hestiaSize, height and weight
Funerals for every body
Larger and taller people are cared for by funeral homes every day. A few things work differently: the casket, the grave, the crematory and sometimes the cost. Knowing them early means no surprises on a day that is hard enough.
Say it on the first call
Tell the funeral home roughly how tall your person was and about what they weighed. It is not an awkward detail to them. It decides which stretcher they bring, how many people come, and which casket and crematory will work. You might say: “She was about five foot six and around 380 pounds. What do you need from us, and what will be different in cost?”
Caskets
- A standard casket is about 84 inches long and 28 inches wide outside, with roughly 24 to 27 inches of room inside.
- Oversize widths run from about 28 to 44 inches. Some 28-inch-interior models still fit a standard burial vault.
- Larger caskets can cost up to about 30% more and come in fewer styles. You may buy one elsewhere; the funeral home must accept it without a fee.
- Longer caskets are usually needed only above about 7 feet. Give the exact height and ask for the inside length.
The cemetery
- Caskets up to about 29 inches wide often fit a normal grave.
- Wider caskets may need an oversize vault or liner, and some cemeteries require a second space.
- Ask about the widest casket a single space takes, any oversize vault or opening fee, and crypt sizes if you are considering a mausoleum.
- Ask the funeral home for extra bearers, a wheeled casket carriage and a lowering device, so nobody has to strain.
Cremation
- Many crematories add a charge above about 300 pounds. One published price list we found adds $250 for 275 to 450 pounds and $400 above that.
- A standard chamber opening is about 33 inches wide. Larger machines, with openings of about 43 and 52 inches, care for people up to around 1,000 pounds.
- Not every crematory has one. Transport to one that does is often charged by the mile, and it can add a few days.
- Water cremation is legal in Tennessee. Typical equipment takes up to about 500 pounds.
Body donation
Many donation programs have height and weight limits and check again at the time of death, so registration is not a guarantee. If donation matters, keep a second plan ready.
Questions to ask
- What is the most weight and width your crematory accepts? Where would my person actually be cremated?
- Is there any extra charge for size, for the removal, the casket, the crematory or the grave? Can I have it in writing?
- Which caskets do you have in our size, and what is the inside width and length?
- Does the cemetery need an oversize vault or a second space?
- Will this change the timing?
Planning ahead for yourself
If you are planning for your own funeral, writing down your height, weight and wishes now, and asking a funeral home what they would do, is a kindness to your family. The NAAFA guide Caring for your remains covers this in detail, written by and for fat people. You can write down your wishes with Hestia for free.
Measurements and prices vary by maker and provider. This page is general information, not a quote. Confirm details with each funeral home, crematory and cemetery.