Two coffin shapes and how they differ
Two main shapes are used in Georgia, and the difference between them is more than cosmetic: the shape determines how the lid opens during the farewell, whether the coffin fits into a refrigerated unit and how it is lowered into the grave.
Six-sided, the traditional shape
Broad across the shoulders and gradually slimming down to the foot end, this coffin has been the standard for Georgian funerals for generations. The lid comes off completely and stands separately against the wall during the farewell. It is the most compact shape, passes easily up a narrow staircase and fits into any standard refrigerated coffin. Most of our range is made this way.
Rectangular, the American style
A rectangular body with rounded corners and a two-part lid: the upper half opens while the lower half stays closed. The deceased is visible down to the waist, which gives the farewell a more formal, composed look. This coffin is heavier and wider, so it needs a larger refrigerated unit and sometimes extra pallbearers.
Models and prices
The price covers the coffin itself with its interior lining, the pillow and the inner shroud, plus delivery to any address in Tbilisi. The outer cover, cross and candlesticks are added separately or as a set.
| Model | Price | Material and details |
|---|---|---|
| Economy, six-sided | 350 GEL | pine body covered in dark fabric outside, white cotton lining inside |
| Standard with velvet, six-sided | 550 GEL | pine, burgundy or black velvet outside, gold-coloured trim, satin lining |
| Varnished, six-sided | 900 GEL | solid pine stained oak or walnut, high-gloss varnish, four metal handles, satin interior |
| Varnished with double lid | 1,400 GEL | dark varnish, stepped lid, carved cross, six handles, velvet lining |
| American style, rectangular | 1,900 GEL | two-part lid, curved sides, a choice of three tones, mattress and pleated satin |
| Solid oak | 2,500 GEL | whole oak boards, natural grain under oil or varnish, bronze handles |
| Hand-carved walnut | 4,200 GEL | solid walnut, Georgian ornament on the sides, embroidered silk, name plate |
| Hermetically sealed zinc | 1,200 GEL | inner metal chamber with a soldered seam for air transport; the outer wooden coffin is separate |
| Cremation coffin | 300 GEL | untreated pine without varnish or metal, cotton lining |
| Child's coffin | from 200 GEL | 80 to 150 centimetres long, white or pale blue, satin lining |
An XL coffin, meaning longer than 200 or wider than 70 centimetres, can be made in any model for a surcharge from 150 GEL. Some models are always in stock, while others are made to order within a day.
Pine, oak and walnut: what sets them apart
Pine
A light, affordable timber used for the fabric-covered and varnished models. Under varnish its grain is barely visible, so pine is stained to look like oak or walnut. Even four people can carry a pine coffin without difficulty.
Oak
A heavy, dense wood with a striking fibrous grain. A solid oak coffin weighs twice as much as a pine one and needs six pallbearers, but it is the most substantial and traditional option. Under oil, oak keeps its natural colour; under varnish it takes on a high gloss.
Walnut
A prized Georgian timber with a dark, warm tone that holds carving better than any other wood. Walnut coffins are often made by hand, and one to two days pass between the order and completion.
Fabric and lining
On the outside a coffin is covered in cotton, velvet or sateen; on the inside it is lined with cotton, satin or silk. At an open-casket farewell the lining is what people see most, so many families save on the exterior finish and choose a better interior.
Getting the size right
A sizing mistake is the most distressing one possible, because it usually comes to light during dressing or when the coffin is being placed in the refrigerated unit. That is why the operator asks two questions during the call: the person's height and approximate weight.
| Inside length | Suitable height | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 175 cm | up to 160 centimetres | most often for elderly women |
| 185 cm | up to 170 centimetres | the most popular size |
| 195 cm | up to 182 centimetres | the usual size for men |
| 205 cm and over | from 183 centimetres | XL, a larger refrigerated unit is needed |
The rule is simple: the inside length should be 12-15 centimetres more than the person's height, leaving comfortable room for the pillow and shoes. For a weight over 110 kilograms, the width starts at 65 centimetres. Before settling on an expensive model, check three practical points: will the coffin get up your staircase and into the lift, will it fit into the refrigerated coffin, and does it suit the size of the grave, especially if that is a concrete vault or an old family burial plot.
Matching the coffin to your situation
- Open-casket farewell at home: the lining and pillow are most visible, so a velvet or varnished model with a satin interior is a sensible balance.
- Farewell in a funeral hall: in a large space the coffin stands on a plinth and can be seen from afar, so families often choose a varnished or American-style model.
- Narrow stairwell without a lift: the six-sided pine model is the lightest and handiest of all, whereas solid oak is hard to carry through.
- Repatriation: a hermetically sealed zinc coffin is mandatory, placed inside an outer wooden one; once in Georgia, the outer coffin can be replaced.
- Cremation: only the cremation model, without varnish or metal, as crematoria will not accept any other.
- A modest budget: the economy model is a perfectly dignified choice, and the money saved is better spent on the lining or on flowers.
Five common mistakes when choosing a coffin
Over the years we have seen the same slips again and again, leaving families overpaying or in an awkward position. Each one is easy to avoid if you know about it in advance.
- Guessing the size: relatives often misjudge a loved one's height by ten centimetres or so. Before ordering, ask the specialist to take a measurement - they do it anyway when dressing the deceased.
- A heavy model for a narrow stairwell: solid oak or the American shape may not make the turn of the staircase in an old building. The coffin then waits in the courtyard while the body is carried down on a stretcher, a sight that distresses relatives.
- Forgetting the refrigerated unit's size: a standard refrigerated coffin is designed for a coffin of 210 by 75 centimetres. For an XL or American-style model, order the larger unit straight away rather than later.
- A varnished coffin for cremation: crematoria do not accept coffins with varnish or metal, and the family ends up buying another one at the last minute.
- Panic-buying everything at once: in the first hour, the standard coffin the team brings along is all you need. You can choose the final model calmly the next day, and the cost of the first one will be deducted from the price of the new one.
Ordering and delivery, step by step
- Photos and advice: message us on WhatsApp or phone, and within minutes the operator sends pictures and a short video of suitable models with prices and sizes.
- Choosing: the family decides on the model, size, lining colour and any extra accessories. You can also see the coffins in person at our warehouse, at any time by arrangement.
- Delivery: the coffin reaches any address in Tbilisi within one to two hours. If the team is already coming with the hearse, they bring the coffin with them.
- Exchange: if you took the standard model in the first hours and later picked a different one, we collect it and credit its cost against the price of the new coffin.
- Payment: on delivery or after the funeral, on a single invoice together with the other services.
Frequently asked questions
Delivery times: how soon does a coffin arrive?
A model in stock arrives anywhere in Tbilisi within one to two hours, at night too. An XL or carved walnut coffin takes one to two days to make, so for the first days of the farewell we temporarily provide a standard one.
Can we see the coffin before buying?
Yes. We send photos and videos to WhatsApp right away, and you are welcome to visit the warehouse and see the models with your own eyes at any hour, by prior arrangement.
What size do we need?
The inside length needs to be 12-15 centimetres longer than the person's height. If the exact height is not known, the dressing specialist measures on site and passes the size to the operator.
Can we change the coffin if the family changes its mind?
Yes, at any stage of the farewell. We take the delivered model back and deduct its cost from the price of the new coffin, provided it is undamaged.
Why does repatriation require a zinc coffin?
Airlines and sanitary regulations only permit a body to be transported in a hermetically sealed, soldered chamber. The zinc coffin goes inside an outer wooden one, and in Georgia the outer coffin can be swapped for whichever the family chooses.
Are the cover and accessories included in the coffin price?
The price includes the lining, the pillow and the inner shroud. The outer cover, cross, candlesticks and icon are added separately or as a set from 150 GEL, which works out cheaper than buying them one by one.
There is no need to rush the choice of a coffin. Send a WhatsApp message or phone the warehouse line, +995 568 33 03 18, be it noon or midnight: photos and sizes of suitable models arrive within minutes, the coffin itself reaches you in one to two hours, and if you later decide on a different one, we will swap it without any fuss.