FIND OUT HOW MUCH A FUNERAL COSTS
What is included in Average Funeral Costs?
Estimating the cost of a funeral can be difficult. The average funeral cost continues to rise, and there are numerous factors to consider, including services, casket, vault, embalming, gravesite, and others. To make matters worse, funeral homes and cemeteries expect full payment at the time of the funeral. It is no surprise that planning a funeral can be stressful.
How much does a funeral cost?
Depending on where you stay and the details you want to be included in the funeral ceremony, funeral costs vary greatly. According to our research and industry studies, the following are the average funeral costs:
- Cremation with a traditional funeral service (casket present and visitation) costs $7,000-$9,500.
- Cremation with a memorial service (after cremation, without a casket, and a visitation) costs $4,000-$6,000.
- There is no funeral or memorial service (cremation) fee of $750-$4,500.
- Burial with a standard funeral service (visitation and presence of the casket) costs between $12,500 and $17,500.
- Burial with a funeral service with no casket or visitation costs between $11,500 and $15,500.
Average Funeral Cost Breakdown
According to the National Funeral Directors Association's recent Funeral Price Survey, the estimated cost of a funeral in 2019 was $9,135. This includes only the most common items chosen for a typical funeral, such as a casket and vault. It excludes the cost of the burial site. When average funeral costs are considered, $11,000 or more is likely to be closer to a typical funeral because a burial plot in a private cemetery will cost at least $2,000.
Funeral Costs: The big-ticket items.
It is good to understand precisely what is included in the cost of a funeral because the big-ticket items are what drive the cost. A high-quality casket, for example, can cost as little as $2,000 or as much as $10,000. Your specific choices can cause the funeral cost to skyrocket or plummet. Here are some things to remember:
- Funeral costs of cremation versus burial: Cremation is becoming more popular because it costs less than burial
- The cost of a funeral is determined by the quality of the casket, burial vault, and other chosen items.
- Under $1,000, a direct burial (no service) or cremation can be arranged (does not include cemetery costs). We advise that you consider holding a memorial service, even if it is informal, to commemorate the death of your loved one.
- Preplanning is the most effective way to manage funeral costs.
- Plot/Niche ($1,000-$4,500): Prices vary depending on the cemetery and the location of the space within the cemetery. Consider your options carefully.
- Vaults for burial ($500-$5,000): Vaults do not prevent decay. A simple concrete vault or grave liner is sufficient and certainly less expensive.
- Grave Marker/Headstone (from $1,000 to $3,000): A simple stone can be purchased for less than $1,000. You can purchase a monument from the cemetery or a monument dealer.
- The casket ($2,000 and above): You can purchase it online from your funeral home. Hire a casket for a traditional funeral followed by cremation.
- Viewings ($500-$1,000): Each viewing session adds to the overall cost. The most cost-effective option is to hold one view on the same day as the funeral.
- The Ceremony ($1,000-$5,000): The cost of a funeral or memorial service will be increased by each element. Determine your top priorities.
