Embalming Tables: Types, Features & How to Choose

The embalming table is where your prep room earns its reputation. Compare hydraulic, folding, and bariatric tables, stainless grade, drainage, and the accessories that complete a prep room.
2 min read
Embalming tables buyer's guide — oversized hydraulic bariatric stainless prep table from American Mortuary Coolers

The embalming table is where the most important work in your prep room happens, hour after hour. The right one protects your team’s backs, sanitizes quickly between cases, and handles every body that comes through the door. Here’s how to choose — plus the accessories that make a prep room complete.

Embalming table — oversized hydraulic bariatric 850 lb stainless cadaver prep table from American Mortuary Coolers

Types of Embalming Tables

Type Description Best For
Hydraulic Height-adjustable fixed table Daily prep & ergonomics
Folding / Portable Multi-height folding legs Space-saving second station or budget
Oversized / Bariatric Extra-wide, high-capacity build Oversized & bariatric cases

Stainless Grade & Build

SS-304 stainless is the standard for a reason — it resists the chemicals and disinfectants used in prep, won’t pit, and cleans to a clinical standard. Look for fully welded seams, smooth radiused corners with no fluid traps, and a rigid top that won’t flex under a heavy case.

Drainage & Fixtures

Good drainage is what separates a professional table from a liability. A properly sloped top, a flush drain, and integrated or adjacent fixtures keep the case clean and the cleanup fast. Pair the table with a dedicated stainless sink station for a complete wet workflow.

Folding embalming table — economy multi-height portable prep table from American Mortuary Coolers

Sizing for Bariatric & Oversized Cases

If oversized cases are part of your caseload, a standard table forces improvising at the worst possible moment. An oversized/bariatric table — wide top, reinforced frame, ratings up to ~850 lb — lets you work every case with the same dignity and safety. Match it with bariatric coolers and a 1,000 lb body lift.

Prep-Room Accessories That Matter

The table is the anchor, but the details finish the room: stainless sink stations, body bridges, side wedge positioners, and soft-prep headrests all speed the work and improve results. Browse the full range alongside autopsy & pathology equipment.

Quick rule: choose hydraulic for your main daily station, add a folding table as a flexible second surface, and spec oversized/bariatric if heavy cases are routine. See how it fits the whole facility in our Features & Benefits by Category guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material for an embalming table?

SS-304 stainless steel. It resists prep chemicals and disinfectants, won’t corrode or pit, and sanitizes to a clinical standard between cases.

Do I need a hydraulic embalming table?

For a primary daily station, yes — height adjustment protects your team from repetitive strain. A folding multi-height table is a good budget or secondary option.

Ready to outfit your prep room? Shop all embalming & prep tables or call 1-888-792-9315.

American Mortuary Coolers — USA-made, factory-direct. 140 Kwickway Lane, Johnson City, TN 37615 • 1-888-792-9315 • po@mymortuarycooler.com