. We were also told that due to any contamination from the body the coffin would be burnt. Also when you think about a fire if you use wood or logs there is very little ash left. It totally burns away. Leaving a fine dust.
So do the ashes we receive comprise of the loved one and wood ash ?
There will be some wood residue, if it was a substantial coffin.
For example – a mdf or standard pine compared to the an thick oak one would give different amounts if residue.
Well done, Richard. For a long time I have wondered if the casket contains more wood ash than body ash, also if the casket is recycled. So now I know. Many thanks for your clear explanations.
Polite suggestion. It would have been helpful if the above had been in date order!
Note. My email address is not to be given to anyone, either for marketing or any other purpose.
Thanks. Janet
Thank you Janet for letting me know. I will check the date issue, it must be a setting somewhere…
I am actually quite sorry that there is not an optional method of having an inner box, so that the outer one is re-used. Seems a bit of a waste of the earth’s resources in my opinion. Often people don’t have much money for funeral expenses and the coffin is not cheap. Such a shame for something that gets used a very short time.
I think there might do this in the US. In the UK you can get very simple coffins of pine, or cardboard which can look nice, are relatively sustainable too…
I was informed by an undertaker that now the have an inner coffin so the outer coffin is not burnt but reused.
Hi Jim Is this in the UK?
Hi Kathy, l agree with your comments 100%
Of course they don’t burn a couple of grand to re-sell, anyway which of the ashes are you getting, backbone, toes, or coffin top!
You get the bones, the wood is completely combusted – when you look at ashes closely you won’t see any wood ash remnants. As to a clandestine ‘Burke and Hare’ type operation, I think I have made clear that in my knowledge this doesn’t operate in the UK. However I appreciate you may not which to believe me.
I don’t.
Fair enough.
I agree totally with Ernest.
Shame on you.
Thanks for that Kevin, I am little unsure what I have to feel shameful of, I don’t deal in caskets or derive any benefit (financial or otherwise) from the statement above, perhaps it because you personally believe the coffins are not burnt with the body. I am only speaking from a) personal knowledge, b) dialogue with crematorium staff, c) what the law says and d) what is stated industry practise. Apart from these I could well be be wrong, you may have greater insight and knowledge into the whole process. As I say it think they have coffin rental schemes in the US plus a much bigger tradition of open and more ornate caskets, so maybe those are not burnt? However, I am only speaking from a UK perspective and understanding.
I know for sure that coffins are reused in the UK as at a friends funeral it was patently obvious it wasnt new as it was scratched & a little shabby looking. Not that it worried us as we covered it in single roses. Im sure its a cost cutting thing & no shame in recycling as far as im concerned.
Hi Jeanette – Fair enough, I am glad that you are all good with the green angle, me too. I might question though whether they had mistreated the coffin beforehand rather than it being secondhand, but there you go. Thanks for commenting. Regards Richard
Dear Richard,
Sorry to bother you, I came along this site whilst looking for the answer to a question I have. My Father passed away suddenly a couple of days ago. I have spiritual beliefs and parts of my beliefs are the using of crystals. I would like to give my Father a small rose quartz heart, However I can’t find out if this is safe as his coffin is being cremated. I would dearly love my Father to have the crystal with him when is he cremated. From what I have read, it seems that you have a great deal of knowledge in this area, and I was hoping you could answer my question. I would be very grateful if you could answer this for me. Many Thanks
Sharon Woods
Hi Sharon
This is quite difficult to answer as most funeral director and crematoria do not like non combustible items in the coffin. If a rose crystal did go in the coffin – it would not burn or melt (quartz melts at around 1600C) so it would come out at the end of the process intact. The question is what would happen to it then – each process is different but it may harm the machinery used for reducing the ashes.
I hope this helps to answer the question.
Kind regards
Richard
Why not add the crystal when you get the ashes back.
Here in the United States, if you wish to save the cost of a funeral, you can donate your entire body to a University. UCLA here in Los Angeles is one such place. Recently I heard of someone donating their relative because they simply did not have the finances for a funeral. The ashes were returned to them, about 6 months later I am sure in the United Kingdom they have the same services, after all, cadavers are needed for medical training. This website explains the procedure.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/how-to-save-money-by-donating-your-body-to-science_b_2162564.html
Dear Ann, thank you for this they do have a similar system here in the UK, and for those who can deal with this a way to go then I agree it is worthwhile and meaningful. Having said that many people could find this perhaps a little to traumatic. Your input and suggestion is greatly appreciated. Regards
Richard
I also have concerns regarding the practice of switching coffins I watched a cremation of a Male abroad It plainly shows the coffin being opened and the body put on a wooden table that tilts up allowing the body to slide onto the furnace and the coffin being taken away and when the cremation is over they pull the grill out and shake it until all the ash has fallen through the last last thing they do is run a magnet over the grill which picks up any metals left
Practice in different countries varies, coffin ‘rental’ occurs in a number of countries. The purpose as I understand it is because the cultural of open casket viewing (and thus an expensive, highly finished coffin that do not cremate easily). So people will rent a coffin then will be transfer to something else for committal. In the UK this is not the case.
When our time arrives let’s make sure our family and friends are treated with care, dignity and respect just as we are by the undertaker, and if they want to celebrate with a wake afterwards that’s a fabulous way of coping of a otherwise deeply sad day …god bless everyone on the day and make mine a pint of snakebite and a great laugh and joke all round ” CHEERS” I’ll always love you all, life is to short to be not enjoyed and smile at every opportunity
I purchased a beautiful coffin for my husband,
He was a big man so his coffin was larger than regular sized coffins. I was charged nearly 6000.00 $$$
for it. My husband was cremated.
What happened to the 6000.00 $ coffin ?????
I would presume that it was cremated too, by the the use of the $ I am presuming you are sending this enquiry from the States. I would ask your funeral directors I am sure they would be able to inform you.
The previous person was right,i watched a program about 4 weeks ago,it was all about cremations in america.The body was put into a large cardboard box which folded at all sides, then they put tape on to hold it together,when they got down to the incinerator they removed the body from the cardboard box, then slid the body into the incinerator.they showed you the body burning,removing the ashes,and how you grind the bones into a very fine dust.they then put the body dust into a sort of sack bag ,then they would label the bag for identification purposes.LOOK up cremations
Fair enough, as I said I can’t speak for practices around the world. I wonder if there is a funeral director cremator from the States who could give us an insider’s view point?
You saw it in a programme? Right! We all stand corrected then. Larry has graced us with THE truth spoken by the infallible font of truth and knowledge that is the telly!
Horse crap! You don’t honestly believe they burn up a perfectly good coffin, do you? No. They switch the coffins and burn the body in a cardboard container. So, they recycle the coffin and charge full retail. They ARE crooks!!!!
Thank you for your input. You are of course entitled to your opion and I obviously can’t know practices around the world, but here in the UK the process is well regulated and professionally carried out. As for profiteering there may well be some in certain businesses, but I would think there would be easier ways to do this instead of what you suggest happens…
I am not in any way associated to undertakers but feel compelled to respond to this. Sorry but where do you think they put all these coffins if they dont burn them? Do you really all think there is some horrible nationwide undercover racket going on with undertakers and the crematoriums. The funerals are back to back so you would have to have a pretty organised system to get the coffins back to the right undertakers. This is the UK, not USA, have a little faith in humanity and respect for the undertakers. Not everyone is a crook and a scammer.
Well done for keeping your cool Richard Martin and you have been very helpful and informative.
so what you get back is mostly wood ash from rhe coffin.
No.The wood combusts entirely. What left is bone and non combustible materials for example metal screws from the coffin, hip replacements etc. The metal items are removed and what is returned to you is essentially bone.