Funeral Costs

The best way to think about funeral costs is to understand how the companies that provide services divide up or categorize services. The categories below are a good way to think about these. They help you (1) understand the myriad of services (or service categories) associated with funerals and cremation, (2) common terms used, and (3) costs.

Funeral homes and cemeteries (or combined entities) calculate costs a bit differently. However, by law, they must disclose what they do and what they charge. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

Why Understanding Funeral Costs Is Important

Under the best circumstances planning a funeral is stressful. After all, we’re planning for our death or the death of a loved one. In our best state of mind, we get emotional and stressed.

Planning for someone we love after they’ve passed is exponentially worse. We’re likely distraught and stressed. Under stress, you tend to have lower comprehension and retention abilities. If you haven’t previously priced out funeral services, the terms and activities may be foreign. All these issues can lead to confusion and misunderstandings.

This is why planning a funeral is always better to do before you need to have the funeral.

Funerals cost money. The average cost in the United State is $7,848. However, costs vary dramatically. The category with the biggest variation is how the body is placed to rest. Cemetery plots can cost tens of thousands of dollars in some urban areas. Likewise, headstones and crypts can also cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Funeral Cost Details by Category

Funeral Home Facility & Staff Costs

These are costs the funeral home charges. They fall into management costs, transportation costs, use of facility costs, and staff costs.

Basic Service Costs

A “basic service fee” covers what the funeral director does in terms of meeting with you, organizing your purchased services, and overseeing the services you select. This is a kind of administration fee.

Low – $1,500 High $3,000

Car For Transporting Flowers & Misclellaneous Items

As part of a funeral, people send flowers. Also, some funerals involve items of the deceased. These items usually need to be moved from delivery to storage, and storage to the room where service will be held. Costs for driving or transporting these things around fall into this category.

Low – $100 High $200

Use of Staff and Facility For Viewing

Staff supporting a viewing. Use of facility for viewing.

Low – $300 High – $500

Use of Staff and Facility For Funeral

Staff supporting a funeral. Use of facility for funeral.

Low – $400 High – $1,000

Opening & Closing Fee

These are the fees associated with digging the gravesite and then closing the gravesite.

Low – $300 High – $2,000

Graveside Service

Some cemeteries and funeral homes will charge additional fees for a graveside service. This is in addition to the opening and closing fee. Sometimes they are combined. If you see this cost as a separate line item, make sure you ask for an explanation of this cost relative to any opening and closing fees.

Low – $250 High – $2,500

Preparation & Transportation of the Body

These costs are related to funeral home costs related to preparing, storing, and transporting the body.

Preparation of the Body

The body is always prepared. At a minimum, this includes cleaning. However, it also may consist of wrapping the body in robes and performing essential religious rites. This category also includes things like makeup and dressing. This is not embalming

Low – $200 High – $500

Embalming

Embalming is the technical process of using chemicals to preserve the body and keep it from decomposing.

Low – $600 High – $1,200

Storage – Refrigeration Fees – Per Day

The per-day costs the funeral home or cemetery charges to hold the body before the burial or cremation. Sometimes these fees are part of other categories.

Low – $25 High – $100

Transportation of the Body

Upon death, the body needs to be transported to the funeral home (or crematorium). This fee covers the cost of moving the body from the hospital, hospice, coroner, or nursing home

Low – $250 High – $500

Hearse – Funeral Coach

Cost of use of hearse (car, driver, etc.). These costs are associated with using the hearse to transport the body in a funeral procession (usually, this involves transportation between where the body is stored or being viewed and the cemetery). Some funerals involve hearse transportation between a funeral home (wake viewing), church (religious service), and cemetery (burial). Others combine these in one basic geographic location, and the hearse is only used for a short distance – transporting the body up the street to where the burial occurs.

Low – $150 High – $500

Placing The Body To Rest

These are the costs associated with how and where the body ultimately resides.

Casket – Cardboard or Fiberboard

Very inexpensive casket. It is sometimes marketed as a green alternative.

Low – $150 High – $500

Casket – Wood or Metal

The traditional choice for enclosing the body. One of the more expensive elements of the overall burial costs. There are many varieties of varying costs.

Low – $1,000 High – $25,000

Burial Vault

This is for the vault or container that holds the casket. These vaults are usually made of concrete. They are lined and sealed and designed to protect the body against the elements such as water and pressure from soil compression.

Low – $7– High – $10.000

Headstone

The marker for the gravesite.

Low – $1,000 High – $25,000

Grave – Plot – Cemetery Plot

This is for the plot, often called a cemetery plot, where the body is laid to rest. Plot costs vary widely based on geography. In large urban areas (cities) costs can exceed $50,000 (often requiring the purchase of a specific space that can accommodate a family). Rural areas or areas outside of the city are priced at the lower end of the range.

Low – $1,000 High – $100,000

Crypt – Mausoleum

Crypts and mausoleums refer to areas in a Church or cemetery where bodies can be placed. These tombs are usually visible and are contained above ground, within a structure. The most common mausoleum burial option is typically a stone structure in a cemetery that houses the entombed above ground. Crypts are usually burial locations under or in a Church.

Low – $2,500 High – $250,000

Telling The Deceased’s Story

Once upon a time, local newspapers covered the deceased’s passing. Today, unless you’re famous, it’s up to you. There are online options and print options for general announcements. There are also options offered by the funeral home.

Print package – Memorial – Funeral Print Package

These are printed materials (sometimes online materials) like funeral programs, memorial cards, memorial bookmarks, thank you cards, directory, and memorial posters.

Low – $100 High – $1,000

Obituary – Online

An online obituary. Some services are now free; others charge nominal fees.

Low – $0 High – $250

Obituary – Print

A paid obituary for print publication.

Low – $50 High – $1,000

Clergy – Celebrant

The person that conducts the funeral service.

Low – $100 High – $1,500

Musician – DJ

Some funeral services or wakes utilize paid musicians or a DJ to play music.

Low – $150 High – $1,500

Cremation Related Costs

These costs are related to the cremation process.

Cremation

Costs for cremation.

Low – $600 High – $2,000

Preparation of Body

Even before cremation, some families choose to prepare the body. There are religious Rites. There are clothing and robing for secular visitation.

Low – $200 High – $1,200

Urns – Boxes

There are numerous urn and box options, from simple to elaborate.

Low – $100 High – $1,500

Jewelry – Lockets

Sometimes family members choose to create a keepsake of the deceased’s hair or ashes. They place these remains in jewelry, lockets, or other containers.

Low – $100 High – $1,500

Solidified Remains

Ashes converted to stonelike substances.

Low – $500 High – $2,500

Additional Resources

Funeral Costs – see the Federal Trade Commission Site here

Funeral Planning Resources – See the National Funeral Directors Association site here