How Much Does a Funeral Cost? Every Question & Expense Answered
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Funerals are a meaningful way to commemorate someone’s life, but they can also be costly for those planning them. You might be wondering “How much does a funeral cost?” Unfortunately, the cost of funerals has increased every year, and spending more than $10,000 is common. Having a solid plan in place before you pass is the best approach to safeguard your family from financial hardship after your death.
Final Expense Benefits is devoted to making funerals more affordable with final expense insurance. We’ve got talented agents on the phone waiting every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call us at (866) 786-0725 to get started on your burial insurance journey. We’ve even got a free quoting tool available to everyone. It will accurately estimate how much your monthly premium will be for final expense insurance.
How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median funeral cost in the United States is $9,995. However, that price does not include cemetery fees, monument or grave marker costs, or additional funeral charges such as flowers. That means, your funeral can easily cost more than $10,000 depending on the kind of service and amenities you want.
Funeral Cost Breakdown
Here’s how every funeral expense breaks down:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
|
Basic Service Fee
|
$2,495
|
|
Transfer of Remains to Funeral Home
|
$395
|
|
Embalming
|
$845
|
|
Other Preparation of the Body
|
$295
|
|
Facilities and Staff for Viewing and Ceremony
|
$1,025
|
|
Hearse
|
$375
|
|
Service Car
|
$175
|
|
Basic Memorial Package
|
$195
|
|
Burial Casket
|
$2,500
|
|
Vault
|
$1,695
|
|
Total |
$9,995 |
Note: Funeral prices will highly depend on your location and how elaborate you’d like your funeral service to be.
How Much Does a Cremation Cost?
The median cost of a cremation, according to the NFDA, is $6,280 — $3,715 less than the median cost of a funeral. With cremation, you won’t need to worry about a burial vault or a casket, the two most expensive expenses of a traditional burial. Instead, you’ll have to purchase an urn and the cremation fee.
Here’s how funerals and cremations breakdown:
Funeral cost vs cremation cost
Note: Funeral and cremation costs will depend on your state.
How Much Does a Funeral Cost In My State?
The World Population Review has averaged funeral costs and end-of-life expenses by state because each state’s funeral expenses differ. They state that Hawaii has the most expensive funeral and end-of-life expenses while Mississippi has the least.
Here’s how much each state’s funeral costs and how much final expense insurance coverage you might need:
|
States (A-M)
|
Funeral Cost Average
|
End of Life Cost Average
|
Total Cost
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama
|
$6,924
|
$12,376
|
$19,197
|
|
Alaska
|
$9,913
|
$17,720
|
$27,633
|
|
Arizona
|
$7,845
|
$14,023
|
$21,869
|
|
Arkansas
|
$6,800
|
$12,154
|
$18,954
|
|
California
|
$10,727
|
$19,173
|
$29,900
|
|
Colorado
|
$8,357
|
$14,536
|
$22,668
|
|
Connecticut
|
$9,689
|
$17,318
|
$27,007
|
|
Delaware
|
$8,357
|
$14,937
|
$23,294
|
|
Florida
|
$7,667
|
$13,705
|
$21,372
|
|
Georgia
|
$6,924
|
$12,376
|
$19,300
|
|
Hawaii
|
$15,203
|
$27,175
|
$42,378
|
|
Idaho
|
$7,288
|
$13,027
|
$20,314
|
|
Illinois
|
$7,419
|
$13,262
|
$20,681
|
|
Indiana
|
$7,001
|
$12,514
|
$19,516
|
|
Iowa
|
$7,133
|
$12,750
|
$19,883
|
|
Kansas
|
$6,808
|
$12,168
|
$18,976
|
|
Kentucky
|
$7,265
|
$12,985
|
$20,250
|
|
Louisiana
|
$7,234
|
$12,930
|
$20,163
|
|
Maine
|
$8,999
|
$16,086
|
$25,085
|
|
Maryland
|
$9,921
|
$17,733
|
$27,654
|
|
Massachusetts
|
$10,270
|
$18,356
|
$28,626
|
|
Michigan
|
$7,040
|
$12,584
|
$19,624
|
|
Minnesota
|
$7,838
|
$14,010
|
$21,847
|
|
Mississippi
|
$6,568
|
$11,739
|
$18,307
|
|
Missouri
|
$6,885
|
$12,307
|
$19,192
|
|
States (M-W)
|
Funeral Cost Average
|
End of Life Cost Average
|
Total Cost
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Montana
|
$7,652
|
$13,677
|
$21,329
|
|
Nebraska
|
$7,172
|
$12,819
|
$19,991
|
|
Nevada
|
$8,434
|
$15,075
|
$23,509
|
|
New Hampshire
|
$8,380
|
$14,979
|
$23,358
|
|
New Jersey
|
$9,154
|
$16,363
|
$25,517
|
|
New Mexico
|
$6,939
|
$12,404
|
$19,343
|
|
New York
|
$10,355
|
$18,509
|
$28,863
|
|
North Carolina
|
$7,404
|
$13,234
|
$20,638
|
|
North Dakota
|
$7,512
|
$13,426
|
$20,941
|
|
Ohio
|
$7,195
|
$12,861
|
$20,055
|
|
Oklahoma
|
$6,722
|
$12,016
|
$18,739
|
|
Oregon
|
$10,424
|
$18,633
|
$29,058
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
$7,892
|
$14,106
|
$21,998
|
|
Rhode Island
|
$9,247
|
$16,529
|
$25,776
|
|
South Carolina
|
$7,748
|
$13,428
|
$20,941
|
|
South Dakota
|
$7,512
|
$13,262
|
$20,681
|
|
Tennessee
|
$6,986
|
$12,487
|
$19,068
|
|
Texas
|
$7,148
|
$12,777
|
$19,926
|
|
Utah
|
$7,536
|
$13,470
|
$21,005
|
|
Vermont
|
$8,984
|
$16,058
|
$25,042
|
|
Virginia
|
$7,869
|
$14,065
|
$21,934
|
|
Washington
|
$8,620
|
$15,408
|
$24,028
|
|
West Virginia
|
$7,133
|
$12,750
|
$19,883
|
|
Wisconsin
|
$7,458
|
$13,331
|
$20,789
|
|
Wyoming
|
$7,389
|
$13,207
|
$20,595
|
What is the Cheapest Funeral Type?
While a traditional burial and funeral can cost up to $10,000, there are alternative funerals that can lower the initial cost of your funeral. Some options are even free! No matter what kind of funeral you choose, final expense insurance can help ease the burden or fully pay for your funeral. Call one of our agents at (866) 786-0725 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a weekday to receive a quote.
Here are the different burial and cremation methods that could save you money on your funeral:
Green Burials
Green burials are a sustainable option that can help lower your carbon footprint after death and ease the financial burden on your family. From tree pod burials to water cremation, there are plenty of green burial options that you can explore.
Depending on the green burial type, it can cost you $6,317 less than a traditional burial.
Direct Burial
A direct burial eliminates the additional expenses and services associated with a traditional burial such as embalming, preparation of remains, service facilities and staff, and coffins. According to Funeralocity, a direct funeral can cost an average of $5,133 — $4,862 less than the median amount of a traditional burial.
However, choosing a direct burial service means you will not have a service, and not all funeral homes will allow a direct burial.
Direct Cremation
Similar to direct burial, direct cremation is the cheapest option compared to traditional cremation methods as it only incurs the minimum price of cremation services. On average, a direct cremation will cost around $3,585. This is a great option for those who wish to spread the ashes at a personal location relevant to the deceased.
Donate Your Body to Science
Donating your body to either a medical institution or university is free. You just need to find an institution that will accept your body and figure out how to transport your body to the university or institution. In most cases, the institution will reimburse you for any charges incurred.
Once they are finished performing tests or dissecting your body, they will cremate your remains and send them back to your family. Unfortunately, the biggest downside is that your family won’t know when they will receive your cremated remains since it can take months to years for institutions and universities to hold them.
Additional Funeral & End of Life Expenses
If you have been thinking about your funeral, you might already know what kind of flower or tombstone you want for your final resting place. Of course, these are all optional charges you don’t need, but if you want them, it will cost you an additional charge. Here’s what you might be charged:
- Cemetery Plots: $1,000 – $4,500
- Grave Markers/headstones: $1,000 – $3,000
- Flowers: $300 – $500 depending on the arrangement
- Mausoleum: $4,000 – $8,000
- Grave Liner: $500 – $1,400
- Interment Fee: $300 – $1,500
- Perpetual Care: Around 5-15% of the cemetery plot price
- Pallbearers: $70 – $110
- Obituary Notices: $200 – $500
- Organists/Soloists: $125 – $200
End-of-life expenses include funeral expenses and any other debts you might have incurred before you pass. That includes any hospital bills or hospice care you developed at the end of your life.
How to Pay Funeral Costs With Final Expense Insurance
Final expense insurance is a life insurance policy specifically made to help with funeral costs and outstanding debts. When you pass away, leaving behind a financial burden is the last thing you want to leave your family. That’s why getting final expense insurance is always a great idea. That way, you can rest assured that your family can focus on the grieving process and not on the financial complications that come with funeral arrangements.
If you’re looking to ease that financial burden for your family, contact us at (866) 786-0725 and one of our talented agents will help you discover a policy that works for you, your family, and your budget. You can also use our free quoting tool to find your available options.
Conclusion
How much does a funeral cost? Funeral costs can differ depending on where you live and the desired amenities. However, you can expect your funeral to cost at least $10,000, and the price will only increase every year. Final expense insurance is specifically designed to help pay for these increased costs and other debts you might have.
Call us at (866) 786-0725 every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to discover the best prices on final expense insurance with the best coverage. We even have a quoting tool that can help kickstart your policy research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Pays for Funerals?
Some funerals are paid out of the deceased person’s estate. In other cases, those expenses are left for loved ones. This can be mitigated with a burial life insurance policy to cover the cost of funeral expenses.