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Burial vaults or grave liners, also known as burial containers, are commonly used in "traditional," full-service funerals. The vault or liner is placed in the ground before burial, and the casket is lowered into it at burial. A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete and will satisfy any cemetery requirement.

The difference is basically one of design. Coffins are tapered at the head and foot and are wide at the shoulders. Caskets are rectangular in shape and are usually constructed of better quality timbers and feature higher standards of workmanship.

Caskets are made primarily from two types of materials: wood and metal. The most costly wood caskets are made from Mahogany and Walnut, two species of wood which are in scarce supply. ... Bronze is the most costly metal used in casket manufacturing.

The casket industry traces its roots back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, where wood, cloth and paper were used to make sarcophagus-style burial boxes. In the United States, casket manufacturing developed in the late 19th century.

Today, the average North American traditional funeral costs between $7,000 and $10,000. This price range includes the services at the funeral home, burial in a cemetery, and the installation of a headstone.