How to choose a coffin for a funeral in France ?

First of all, it should be known that coffins are commonly used in Western countries today, but this is not the case everywhere in the world, particularly in predominantly Muslim countries where the deceased are buried directly in the ground, simply wrapped in a white shroud.

Even in France, the use of coffins is relatively recent, as it was only made mandatory from 1801 onwards by the Prefect of Paris for sanitary reasons.

Listen to the Radio France podcast if you would like to learn more about the history of coffins.

French regulations on coffins

French regulations are very meticulous, and they are, of course, on a subject as traditional as funerals.

Coffins have been mandatory in France since 1801, regardless of the religion of the deceased and the type of funeral, whether burial or cremation. There are no exceptions.

Coffins are also individual, as only one deceased person can be placed inside, except if death during childbirth.

Moreover, it is forbidden to move a body without a coffin more than 48 hours after the death has been confirmed.

In addition, the coffin must necessarily include the following elements:

• At least 4 handles

• An identification plaque with the deceased's name

• A watertight basin to retain bodily fluids

Other elements such as padding or emblems are optional.

It is also important to know that the material or thickness of the coffin wood is no longer mandatory since 2018. Some funeral homes may try to encourage you to choose a coffin with a thickness of 22mm for a burial, but this is no longer mandatory.

What are the types of coffins for funerals in France?

There are generally 4 types of coffins in France:

• "parisien"

• "tombeau"

• "lyonnais"

• "coffre"

The so-called "Parisian" shape is the simplest and most common, with a shoulder and a flat lid.

The so-called "Lyonnais" shape is less and less used. It has a trapezoidal shape with a curved lid.

The so-called "tombeau" shape is also widely used, especially for higher-end coffins. The coffin has a more massive shape with a curved lid.

The so-called "coffre" shape is very rarely used in France and is expensive. It is mainly used in the United States, especially for "display coffins".

Which coffin depending on the type of funeral?

It is very likely that the funeral home will only let you choose your coffin from the so-called "Cremation" range or the "Burial" range, depending on the type of funeral you desire.

This segmentation was once justified because regulations required a minimum wood thickness depending on the type of funeral.

This is no longer true since 2018. Today, it is enough for the coffin to be approved by an accredited organization, regardless of its material or thickness.

The ranges now have only a marketing purpose to encourage you to choose a more expensive coffin if you want a burial. However, you can very well choose a coffin from the "Cremation" range for a burial.

However, keep in mind some constraints:

• Metal elements, such as handles, for example, will not be allowed during cremation. It is recommended to choose wooden or plastic handles for a cremation.

• It's probably not necessary to choose a coffin made of rare and expensive wood such as mahogany or oak if it's for a cremation.

• An airtight coffin is required for repatriation abroad, preferably with a lightweight wood such as pine or poplar, as airlines charge based on weight.

Additionally, it is worth discussing cardboard coffins in particular. Cardboard coffins are relatively new, with their official recognition only dating back to 2018, and practices are slowly evolving.

Therefore, very few cemeteries in France accept cardboard coffins.

Surprisingly, there are also some crematoriums that refuse cardboard coffins for safety reasons. Cardboard coffins ignite more quickly and require specific insertion into the crematorium oven to prevent injury to staff. Some crematoriums have not yet made the necessary adjustments to accommodate them.

In any case, be sure to gather sufficient information.