Free funeral planning tool

Free Pallbearer Position & Pairing Planner

A pallbearer position planner assigns each carrier to a casket handle, front left through rear right, by pairing similar heights and placing people with lifting or mobility notes where they have support. Add honorary pallbearers and ceremony steps, then share a lineup to review with the funeral director.

6 or 8 carrying positionsheight-matched pairshonorary rolesprivate in-browser planning

Step 1

Ceremony and coordinator

Step 2

Carrying setup

Number of carrying positions
Height order from front to rear

Use the order your funeral director prefers for the route, especially if there are stairs or a slope.

Step 3

Active pallbearers

0 named, 0 able to carry, 6 needed. Extra people become named alternates.

  1. Active pallbearer 1

  2. Active pallbearer 2

  3. Active pallbearer 3

  4. Active pallbearer 4

  5. Active pallbearer 5

  6. Active pallbearer 6

Step 4

Honorary pallbearers

Honorary pallbearers are named in the ceremony lineup but never assigned to a carrying position.

Step 5

Ceremony order and instructions

Ceremony lineup

Your pallbearer lineup

Enter at least six active pallbearers, or load the example, then select Generate lineup. Positions, reasons, and share-ready text will appear here.

How pallbearer positions are usually arranged

A standard casket has three handles on each side, so six pallbearers carry in front, middle, and rear pairs. Some caskets and venues use eight. People standing across from each other should be close in height so the casket stays level from side to side, and heights should change gradually from one end to the other.

The front pair sets the pace through doorways and turns, and the rear pair steadies the trailing end. A middle row has support in front and behind, which is why this planner places people with a lifting or mobility note there first. Many funeral homes also use a wheeled church truck for most of the distance, so the lift may be shorter than families expect.

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Pallbearer positions FAQ

Where should each pallbearer stand?

Most caskets have three handles per side, so six pallbearers stand in front, middle, and rear pairs. Pair people of similar height across each row, and let the funeral director confirm which end leads.

Should the tallest pallbearers go in front or back?

Families and funeral homes differ. Keeping heights gradual from front to rear helps the casket stay level, and staff may reverse the order for stairs or a slope. The planner lets you choose either direction.

Where should someone with a bad back or knee stand?

The planner places people with lifting or mobility notes in a middle row, where a pair walks ahead and behind them. If someone should not lift at all, list them as an honorary pallbearer and ask the funeral director about extra help.

What does an honorary pallbearer do?

Honorary pallbearers are recognized in the service without carrying the casket. They often walk ahead of or behind the casket, sit together in reserved seats, or form an honor line.

Is the information I enter private?

Yes. Names, heights, and notes stay in your browser. The planner does not send them to Family Roots or save them on a server.

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