A casket with retractable handles which are flush with the sidewalls. The casket comprises a first and second sidewall, a first and second end wall, an exterior bottom, an interior floor, a top connected to one of said sidewall and at least one reinforcement member offset form one of said sidewall. A first and second opening are linearly aligned and pass through a sidewall and the reinforcement member respectively. An elongated handle with a first end and a second end, extends through and is slidingly received in said first and second opening, said handle having a stored position wherein said first end is flush with said sidewall and an extended position where said handle extends from said sidewall. In the preferred embodiment the elongated handles are located between a plane of the exterior bottom and a plane of the interior floor.