# Why are caskets hinged in the middle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-caskets-hinged-in-the-middle/764841>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-caskets-hinged-in-the-middle/764841 "2016-09-03T01:19:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-caskets-hinged-in-the-middle/764841/1 "2016-09-03T01:19:12Z")

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[Like this.](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWsB5yuRQJrc229J0_miVnQg762-m3SNLcGRZJKUJ0qhA53v4Mlg)

Why not just open or close the whole lid?

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-caskets-hinged-in-the-middle/764841/2 "2016-09-03T01:37:50Z")

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Oops GQ - no jokes in post 2.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-caskets-hinged-in-the-middle/764841/3 "2016-09-03T01:57:59Z")

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A major purpose of caskets is displaying the remains at a service. A hinged lid allows them to put only the good half on display.

Plus it promotes the comforting illusion that the dead person is only “sleeping”. The half-open lid makes the deceased look like they’re tucked in a bed.