Open Casket Requirements: What Makes a Casket Suitable for Viewing

The Physical Setup of an Open-Casket Viewing

An open-casket viewing requires a casket designed for visual presentation — not every model works. The casket must have a split or full-opening lid, an interior lining that frames the deceased at the correct height and angle, and enough structural width to position the body naturally without shoulder compression.

Most viewings in the United States use a half-couch casket, where only the upper half of the lid opens. This is the standard configuration at roughly 85% of funeral homes. The closed lower half covers the legs and feet, which simplifies positioning and reduces the amount of body preparation needed. A full-couch casket opens the entire lid and shows the full body — common in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, military funerals, and families who want the deceased displayed in full formal attire.

Neither configuration affects casket cost significantly. What matters is the interior.

Interior Lining and Bedding Options

The casket interior is what mourners actually see during a viewing. Lining materials range from basic crepe to premium velvet, and the choice affects both appearance and price.

Crepe is a lightweight, textured fabric used in most standard and mid-range caskets. It comes in white, ivory, champagne, pink, and light blue. Crepe drapes smoothly, doesn't show wrinkles from the adjustable headrest, and costs the least. For the majority of viewings, crepe performs well.

Velvet sits at the upper end. The fabric has a deeper nap that absorbs light, giving the interior a richer look under the funeral home's directional lighting. Velvet caskets typically cost $400 to $800 more than the same model in crepe. The visual difference is real — whether it justifies the price is a personal decision.

Satin falls between the two. It reflects more light than crepe, which photographs well but can look glossy under harsh overhead lighting. Some families prefer satin for the way it catches and reflects soft chapel light.

Most caskets include a swing bar headrest — an adjustable metal bracket that raises the upper body to a 15- to 20-degree angle. This positioning makes the face visible from standing height at a normal viewing distance of three to four feet. The bedding (a thin mattress pad beneath the fabric) cushions the body and can be adjusted to accommodate taller individuals.

Preparation and Presentation Requirements

An open-casket viewing typically requires either embalming or refrigeration. Embalming is rarely required by law for standard, prompt burials or cremations, but some states require embalming or refrigeration if disposition is delayed. Many funeral homes require embalming for public viewings as a policy. Without either embalming or continuous refrigeration, the body can deteriorate visually.

If the family wants a viewing but opposes embalming, ask whether the funeral home offers a private family viewing using refrigeration alone. Refrigeration is an acceptable temporary-preservation alternative in most cases and can extend the planning window by several days, but the funeral home must have refrigeration capacity available.

Cosmetic restoration is the other variable. The funeral director or mortuary cosmetologist applies makeup, sets facial features, and arranges the hands. For deaths involving trauma, illness-related wasting, or autopsy, restorative work can be extensive. Restoration is a separate line item from embalming — ask what's included in the preparation fee before assuming.

Clothing and personal items go inside the casket before the viewing. Families typically provide the outfit. Standard half-couch viewings require only upper-body clothing, though many families provide a full outfit. Glasses, jewelry, religious items, and personal keepsakes can be placed in the casket. Confirm with the funeral director what items will remain with the deceased through burial versus what will be returned to the family.

When an Open Casket Isn't Advisable

Funeral directors will sometimes counsel against an open casket — and it's worth listening. Circumstances where a closed casket is usually recommended include deaths involving severe trauma, extensive decomposition without preservation, certain infectious diseases, or advanced-stage illness that caused significant physical changes. The decision is ultimately the family's, but restorative cosmetics have limits, and some final images are better replaced by earlier memories.

The Casket & Urn Selection Guide covers casket sizing, lining options, and the full checklist for coordinating a viewing — including the questions to ask the funeral director about preparation fees before you commit to a presentation style.