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What Size Casket Do I Need? Guide To Casket Sizes

GUIDE TO CASKET SELECTION

1. Dimensions of a Standard Size Casket

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Most caskets are 84 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and 23 inches in

depth. Caskets made of wood and steel are almost identical in size. Regular

cemeteries are suitable for caskets of standard sizes" (usually 30" in width).

There will be a wide range of possible interior coffin dimensions. Metal caskets

are typically 78–79 inches long and 23–24 inches wide inside.

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Standard caskets can accommodate a person up to 350 pounds and roughly 6'5"

in height, making them suitable for most people. A funeral director,

however, should be consulted because of their expertise and knowledge in

casket selection.

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2. Larger Casket Dimensions

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If you'd like more room inside the casket and the deceased person was on the

larger side, a more oversized casket could be an option. Although its length is

about the same as a regular casket, the interior space is much larger. Larger

than average caskets typically measure at least 27 inches across the outer

surface but often measure much less inside. Caskets can be found in lengths

of 28, 29, 33, 40, and 44 inches. Everything would be sized down by an inch on

the inside compared to how it appears outside.

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How To Choose the Right Casket

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If an oversized casket is more reasonably priced than a traditional piece,

some people might decide to buy it even if their deceased loved one does not

need the extra space. To ensure the dearly departed is in a comfortable

position, they could decide to increase the amount of padding inside the

casket.

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You can make a more educated decision about the size of the casket you

need to buy now since you have a few guidelines to work from. Before making

a purchase, it is highly advised that you consult with the funeral director for

an honest opinion.

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Lasting Impressions Monuments, LLC is available to assist with any funeral

arrangements you would need. Our team there can tell you everything you

need to know about the different sizes and styles of caskets. Contact us with

your requirements and we will be glad to accommodate your request.

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Casket Sizes Chart & Guide: What

Dimensions Do You Need?

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The average exterior dimensions of a standard sized casket are 84” long,

28” wide, and 23” high. On the inside they are slightly smaller, with

interior dimensions of around 79” x 24” x 14”. All standard caskets are

designed to accommodate the majority of people and fit inside a burial

vault.

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We know this because we scraped and analyzed data from the websites of

the two largest traditional casket manufacturers in the USA: Batesville and

Matthews Aurora, alongside newer entrants to the market including Titan

Casket and Trusted Caskets.

 

Buying a casket can be hard, it’s not something most people do every day,

and it’s important to get it right. The last thing you want is a casket your

deceased loved one won’t fit in, or a coffin that won’t fit in the burial plot

you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on.

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So, we’ve pulled all that data together to give you the information you need about

casket sizes to ensure you get one that is the right fit for you. Whether you’re

considering an oversized casket on something completely different, our guide and chart

have you covered:

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Casket Sizes and Dimensions Chart

See the table below for a breakdown of typical casket dimensions and specifications:

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Standard Casket Dimensions

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The outside dimensions of typical metal and wood caskets are 84” long, 28” wide, and 23” high, with interior measurements of around 79” in length, 24” in width, and 14” in height.

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These numbers do vary slightly between manufacturers and depending on the style and

material of the casket. We found Batesville casket dimensions to be ever so slightly

larger than other brands. We also found wood caskets are, on average, 0.5 inches

smaller than a 20-gauge steel metal casket. 

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However, regardless of the very minor variances, you can be assured that anything

marketed as a usual casket will be very close to these dimensions. They are industry

standard, and there are two key reasons for this:

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1. Standard sized caskets will usually comfortably fit the remains of people

who weighed under 350 pounds. In some cases, they can accommodate more,

although this is something you should discuss with the casket maker or your

funeral director. Funeral homes only have so much space to display coffins, so

ensuring there is an (almost) “one-size-fits-all” solution minimizes the stock they

need to carry. 

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2. Standard size caskets are designed to fit in standard sized burial plots and

vaults, which are typically 30 inches wide.

 

Of course, not everyone will fit a typical casket. And over the past few decades,

the demand for larger options has steadily increased. These are known as

“oversized caskets”.

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Dimensions of an Oversized Casket

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Any casket that exceeds standard dimensions is considered an oversized casket, and

multiple sizes exist.

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In terms of pre-manufactured options on the market, you can find sizes ranging

from 29” all the way up to 44” wide.

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The exact size you need for the specific weight of your deceased loved one is

something you will need to discuss with the casket maker.

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Buying Tip: When shopping for an oversized casket, ensure you double check whether

the advertised measurements refer to the interior or exterior of the casket. The last thing

you want is to accidentally order something that is too wide to fit in a standard burial

vault.

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What About Height?

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Notably, oversized caskets are rarely much longer or taller than a standard casket. The

industry standard 84” length and 23” height largely persists across casket size.

The reason for this is that the main market for oversized caskets is those who die

overweight. 

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There is a myth that a standard casket will only fit people under 6’10”, but this is

inaccurate. If a person is too tall, it is easy for funeral directors to bend the

deceased’s legs slightly to ensure they fit. 

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There are of course exceptions. Occasionally, someone over 7 feet tall will die and

perhaps bending the legs won’t be enough. In such a case, many manufacturers are

able to make a custom casket to suit that person’s specific needs. But this can be

expensive, and some people choose cremation as an easier option. 

 

Casket Sizes FAQs

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Will an Oversized Casket Fit in a Casket Vault?

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Your funeral director may have mentioned that you need to purchase a casket or burial

vault. 

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These are concrete, polymer, or metal containers into which coffins are placed. While

they are not required by any law, they can be required by cemeteries to protect the

casket and prevent graves from sinking as the ground around the burial site settles.

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On the interior, standard casket vaults measure 86″ long x 30” wide x 24.5″ high.

This means that any casket with an exterior width of less than 30” will fit in a

standard sized burial vault. Larger oversized caskets that are greater than 30”

wide will not fit. Oversized casket vaults are available for these instances, but

they are understandably more expensive.

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How Big Is a Standard Grave?

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The International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association has defined the

standard size of a grave as 2’6″ wide by 8′ feet long. This size encompasses the burial

plot as well as the headstone.

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Do Wood and Metal Caskets Have the Same Dimensions?

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Metal and wood caskets typically have similar exterior dimensions, although you can

expect wood caskets to be slightly smaller. 

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However, the fact that metal can be thinner while maintaining its structural integrity

means that metal caskets typically have a slightly roomier interior. Conversely, because

the panels used to construct wood coffins must be thicker, their interior is smaller.

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Metal caskets are often a good option to explore in the case of slightly larger or taller

bodies; the interior bedding can be adjusted to create even more space. 

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What If a Standard Casket is Too Big?

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If a standard size casket is too big, a smaller casket or cremation can be considered as

an alternative. Unfortunately, there are not many options for smaller caskets available

on the market, so custom ordering is usually required. While children’s caskets are

(sadly) available, these are typically too small for even the shortest of adults.

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