How Much Does a Funeral Cost? A Breakdown of Expenses

Summary: Planning a funeral can involve multiple expenses that may quickly add up, including services, burial or cremation and related fees. This guide will help you understand the typical costs that can be involved and give you tips to help you plan.

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Planning a funeral during an already difficult time can be overwhelming, especially when faced with unexpected costs. Funeral expenses may reach thousands of dollars, and that's often before factoring in additional services like cemetery plots, headstones, flowers or obituaries.

Understanding these costs ahead of time can help you make informed decisions and avoid financial stress. This guide will provide a breakdown of the typical expenses you can expect when planning funeral services and give you a clearer picture of what to budget for during this challenging time.

Average funeral costs in the U.S.

The average funeral cost has been increasing since the 1960s. Today, you can expect median costs of $9,995 for burial services and around $6,300 for cremating your loved ones.¹ These prices include only the basic costs and do not factor in additional services like an obituary, reception, decorations or other services and touches you may want for yourself or your loved one. Costs of funeral services may also vary by state, depending on where the funeral is held.

Funeral cost breakdown

Typically, a basic burial service may cost more than a cremation. Prices for other services involved in a funeral may vary with every funeral home and the services they offer.

Consulting with a funeral provider of your choice may help you better understand their pricing structure. Some costs that you might encounter when shopping for funeral services include:

Factors that may affect funeral costs

Several factors may affect the cost of a funeral, starting with choosing between burial and cremation. Even in that decision, there are quite a few things to consider apart from the average cost of a funeral.

Median national cost of an adult funeral with viewing and burial

You might be wondering why funerals cost so much, and what goes into making the final bill. Let's take a better look at those expenses with a breakdown of the funeral costs of a viewing with burial, as provided by the National Funeral Directors Association.¹

Median national cost of adult funeral viewing and cremation

If you're considering a cremation and want to understand the various expenses you might encounter, here's a breakdown of cremation costs with a viewing as provided by the National Funeral Directors Association.

Cremation vs. burial: Cost comparison

The costs of burial or cremation can vary drastically. Traditionally, a cremation costs less than a burial since there are fewer factors to consider. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the expenses that might be involved.

Cremation without services

Also known as direct cremation, cremation without services involves cremating the remains of your loved one immediately after they pass away. There's no viewing or memorial service involved. The cost of cremation without services on average is $2,185.²

Additional costs like a cremation permit fees, death certificate or an urn might add to the overall cost, and your costs may also vary depending on your location. Generally, urban areas with a competitive landscape of service providers might cost more than those in rural areas with fewer options.

What's not typically included in funeral pricing

There are quite a few things to consider when shopping for funeral services, what is included and what is not included in the cost. Some services that might not be included in a basic funeral package include:

• Death certificate
• Obituary
• Cemetery costs, including the plot, opening and closing the grave
• Transport for family and friends
• Decorations like flowers
• Embalming (unless specified in your plan)
• Headstone
• Vaults
• Clothing for your deceased loved one

Review the details provided by the funeral home and ask questions to help you or your loved ones avoid surprises later.

Funeral planning: Tips to save on expenses

Making funeral arrangements could become a costly affair. With some strategic planning and smart choices, you could save some money on the final bill.

1Cremating instead of burying.

A cremation costs less than a burial. A direct cremation may cost even less. This eliminates the need for additional expenses like buying a burial plot, a vault, or even a casket (if there isn't a viewing).

2Host the memorial at home or at your community church or hall.

These options usually cost less than renting out commercial spaces.

3Consider pre-paying for the funeral services to lock in rates.

This could save you from paying a higher price closer to the date of burial.

4Green burials.

You could consider this newer option where the body is 'returned to the earth' or buried in a more natural way. This eliminates the need for services like embalming or burial vaults to promote biodegradation and natural decomposition. The caskets used are usually cheaper as they use untreated wood or wicker.

5Choose a simple and effective casket or urn.

Purchase on your own rather than one provided by your funeral home at a premium price. You could find better deals and options.

6Donate the remains for medical research.

It might help save on most of the funeral costs.

7Shop around for the best deal ahead of time.

Prices vary with most service providers, so take your time to find the right fit.

Sources

1. NFDA, "2023 NFDA General Price List Study Shows Inflation Increasing Faster than the Cost of a Funeral," December 2023.

2. US Cremation Institute, "Cremation Costs Breakdown 2025: How You Can Save $5,422," January 2025.