Most people don’t do much shopping for caskets during their lifetime. Because of this, there’s understandably a lot of confusion around how they work, different options, and so on.
One of the most confusing parts of shopping for a casket is understanding what size casket you need. There are different dimensions and sizes, and this can adjust the overall casket prices.
Our Picks for Different-Sized Caskets (and Alternatives)
- Cherokee Child Caskets
- Titan XL Oversized Casket
- Pinnacle Handmade Pet Casket ($179)
- Burial and Cremation Shroud ($200)
- The Living Urn BioUrn ($139)
- Memorial Diamonds by Eterneva
- Memorial Stones by Parting Stone
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Determine What Size Casket You’ll Need
- What Are the Dimensions for a Standard Casket?
- What Are the Exterior Dimensions for a Standard Casket?
- Other Casket Dimensions
- Other Casket Factors to Consider
- Where Can You Buy a Standard, Oversized, or Custom Casket?
Like most things in life (and death), caskets aren’t one-size-fits-all. While there is a standard size, it’s not always the right fit, depending on your situation and needs.
In this guide, we’ll explain casket sizing so you can decide what casket size you need. With so many things to worry about after the death of a loved one, you don’t want to also be stressed about getting the right sizing.
How to Determine What Size Casket You’ll Need
There are a lot of different factors that go into choosing a casket. With so many types of caskets, it can be a struggle to determine what size casket you’ll need. This is especially true since most people don’t have a lot of experience choosing caskets in their day-to-day life.
There are four main casket sizes you’ll encounter at a funeral home or online retailer:
- Standard: The most common type of casket is the standard casket. This is designed to fit an adult of average height and weight.
- Oversized: As the name implies, oversized caskets are for those who are either too tall or large for a standard casket. However, sometimes there are ways to fit larger folks into a standard size casket as well so this depends on the family’s wishes.
- Child/infant: For those too small for a standard casket, like a child or infant, a specially designed child casket is used.
- Pet: Last but not least, there are specific pet caskets designed for cats, dogs, and so on. These are similar in size to child or infant caskets, but they are sometimes shaped differently to account for the different body size.
You’ll need to determine what size casket you need based on the deceased individual. That majority of adults fit a standard-sized casket. In fact, people over 6’10” can fit a traditional, standard casket. As long as the deceased is an adult who isn’t taller than 6’10” or over 350 lbs, they more often than not will fit the standard casket size.
There are occasionally a few other factors that affect the sizing of the casket. The material is something to consider since certain types of caskets aren’t designed to fit larger body types. This is most true for natural materials like hemp or cardboard which might not be able to support someone who runs a bit larger.
At the end of the day, don’t let the casket size worry you. Everyone deserves to be buried in a casket that fits them comfortably. Custom-designed caskets are very common, and there is never a problem finding something that fits every body type.
What Are the Dimensions for a Standard Casket?
As mentioned above, caskets do come in a standard size. This is designed to fit most but not all body types. The majority of adults fit the standard size, and funeral directors can usually adjust the casket to fit those who might be on the border between sizes.
The standard casket fits anyone who is up to 6’10” in height and weighs up to 350 lbs. The standard casket is 24” in width and 79” long. There are also caskets that are 28” wide to accommodate those up to 450 lbs.
Though most people fit into these sizes, there are alternatives for those who might be bigger or smaller. Luckily, it’s never been easier to find alternative casket dimensions depending on your needs.
What Are the Exterior Dimensions for a Standard Casket?
In some cases, you might also wish to know the exterior dimensions of the casket. Whether you’re transporting the casket elsewhere or you’re also purchasing a burial vault, it’s good to understand the full dimensions. Standard caskets fit most vaults, but it’s still a good idea to check the size with your cemetery of choice.
As mentioned above, the standard casket size fits most adults. The average exterior dimensions for both metal and wood caskets are a length of 84 inches and a width of 29 inches. These designs fit in most burial vaults, and they’re the size most people are familiar with when they think of standard caskets.
Other Casket Dimensions
Caskets aren’t one-size-fits-all. While they are built to accommodate the standard size of a grown adult, there are other sizes to consider as well. If you suspect you’ll need one of these sizes below, talk to your funeral director. They’re the best resource for determining which casket fits your needs.
Oversized casket
An oversized casket is designed to fit anyone who might be too large or tall for a standard casket. These are available from the same providers as standard-sized caskets, so they’re not an uncommon thing to find.
Anything over the standard size is considered to be oversized. These are usually as long as 90” (2.29 meters) and 36” (1 meter) wide. They can be up to 30” tall.
Additionally, anyone who weighs over the standard casket weight limit will need an oversized casket to accommodate. This is typically anyone over 450 lbs. In this day and age, it’s no longer difficult to find a casket for a larger individual. Funeral directors and casket manufacturers alike are skilled at helping families navigate this process no matter the size of their loved one.
Oversized caskets aren’t just for those who don’t fit the traditional size. Believe it or not, these are often priced lower than traditional caskets since they’re sold less frequently. Many funeral directors will fill them with additional cushions to fit someone of a smaller size as a way to cut down on funeral costs.
Children or infant caskets
Children or infant caskets come in a variety of sizes to accommodate children of different ages. The smallest type of casket is usually called a “mini” casket, and it’s designed for infants and newborns. From there, you’ll find small, medium, and large caskets to accommodate different-sized children.
Any casket that’s smaller than the standard casket is intended for children. Larger children or teens most likely will use an adult, standard casket without issue. It’s entirely up to the family to decide what size makes the most sense for their child.
Pet casket
Since our furry friends are often considered members of the family, it’s no surprise there are also caskets designed just for them. A pet casket is often similar in size to a child casket.
Again, there are different sizes to fit your pet. These are typically sized at 24” (.6 meters) long by 8” (.2 meters) wide, but there’s variation depending on your needs.
Other Casket Factors to Consider
One of the most important decisions when choosing a casket is the size. For most shoppers, the standard casket is the perfect fit. However, this isn’t the only thing to ask yourself. There are other factors to consider when casket shopping like these below:
- Budget: Like most things in life, your budget matters. How much are you able to afford to spend on this casket? The size could play a role in this.
- Material: Caskets come in many different materials like wood, metal, and even natural materials like fabric and hemp. This affects both the size and the price.
- Color: From casket spray ideas to wood stains, there are many different colors to choose from when it comes to designing the right casket to represent your loved one’s memory.
- Alternative providers: While many find their casket from their funeral home, this isn’t your only option. Check other providers like online, in-person providers, or even local makers. (We like this oversized casket, which you can order on Amazon.)
A casket is a highly personal choice. You want to be sure you’re choosing the right final resting place for your loved one. While it might seem like all the weight falls on the casket size, this is simply one part of the bigger picture.
Alternatives to Oversized Caskets
Today, you have more options for your final disposition than ever before. If an oversized casket is too pricy or not quite your style, you can take another route, like one of these alternatives:
- Burial shroud. Some "green" cemeteries will let you be buried in a simple shroud, as opposed to a coffin or casket. You can find burial shrouds, like this one, online or make one yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that a shroud might not be suitable for a funeral or viewing.
- Ash scattering. If you're not attached to the idea of burial, you could have your ashes scattered, instead. This eliminates the cost of a casket entirely, and it can be a much simpler process.
- Ash burial. Instead of scattering the ashes, you could ask your family and friends to bury your ashes in an urn. You can even find urns that plant flowers, plants, or trees, like this Living Urn.
- Casket rental. If you choose a burial shroud or cremation instead of a casket burial, you can still have an open-casket or closed-casket funeral. To do so, you'll just need to rent a casket for the day. Many funeral homes offer this option.
- Cremation diamonds. Cremation also opens up a wide world of memorial art and truly unique methods of final disposition. One example is transforming a portion of your ashes into a real, sparkling diamond with a service like Eterneva.
- Cremation stones. A similar option lets you transform your ashes into natural-looking stones with a service like Parting Stone. The difference is that cremation stones cost less than diamonds, and you can solidify all of a person's ashes rather than just a small portion.
Where Can You Buy a Standard, Oversized, or Custom Casket?
If you're shopping for a casket, you might be wondering where to begin your search. Several online retailers specialize in all different types of caskets. While you can purchase a casket through your funeral home, you often have more flexibility in size and cost if you purchase a casket online at one of these locations below.
Sky Caskets
Sky Caskets is one of the most well-known providers of caskets in the world. After the owner experienced just how costly caskets can be in addition to other funeral costs, he sought to create something more affordable. Sky Casket carries metal caskets, wood caskets, oversized caskets, and custom caskets.
Trusted Caskets
Another well-known provider is Trusted Caskets. Offering up to 80% off costs compared to average funeral home prices, this is a low-cost way to find caskets of all shapes and sizes. They have traditional caskets as well as oversized caskets, though they don’t create custom caskets. With free 1 or 2 day delivery, this is a low-cost choice.
Titan Caskets
Next, one of the biggest providers of high-quality yet affordable caskets is Titan Caskets. Founded simply to offer high-end caskets at affordable prices, Titan Caskets is one of the best in the industry. You can shop any of their pre-designed caskets or custom-build your own entirely to your specifications.
Costco
Many are surprised to learn you can find a variety of caskets at Costco. This well-known retailer has a large range of funeral products, including caskets and urns. While they mostly carry standard caskets, they occasionally have oversized caskets in stock as well for a low cost.
Overnight Caskets
As the name implies, Overnight Caskets are a quick way to get an inexpensive casket. With overnight shipping nationwide to all 50 states, this is a fast solution for those in a short time crunch. From standard to oversized caskets, Overnight Caskets has a wide selection available in their online marketplace.
Best Price Caskets
Best Price Caskets is a funeral home provider that sells to funeral homes and everyday consumers. With next-day delivery anywhere in the USA and round-the-clock service, there’s a reason Best Price Caskets is one of the oldest casket providers in the business. With caskets available in all sizes, this is a great option.
Memorials.com
Memorials.com is another well-known casket retailer. With a lowest price guarantee, you can feel confident you’re getting the best deal around when you choose your casket. They have traditional wood, steel, and metal caskets, as well as oversized caskets. They also carry specialized caskets for cremations, military funerals, and more.
Amazon
Last but not least, you can even find caskets on Amazon. This e-commerce giant does have it all, and many feel confident purchasing from a website with which they’re already familiar. You can read through reviews, seller ratings, and more before making a purchase, so there is a lot of trust in choosing Amazon. However, they don’t offer the largest selection compared to other providers on this list.
Understanding Casket Sizes and Beyond
Now that you’re familiar with the standard and non-standard sizes when it comes to caskets, you’re prepared to make an informed decision.
Casket shopping doesn’t happen every day, so it’s okay to enter the process with a bit of confusion about what to expect. As long as you’re willing to shop around and ask questions, you’re sure to find the right fit.
If you're looking for more on caskets, read our guides on buying a casket at Costco and how to find an affordable casket.