Cremation is steadily becoming the most popular way to be laid to rest in America, but prices are rising. If you want to help your family cover your burial or cremation costs ahead of time, consider final expense insurance.
Though there are a few ways to cover cremation costs, final expense insurance is the most reliable and cost-effective way to ensure you provide peace of mind for your loved ones. Final Expense Benefits is a top-rated life insurance brokerage and can help you find a great final expense policy from over 20 of the best insurers in the United States. Our agents will gladly help you find final expense insurance that fits your needs and budget.
To learn more about your final expense insurance options, call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or check our free online quoting tool for a personalized pricing estimate.
How Much Does Cremation Cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of a cremation with a funeral and viewing is $6,280. However, this data is taken from their most recent funeral cost study in 2023. If cremation costs continue to rise at the 8.1% rate between the NFDA’s 2021 and 2023 studies, average cremation costs in 2025 may be closer to $6,800.
Cremation is becoming more popular among Americans; according to the NFDA, over 60% of Americans choose cremation instead of a traditional burial.
As with traditional funeral and burial costs, cremation costs often vary. Below are some of the most common reasons why:
Factors That Affect Cremation Costs
The type of cremation and its location mainly affect costs. Here’s why:
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Cremation Costs by Type
The type of cremation heavily affects cost. From barebones direct cremations to full funerals, cremations come in many forms, each with different costs. Below are the most common types of cremations and their average costs:
- Cremation with a traditional funeral
This funeral type combines the traditional memorial service with a cremation. They typically operate like a traditional funeral, with a viewing and a service at a funeral home. Costs vary based on location, service specifics, and whether you’re using a casket. Per the NFDA, the average cost of a cremation with a traditional funeral in 2025 is around $6,800. - Direct cremation
Direct cremations skip commemorative services and the costs associated with them. They’re a good way to save on big funeral home costs and for loved ones to have more control over the memorial. Funeralocity states the average cost of a direct cremation in the U.S. is $2,202. - Water cremation
Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, water cremation is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fire cremation. Remains are broken down using a water-based chemical mixture, resulting in a powder similar to cremation ashes. Water cremation has a significantly smaller environmental impact than traditional cremation; however, it isn’t available (or even legal) in every state. Average water cremation costs range from around $1,300 to $3,000. Tree pod burials and cremation burial at sea are some other eco-friendly cremation alternatives.
For a detailed funeral and cremation cost breakdown, check our free funeral cost calculator, or check our online quoting tool to see how much life insurance coverage you qualify for.
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Cremation Costs by State
Average cremation costs differ between states as costs vary based on local economic conditions and laws, supply sourcing, and more.
Below are average cremation costs by state, but remember that exact prices vary depending on your specific location:
Average Cremation Costs by State
Data sourced from Funeralocity.
Cremation Cost Breakdown
Cremations with a traditional funeral cost more than direct cremations because of funeral home costs, viewing costs, and more. Some costs are unavoidable, like the cost of the cremation itself and other service fees.
Cremations cost significantly less than traditional funerals because they normally skip casket and burial plot costs. However, cremation still requires skilled labor, especially if a memorial involves service and viewing, and this comes at high costs.
Below is a chart with the main elements of a cremation with a traditional funeral and the average cost of each. Information is sourced from the NFDA and represents average funeral costs.
If you’re looking for help planning for funeral or cremation costs, check our free funeral cost calculator.
Cremation Costs vs Burial Costs
Average cremation costs are far lower than those of traditional funerals with burials. Per the NFDA, the average cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial is about $10,000, far more than the $6,800 average cremation cost.
You may be looking for a way to help your family cover cremation or burial costs ahead of time, and we have the answers below.
How Can I Cover Cremation Costs?
Funeral and cremation costs can add up, and no one wants to leave financial stress for their loved ones. You have several options to lower the cost of your cremation, but final expense life insurance is the simplest for seniors. Here’s more information about final expense insurance and a few other ways to help cover cremation costs:
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Final Expense Insurance
Also known as burial insurance, final expense insurance is a great choice for seniors looking to cover their end-of-life expenses. Final expense insurance policies are whole life, which means that as long as monthly premiums are paid, death benefits will never decrease, rates will never increase, and the tax-free benefit payout increases in cash value over time.
Final expense policies are made with seniors in mind, offering simplified health requirements and death benefits focused on covering funeral and cremation expenses.
Seniors with at least moderate health often qualify for policies with no waiting period and are covered as soon as their applications are approved.
Seniors bound to nursing homes or with serious pre-existing health conditions like cancer, dementia, or terminal diseases may not qualify for no-wait policies, but they can get coverage under guaranteed life insurance.
Rates range from around $30 to $150 monthly, far less than the large up-front costs of cremations and funerals. Final expense insurance is an inexpensive way to offer your loved ones coverage and peace of mind.
No matter your health status, you have a good chance of finding quality final expense cremation insurance, and if you’re looking for help, contact Final Expense Benefits. As experts in the burial insurance market, our agents are ready to help you find great coverage and rates.
For help finding reliable and inexpensive final expense coverage, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725.
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Cremation Society
Cremation societies are organizations with pre-planned agreements to cover requested cremations. As a member of a cremation society, you don’t have to pre-plan your cremation or consider its costs; the society handles the whole process. Membership costs vary depending on the society, your location, and many other factors.
Some states, like New York, don’t permit cremation societies. When claiming cremation society assistance, your loved ones may not have a lot of choice in how memorials are handled. Many cremation societies have ties to funeral homes and may take over much of the planning process.
It’s typically best to cover your end-of-life expenses in a simpler manner – a final expense policy’s death benefit can be used in any way your beneficiaries want, giving them plenty of freedom and flexibility to create a fitting memorial.
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Preneed Insurance
Preneed insurance policies are prepaid funeral plans arranged by specific funeral homes or organizations. They may seem like a great way to cover funerals ahead of time, offering significant control to the policyholder and taking most of the guesswork of funeral planning out of loved ones’ hands, but they come at a high cost.
Unlike life insurance, which you pay for over time at manageable monthly rates, most preneed funeral insurance involves a significant up-front lump sum – around $10,000 to $25,000, or the full cost of your funeral.
These plans don’t differ too much from just paying for a funeral out-of-pocket. They simply don’t match the flexibility and low cost of final expense insurance.
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Social Security and Survivor Benefits
Social Security and other state survivor benefits aren’t affected by life insurance payouts, but they don’t provide enough money to cover a funeral. Social Security pays a death benefit, but it pays only $255, which is nowhere near enough. Social Security Survivors’ Benefits can pay upwards of $2,000 per month, but only in specific circumstances.
Social Security can help cover end-of-life expenses, but it can be difficult to qualify for and doesn’t match the reliability and flexibility of final expense insurance.
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Donating Your Body to Science
Another way to reduce cremation costs (or even get a no-cost cremation) is by donating your body to scientific studies, but eligibility can be tough. According to the Mayo Clinic, pre-existing conditions and donation surpluses can prevent additional donations.
Donating your body to science shouldn’t be used as a way to get cremation for free. You’d need to have several backup plans, and you’re better off preparing ahead of time with life insurance or a thorough end-of-life plan.
Reduce Cremation Costs with Final Expense Insurance
Final expense insurance is the best way for most seniors to cover cremation costs and other end-of-life expenses. Payouts can be used for whatever your beneficiaries need, adding flexibility not present in the other cremation coverage methods listed above.
Final Expense Benefits works with the U.S.’s top senior life insurance companies, including:
How Much Does Final Expense Insurance Cost?
We recommend that seniors get final expense insurance largely because of the price. Benefits are smaller than other types of life insurance, ranging from around $5,000 to $50,000, plenty to cover end-of-life expenses like cremation costs. Because benefits are smaller, rates can be kept lower, and usually range from around $30 to $150 monthly.
Below is a chart with sample rates for a benchmark $10,000 burial insurance policy from some of our top carriers.
Final expense policies are made with seniors in mind, offering simplified health requirements and death benefits focused on covering funeral and cremation expenses.
These rates are calculated using a non-smoking applicant seeking no-wait final expense insurance with no pre-existing conditions.
| Company |
Male 50y/o |
Female 50y/o |
Male 60y/o |
Female 60y/o |
Male 70y/o |
Female 70y/o |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$34 |
$27 |
$50 |
$40 |
$70 |
$56 |
|
|
$31 |
$26 |
$43 |
$35 |
$71 |
$53 |
|
|
$31 |
$24 |
$44 |
$33 |
$75 |
$53 |
|
|
$34 |
$29 |
$45 |
$35 |
$79 |
$59 |
|
|
$33 |
$26 |
$48 |
$36 |
$82 |
$58 |
These figures are estimates only, based on a $10,000 final expense insurance policy with no applicant pre-existing conditions.
If you’re interested in these or any of our other burial insurance options, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725.
Final Thoughts
Average cremation costs are over $6,000 in 2025 and are projected to continue to rise. It’s a great idea to get ahead of those rising costs with a quality final expense insurance policy. Rates are low if you start younger, and policies offer lifetime coverage.
Contact Final Expense Benefits for help finding a great policy that fits your needs and budget. We can help you navigate the confusing burial insurance market and get great coverage. Call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or check our free online quoting tool for a personalized pricing estimate.
FAQ
How much does being cremated cost?
The average cremation with a funeral and other traditional services costs over $6,000. Prices depend on additional requested services and your location.
How can I save on cremation costs?
Final expense insurance is the most reliable way to ensure cremation costs are covered without having to forego your desired memorial. If you skip the traditional services, direct cremation costs about $2,200 and is another way to save.
How can I pay for cremation before I die?
Preneed funeral agreements with specific funeral homes and burial insurance are the most popular ways for seniors to cover cremation and funeral costs.
What can I do with cremated remains?
Cremation ashes can be incorporated into jewelry or art pieces, scattered at a sentimental location, or kept in a cremation urn. It’s up to you how you’d like to best remember your loved one.
What is the FTC Funeral Rule?
The FTC Funeral Rule is a law enacted by the Federal Trade Commission mandating that funeral homes provide thorough pricing lists to clients. It helps grieving families understand funeral costs and avoid being overcharged.
What is final expense insurance?
Final expense insurance is whole life insurance designed to help seniors cover end-of-life expenses like funerals and burial plot costs.
