Everything you need to know about cardboard coffins in the UK for 2026. Learn about pricing, eco-benefits, personalisation options, and find answers to common questions. Article - Updated for 2026.
Key Statistics for 2026: According to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, the average UK funeral now costs £4,285 up 134% since 2004. Meanwhile, eco-friendly funeral options have grown significantly, with green burials increasing by around 40% over the past few years. A 2024 industry survey found that 73% of people now prefer funeral providers with strong environmental standards.
Why Choose a Cardboard Coffin?
Cardboard coffins offer a compelling combination of affordability, sustainability, and personalisation that traditional wooden coffins simply cannot match. They've become one of the fastest-growing choices for environmentally conscious families across the UK.
Suitable for both burial and cremation, cardboard coffins are widely accepted by crematoriums and burial sites nationwide, including woodland and natural cemeteries. In fact, many natural burial grounds actually prefer them to conventional options.
While other eco-coffins made from willow, wicker, bamboo, and banana leaves offer similar environmental benefits, none can match the price point and personalisation possibilities that cardboard provides.
The Therapeutic Benefits of Personalisation
A growing number of families are choosing to reflect their loved one's identity through coffin personalisation, transforming what might feel like "just a box" into a meaningful tribute and living memorial.
The hands-on experience of decorating a cardboard coffin can become a powerful part of the grieving process. Whether as a participatory event with friends and family or a quiet, meditative act by just a few people, the creative process allows mourners to express their love and begin processing their emotions.
"A plain cardboard coffin can be transformed into a message-clad and flower-festooned work of art. This can be especially helpful if there are bereaved young children who can become more accustomed to the coffin in the lead-up to the funeral."
— Rosie Inman-Cook, Natural Death Centre
Adorning a cardboard coffin with meaningful images can be a cathartic and inspired act of grieving a loved one. Photo by Jasmine Tanguay, Natural Deathcare Collaborative
Those paying their respects often leave heartwarming messages and attach mementoes, keepsakes, photographs, and flowers to the coffin. For adornment and personalisation, cardboard coffins offer endless possibilities. Watercolours, crayons, and water-based felt-tip markers can create decorations without harmful chemicals, while notes, blessings, or photos can be affixed with non-toxic glue.
Coffin Clubs: A Growing Movement
The UK's 'Coffin Club' movement, pioneered by celebrants like Kate Dyer and Kate Tym, has helped normalise conversations about death while providing social spaces for people to decorate their own bespoke coffins.
"There are actually very few rules around funerals, and having a personalised coffin is a really special way to reflect the uniqueness of the person inside."
— Kate Tym, Coffin Club Co-founder
Cardboard Coffin Prices in 2026
One of the most compelling reasons to choose a cardboard coffin is the significant cost savings compared to traditional options. While the average traditional coffin costs £750-£1,000 from a funeral director, cardboard alternatives start from around £200, potentially saving families £500 or more.
| Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Basic/Plain Cardboard | £170 - £280 | Budget-conscious families, DIY personalisation |
| White Cardboard | £250 - £380 | Customisation with paint and decorations |
| Coloured/Picture Coffins | £350 - £600 | Pre-designed themes, football teams, nature scenes |
| Fully Custom Printed | £450 - £800 | Bespoke designs with personal photographs |
Budget Option: £170-£200
The cheapest cardboard coffins can be found online from around £170. However, if you're considering the lowest-cost options, there are important factors to verify:
- Certification: Does the coffin have accreditation guaranteeing it can carry a specific weight? Most UK crematoria require coffins to be certified for use in cremation.
- Nameplate: Is one supplied? Some funeral directors prefer an engraved nameplate—worth checking with your funeral organiser.
- Handles: If the coffin will be carried, are the handles load-bearing? Always verify with your retailer.
- Liner: Is a liner included? Note that most liners aren't waterproof, which matters if embalming is planned. For woodland or eco-funerals, confirm the liner is biodegradable.
- Country of origin: If your purchase is being shipped from overseas, the carbon footprint may counteract the environmental benefits. Willows cardboard coffins are UK-manufactured coffins, making them preferable for those prioritising sustainability.
- Wooden base: Many crematoriums prefer or require coffins with a wooden base, as it provides stability on the cremator rollers and ensures smooth handling. Check whether your chosen coffin includes one, or ask your crematorium about their requirements.
Mid-Range Option: £250-£400
At Willow, our Manilla Cardboard Eco Coffin represents excellent value at this price point. Each coffin includes:
- 100% satisfaction or money-back guarantee
- Strength testing by the Coffin, Casket and Shroud Association (CCSA)
- Load-bearing rope handles (essential if carrying the coffin)
- UK manufacture with direct shipping to your home or funeral director
- Fitted with a wooden base, which is an important factor for cremations
When purchasing online, consider whether the retailer will contact your funeral director. This step ensures the coffin arrives at the right time, is appropriately sized for the deceased, and that delivery details are correct.
We've found this process extremely valuable, as funeral directors sometimes have separate delivery addresses, and details can be lost during what is often a busy and emotional time.
Premium Option: Coloured and Picture Coffins (£350-£800)
Today's printing technology enables cardboard coffins in almost any design. Whether you want a serene woodland scene, a football team's colours, or a completely bespoke design featuring personal photographs, the options are virtually limitless.
Our White Cardboard Coffin is particularly popular with families who want to personalise it themselves. For fully custom picture coffins, specialist providers can create a coffin design specifically for you, allowing you to upload your own photos and create a truly unique tribute.
Cardboard Coffins - Greening your Final Footprint
Burials and cremations both consume resources and energy that can have negative environmental impacts.
Cardboard has a far lower carbon footprint and overall environmental impact, both in production and in use, than chipboard, wood, or metal. Some traditional coffins are made using toxins like formaldehyde and transported over long distances, while the metal and plastic fittings that can come at an extra cost are thrown away after cremation or buried when they could be recycled.
Cardboard coffins typically utilise recycled materials (Willows' range of cardboard coffins is made in the UK with 80% recycled material) to minimise waste and toxins.
Cardboard Coffins: Good for the earth, your wallet, & your family
Cardboard coffins are an excellent option that captures the trifecta of sustainability, affordability, and customisability. Although families are sometimes hesitant to choose such a modest material for a coffin, at the end of the process, we find they are always proud of their choice, especially if it involved creating something special in honour of the deceased.
If you are seeking an affordable, environmentally friendly coffin for yourself or a loved one, and you want plenty of personalisation options, we hope we’ve convinced you to consider a cardboard coffin. The growing popularity of cardboard coffins is a testament to our evolving expectations for our funeral, and is at least one trend the earth benefits from too boot.
Good for the Earth, Your Wallet, and Your Family
Cardboard coffins capture the trifecta of sustainability, affordability, and customisability. While families sometimes feel hesitant about choosing such a modest material, we consistently find they're proud of their decision by the end of the process especially when it involves creating something special in honour of their loved one.
With 51% of UK funerals now described as "celebrations of life" rather than traditional services—up from just 31% in 2017—there's never been a better time to consider alternatives that reflect modern values and preferences.
The growing popularity of cardboard coffins reflects our evolving expectations for funerals. It's at least one trend that benefits both families and the planet.
Cardboard Coffins: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I have to buy a coffin from a funeral director?
No. You can purchase a coffin online and have it sent directly to a funeral director or another location of your choice. There's no legal requirement to buy through a funeral director.
2. Can a cardboard coffin be cremated?
Yes. Cardboard coffins are widely accepted at crematoriums across the UK. They burn cleanly and efficiently, producing lower emissions than traditional coffins. Always ensure your chosen coffin has appropriate accreditation.
3. Can I be buried in a cardboard coffin?
Yes, and many natural burial grounds and woodland cemeteries actually prefer cardboard to conventional options because it's fully biodegradable and breaks down naturally.
4. Can a cardboard coffin be carried?
Yes, but ensure the coffin has functional, load-bearing handles. Quality cardboard coffins are tested to carry up to 23 stone. Always check the weight rating with your retailer.
5. Can I write on and attach items to a cardboard coffin?
Absolutely. Cardboard coffins can be painted, have notes and messages written on them, or have photographs and mementoes attached. Use water-based paints and non-toxic glue. Avoid attaching heavy items that might damage the structure.
6. How much do cardboard coffins cost in 2026?
In the UK, cardboard coffins typically range from £170-£800 depending on style and customisation. Plain coffins start around £200, while fully custom picture coffins can cost £600-£800. Traditional wooden coffins from funeral directors typically cost £750-£1,000 or more.
7. Where can I buy cardboard coffins?
While we always advise shopping around, our online store offers a range of cardboard coffins—all UK-manufactured and CCSA-accredited—with free mainland delivery.
8. Are cardboard coffins the cheapest option?
Generally, yes. Wicker and other woven coffins come close in price, but cardboard typically offers the best value. However, price isn't always the primary reason for choosing cardboard—the environmental benefits and personalisation opportunities are equally compelling for many families.
9. Are cardboard coffins good quality?
Quality cardboard coffins are sturdy and dignified. Always check for CCSA or FFMA accreditation, which certifies the maximum weight the coffin can safely carry. Reputable UK manufacturers produce coffins that are both robust and respectful.
10. What coffin size should I choose?
We recommend a coffin that's 3-4 inches taller than the person you're buying for. If in doubt, contact your retailer—they can advise on sizing and check requirements with your funeral director.
Have More Questions?
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