There are moments in funeral planning when a familyâs needs are simple and profoundly human: keep it respectful, keep it safe, keep it within budget, and donât make a hard week harder. For some families, that leads to a practical question that can feel surprisingly intimate: can we build a simple pine box ourselves?
A homemade casket is not a shortcut around grief. Itâs often the opposite. It can be a way to slow down, to do something tangible with your hands when everything else feels out of your control. It can also be a cost-saving choice when money is tight or when a loved one wanted something plain. A pine box can be a dignified, traditional container, but it has to work in the real world: it must fit the person, fit the cemeteryâs or crematoryâs requirements, and handle transport without risk.
This guide walks you through DIY casket plans in a way that stays grounded in what families actually run into: typical pine box casket dimensions, wood thickness considerations, hardware basics, and a pre-build checklist so your home funeral casket doesnât get delayed by an unexpected rule or a last-minute size issue. Along the way, weâll also connect how a DIY plan fits into modern choices like cremation, what happens after cremation, and how families often move from logistics to memorialization with cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, keepsake urns, small cremation urns, and even cremation jewelry.
Why more families are asking for simple, practical options
Families today are combining tradition and flexibility more than ever. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, more than double the projected burial rate (31.6%). That shift changes what families shop for, how they memorialize, and how they think about containersâwhether thatâs a casket for burial, an alternative container for cremation, or later, cremation jewelry and keepsake urns for sharing ashes among relatives.
The Cremation Association of North America reports that U.S. cremation has risen steadily over the past decades (with 2023 at 60.6% in its summary tables), and notes that growth is slowing as rates exceed 60%âa sign cremation is becoming a stable ânew normal,â not a niche option. When families are navigating more choices, itâs common for them to ask: âWhat parts do we have to buy, and what parts can we do ourselves?â
A DIY pine box is one answerâsometimes for burial, sometimes as a cremation container DIY option. But the safest DIY plan begins with one mindset: build to the rules youâll actually face, not the rules you wish existed.
What to confirm before you cut a single board
If you take only one thing from this article, let it be this: before you build, call the cemetery or crematory and ask what they require. Policies vary widely, and the same pine box thatâs accepted in one place could be rejected in another for reasons that have nothing to do with dignity and everything to do with equipment, safety, or ground maintenance.
The non-negotiables: where the container is going
Start by naming the destination, because the destination determines the requirements. A conventional cemetery burial often comes with policies about outer burial containers like a grave liner or vault. A green cemetery or natural burial ground may have strict rules about biodegradable materials and avoiding metal or toxic finishes. Cremation typically comes with requirements around combustibility, dimensions, and keeping metal parts minimal.
It may help to know that, in many places, the ârulesâ you encounter are cemetery policies rather than state law. The Federal Trade Commissionâs funeral guidance explains that in most areas of the country a law does not require an outer burial container, but many cemeteries require one so the grave wonât sink. That is why families often hear âvault requiredâ as a cemetery policy rather than a universal legal requirement. See the Federal Trade Commission guidance for the standard disclosure language and how these policies commonly show up.
Questions to ask the cemetery or crematory
When you call, keep your questions practical and specific. Youâll usually get a clearer answer if you ask about measurements and handling rather than describing the entire build. For homemade casket requirements, ask for the maximum exterior length, width, and height they can accept, and whether there is a maximum total weight for the body plus the container. Ask whether handles are required and whether rope or strap handles are acceptable. If cremation is the destination, ask whether screws, hinges, or decorative hardware are allowed, and whether they require a leak-resistant liner. If burial is the destination, ask whether an outer burial container is required and what its interior clearance is, since that can quietly set your real maximum dimensions. Finally, ask how the container will be transportedâfamily vehicle, funeral home coach, cemetery equipmentâand whether they have any requirements for grip points or loading.
Transport matters more than people expect. A pine box can look solid in a garage and still fail when lifted if the base isnât reinforced or the handles arenât engineered for real weight. A good plan treats carrying strength as a safety issue, not a detail.
Common pine box casket dimensions and how to think about sizing
Families often search for simple wooden coffin size expecting one universal standard. In reality, the funeral industry has common sizes, but âstandardâ depends on the manufacturer and the use case. The most helpful way to think about a pine box is to choose an interior size that fits the person comfortably and an exterior size that fits the cemeteryâs vault or liner (if one is required), or the crematoryâs chamber and loading system.
A practical âstandardâ starting point
Many standard caskets are built around an interior length close to 78 inches and an interior width close to 23 inches, with exterior dimensions often around 84 inches long by 28 inches wide. Those numbers appear repeatedly across manufacturer dimensions and cemetery-compatible designs. Batesvilleâs published specifications for a standard alternative cremation container, for example, list an exterior length of 79 inches and width of 26 inches, with internal dimensions around 76.75 inches by 24 inches. That gives you a real-world reference point for how the industry designs containers to fit equipment and processes. See the spec sheet for the Standard Brown Alternative Container.
For a DIY pine box used for burial, many families plan around an interior length in the 78â80 inch range, adding more if the person was very tall. Interior width is often 22â24 inches, adjusting for shoulder and hip width as needed. Interior depth commonly lands around 12â16 inches, depending on how you reinforce the base and how you design the lid. Because bodies vary and clothing or blankets add bulk, measuring matters. If you are building after a death, a funeral home or experienced home funeral guide can help you measure respectfully. If you are building in advance, plan for a little extra clearance so the fit doesnât become stressful later.
When âstandardâ wonât be enough
Oversize needs are more common than families think, and thereâs no shame in it. If you suspect youâll need more width, confirm the cemeteryâs vault capacity first. Some cemeteries can accommodate oversize vaults, and some cannot. This is where cemetery casket rules show up quickly: a cemetery may be willing to accept your DIY box, but only if it fits their vault dimensions or their lowering device.
If you want a clearer picture of how sizing and costs work in generalâespecially if youâre comparing DIY to purchasingâFuneral.comâs guide Casket vs Coffin Costs in 2025: Price Ranges, Materials, and Smart Ways to Save can help you understand what youâre paying for when you buy, and what youâre taking on when you build.
Materials and thickness: what works, what lasts, and what gets rejected
A pine box is simple by design, but simplicity doesnât mean flimsy. The most common DIY failures happen in two places: the base (which carries the full load) and the closure (which must stay secure during movement). Your materials should match your destination and your values: conventional cemetery burial, green burial, or cremation.
Wood choices and thickness
For a pine box, families commonly use pine boards for the sides and lid, paired with a plywood base for strength. A typical approach is 3/4-inch lumber (often sold as â1xâ boards) for the walls and lid, with a plywood bottom that may be 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch depending on reinforcement. Thicker can be stronger, but it also adds weightâsomething to keep in mind if youâll have a small group carrying it.
If you are building for a green cemetery, pay close attention to what finishes and hardware are allowed. One example of green burial standards in practice comes from Carolina Memorial Sanctuaryâs âBuild Your Ownâ guidelines, which emphasize biodegradable materials and avoiding toxic, non-biodegradable components. Their document notes that screws and nails are permitted, but discourages metal accessories for aesthetics and prohibits certain weather-resistant metals in order to reduce heavy metals in the soil. See Carolina Memorial Sanctuaryâs guidelines.
A simple pine coffin materials list in plain language
Most builds share the same core pieces, even if the exact measurements change. Youâll typically need pine boards for the sides and lid, a plywood base for strength, wood screws (and sometimes wood glue) for assembly, and some kind of carry systemârope handles, webbing straps that wrap under the base, or built-in handholds. Many families add a simple interior lining like cotton or muslin because it feels gentler and helps the box feel finished. Depending on your providerâs policies, you may also need an absorbent layer or a leak-resistant liner, especially if the box will be used as an alternative container for cremation.
If youâre unsure whether your build should be a coffin-style shape or a rectangular casket shape, start with the rectangle. Itâs easier to measure, easier to build square, and generally easier for cemeteries and crematories to handle. A rectangle is also the most common âpine boxâ families mean when they search pine box casket dimensions.
Hardware and safe handling: the part that protects everyone
In a familyâs mind, the handle is a detail. In a providerâs mind, itâs a safety system. If a casket is carried by family members, the handle system must support real weight without tearing out of soft wood. If itâs carried by staff, they need predictable grip points.
For DIY builds, the safest approach is to design the base as a structural frameâsomething that takes weight even if the side panels flex. Some families add a pine frame under the plywood base, similar to how professional alternative containers reinforce edges for lifting. Others choose webbing straps that wrap under the base and provide handles on each side, which reduces stress on the side walls. If you are choosing green burial, aim for biodegradable choices and minimal metal. If you are planning cremation, keep metal minimal for a different reason: crematories often prefer containers that are rigid, combustible, and simple, without extra hardware that complicates the process.
If the destination is cremation: what âalternative containerâ really means
If youâre building a pine box because youâre choosing cremation, you may be thinking: âWe donât want an expensive casket if we arenât burying it.â Thatâs a common and reasonable thought. Consumer protections reflect that reality. The Funeral Ruleâs âcasket for cremationâ provisions state that it is an unfair or deceptive practice for a funeral provider or crematory to require that a casket be purchased for direct cremation, and providers must make an alternative container available if they arrange direct cremations. See 16 CFR § 453.4 at the Legal Information Institute.
In practice, an alternative container is typically a rigid, combustible enclosureâoften fiberboard, cardboard, or composite woodâdesigned for safe handling and respectful transport. DIY can be possible, but crematories may have strict limits on dimensions, weight, and materials. Batesvilleâs published alternative container dimensions are useful here because they show how tight sizing can be for equipment compatibility. If your DIY box is too wide or too tall, it might not fit the crematoryâs loading system even if it âseems close.â For reference, see the Standard Brown Alternative Container specifications again.
This is also where âwhat to confirm firstâ matters most. If youâre pursuing cremation container DIY, ask the crematory whether they allow wood boxes, whether they require a leak-resistant liner, and whether they have a maximum exterior height. A lid that lifts or shifts during movement can become a safety and dignity issue, so closures should be secure and predictable.
How DIY choices connect to urns, jewelry, and what happens after cremation
Even if your immediate project is a pine box, most families arenât making only one decision. Theyâre making a chain of decisionsâcontainer, ceremony, disposition, then memorialization. It helps to keep the âafterâ in view while youâre building the âbefore.â
If the plan is cremation, the ashes usually come home in a temporary container. Soon after, families start searching for cremation urns for ashes and asking practical questions: Will we keep the ashes at home? Do we want multiple containers for siblings? Do we want something small and discreet? Should we scatter, bury, or place the urn in a niche?
If youâre starting that part of the journey, Funeral.comâs collection of cremation urns for ashes is a helpful way to see what âfull-sizeâ can look like across different materials and styles. If your plan includes sharing, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can make that decision gentlerâespecially when multiple people want a personal memorial. Funeral.comâs keepsake urns collection focuses on smaller vessels designed specifically for holding a portion of ashes. For pet families making similar choices on a smaller scale, there are also dedicated options like pet keepsake cremation urns.
Some families donât want a second urn at all. They want a wearable way to keep a small amount close. Thatâs where cremation jewelry fits in: cremation necklaces and other pieces hold a symbolic amount and can pair with a primary urn kept at home. You can explore options in Funeral.comâs cremation jewelry collection, or browse specifically for cremation necklaces.
If youâre wondering about keeping ashes at home, youâre not unusualâespecially as cremation becomes the majority choice. Funeral.comâs guide Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally walks through placement, safety, and what families commonly do when theyâre not ready to decide on a final resting place yet.
And if you feel pulled toward the ocean or a lake as the right place to say goodbye, water burial planning comes with its own set of practical considerations. Funeral.comâs article Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony can help you think through the moment with fewer surprises and more calm.
If this is for a pet: the same principles, with kinder scale
Families who build a simple box for a beloved dog or cat are often doing it for the same reasons: love, simplicity, and a desire to keep things personal. But pet cremation and memorialization tends to move fasterâvet timelines are shorter, and emotions can be intense because the house feels empty in a different way.
If your plan includes pet cremation, the memorial choices afterward are often where families find comfort: pet urns that feel like home, pet urns for ashes that can be personalized, and smaller keepsakes for sharing among family members. Funeral.comâs pet cremation urns collection includes a wide range of materials and sizes. If you want something that looks like a sculpture rather than a container, the pet figurine cremation urns collection blends remembrance with display.
Cost reality: planning a DIY build without getting blindsided
For many families, the âwhyâ behind DIY is financial. Itâs okay to say that plainly. Funeral planning is expensive, and a simple container can be one of the clearest places to reduce costs without reducing respect.
If youâre also comparing cremation options and asking the question families ask most oftenâhow much does cremation costâFuneral.comâs guide How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? Average Prices, Common Fees, and Ways to Save (2025 Guide) explains what actually drives price differences and how to compare quotes without missing hidden fees.
And if youâre weighing a purchased casket versus building, it can help to read Casket Choices Explained: Materials, Features, Rental Options, and Saving on Costs, especially if your family wants a viewing but plans cremation afterward. In some cases, a rental casket for the visitation plus an alternative container for cremation can be a practical middle path.
A calm ending: build the box, but build the plan too
A pine box can be a beautiful act of careâquiet, sturdy, and honest. But the strongest DIY project isnât the one that looks perfect in photos. Itâs the one that works on the day it needs to work, without friction, without last-minute rejection, and without risking anyoneâs safety.
So build with your destination in mind. Confirm the measurements that matter. Choose materials that match the cemeteryâs or crematoryâs requirements. Reinforce the base. Treat handles as a safety system. And if your plan includes cremation, remember that the container is only the first step. The next step is how you will live with remembranceâthrough an urn at home, small cremation urns and keepsake urns for sharing, cremation jewelry that travels with you, or a water burial that releases love into a place that feels right.
If youâre ready to plan the âafter,â Funeral.comâs guide How to Choose a Cremation Urn can help you choose a memorial that fits your familyâs real planâwithout pressure, and without guesswork. And if youâre still deciding between DIY and purchasing, remember that both can be an expression of care. What matters most is that your plan stays safe, compliant, and gentle on your family.
When youâre ready for the next questionâwhat to do with ashesâyou donât have to answer it all at once. Many families begin with keeping ashes at home for a season, then choose a permanent urn, scattering plan, or placement later. The right timeline is the one that protects your peace.
