A pallbearer is someone who carries or attends a coffin as it is transported during funeral ceremonies. The position of pallbearer is primarily ritual in nature, with most pallbearers being intimate friends or relatives of the deceased. In the case of funerals for prominent public figures and members of the military, the pallbearers may also include important public officials; the coffin for a police chief, for example, might be accompanied by a mayor and high-ranking police officers in addition to more intimate acquaintances of the deceased.

The pall is the cloth which traditionally covers a coffin, especially in Catholic funerals. Pallbearers may carry the coffin, or professionals may carry the it while the pallbearers walk along beside it, sometimes touching or holding the pall. In many cases, the coffin is actually rolled on a lightweight cart, so pallbearers do not need to worry about coordinating with other people to carry it, and for formal funerals, the coffin may be carried by horses or other animals, with pallbearers simply walking with it. If a large number of people are asked to serve as pallbearers, some of them may carry the coffin, while others accompany it as attendants.

Usually, pallbearers carry the coffin from the hearse or private car to the church or other facility where the funeral is to be held. After the ceremony, the pallbearers accompany the coffin again as it travels to the graveyard or crematorium; if the deceased requires hearse transport, the pallbearers walk the coffin to the hearse and then accompany it again at its final destination. In a burial, pallbearers may help lower the coffin into the ground, with the assistance of cemetery staff.

Being asked to serve as a pallbearer is a great honor, as it suggests that the deceased or the family regard you as a special friend to the deceased. As a general rule, pallbearers are expected to dress in somber colors and formal clothing, and in addition to carrying the coffin, they may assist the family at the funeral. For example, pallbearers may circulate among the funeral guests, or support the family through the ceremony.

If you have been asked to be a pallbearer and you have not accompanied a coffin before, inform the priest or other officiant and the funeral director, if the family is using one. They can show you what you need to do and how to handle the coffin. You may also want to coordinate with the other pallbearers to determine who will walk where, and how to dress. If you are actively carrying the coffin as a pallbearer, make sure to keep an eye on the rest of the pallbearers to ensure that people are walking at the same pace.