What Size Casket Do I Need? Guide To Casket Sizes
GUIDE TO CASKET SELECTION
1. Dimensions of a Standard Size Casket
​
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.
​
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.
​
2. Larger Casket Dimensions
​
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.
​
How To Choose the Right Casket
​
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.
​
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.
​
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.
Casket Sizes Chart & Guide: What
Dimensions Do You Need?
​
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.
​
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.
​
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:
​
Casket Sizes and Dimensions Chart
See the table below for a breakdown of typical casket dimensions and specifications:
Standard Casket Dimensions
​
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.
​
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.
​
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:
​
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.
​
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”.
​
Dimensions of an Oversized Casket
​
Any casket that exceeds standard dimensions is considered an oversized casket, and
multiple sizes exist.
​
In terms of pre-manufactured options on the market, you can find sizes ranging
from 29” all the way up to 44” wide.
​
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.
​
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.
​
What About Height?
​
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.
​
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.
​
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
​
Will an Oversized Casket Fit in a Casket Vault?
​
Your funeral director may have mentioned that you need to purchase a casket or burial
vault.
​
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.
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.
​
How Big Is a Standard Grave?
​
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.
​
Do Wood and Metal Caskets Have the Same Dimensions?
​
Metal and wood caskets typically have similar exterior dimensions, although you can
expect wood caskets to be slightly smaller.
​
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.
​
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.
​
What If a Standard Casket is Too Big?
​
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.