With the average cost of a traditional funeral with a burial nearing $10,000 across America, many seniors are turning to cremation as their preferred type of memorial. Though cremations promise savings, they still have significant costs — the average cremation with a funeral costs $6,280. So how can you cover these expenses in advance?
Savvy seniors looking to reduce the funeral costs for their loved ones should invest in final expense insurance. It’s a low-cost whole life insurance designed with seniors’ needs in mind.
As a leading senior life insurance agency, Final Expense Benefits is here to help you find quality coverage, regardless of your health or budget. We work with over 20 of the top final expense insurance providers, and our agents are ready to help you take the next step toward peace of mind.
To learn more about final expense insurance, call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. To check how much coverage you might need and how much it could cost, check our free online funeral cost calculator and personalized quoting tool.
Key takeaways
- The average cremation with a traditional funeral is $6,280.
- Rates vary by location and desired services.
- Direct cremation offers a less expensive alternative without a funeral.
- Also called burial insurance or cremation insurance, final expense insurance is a low-cost, reliable way for seniors to cover end-of-life expenses, like cremations.
How Much Does Cremation Cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost of cremation with a viewing and memorial is $6,280. Cremation costs vary by location; here are average costs for cremation in select states:
| State | Traditional Cremation Cost | Direct Cremation Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
$5,523 |
$1,642 |
|
|
$6,462 |
$2,135 |
|
|
$5,966 |
$1,706 |
|
|
$6,289 |
$2,395
|
|
|
$6,537 |
$2,460
|
Data courtesy Funeralocity.
Funeral costs are generally more affordable in less populated rural areas. Funeral costs are on the rise, and it’s a good idea to be prepared for those costs to continue rising. Final expense insurance is one way to prepare for costs in advance.
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Future Cremation Costs
Like all funeral costs, cremation costs are increasing. Though the NFDA claims cremation costs are rising more slowly than inflation, costs still rose significantly between their last cost assessment surveys.
Between 2021 and 2023, the NFDA assessed that the average cremation cost with a funeral and viewing rose by over 8% from $5,810 to $6,280. The NFDA’s 2025 survey isn’t available yet, but if they continue to rise at that 8% rate, average cremation costs in 2025 could cost closer to $6,800.
Despite these increasing prices, cremation is becoming more popular in America. The NFDA estimates that over 60% of Americans opt for cremation instead of a traditional burial. Part of this trend is likely due to cost: the average cost of a traditional funeral with a burial is close to $10,000 in 2026.
Here’s a breakdown of how cremation costs may vary:
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Traditional Cremation Costs by State
Cremation costs vary by state, depending on local economic conditions, laws, access to supplies, and more. Below are average cremation costs by state, but remember that prices may vary depending on your specific location:
Average Cremation Costs by State
Data sourced from Funeralocity.
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Cremation Costs by Type
The type of cremation generally determines costs. Cremations come in many forms, each with different costs. Here are average costs for the most common types of cremations:
- Cremation with a traditional funeral and viewing: $6,280
Combining the convenience and lower cost of a cremation with traditional funeral memorials, these are the priciest cremation services. Costs vary by location, the specifics of your desired memorial, and if you’re using a casket.
- Direct Cremation: $2,202
Direct cremations skip the memorial services of a funeral and offer significant savings. Using a direct funeral is a good way to save on funeral home costs and gives loved ones more options and control over memorials. - Water Cremation: $1,300 to $3,000
Offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation, water cremation can also provide savings. Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, a water cremation process breaks down remains using a water-based chemical mixture, resulting in a powder similar to cremation ashes. Though water cremation creates much less environmental impact than traditional cremation services, it isn’t available in every state.
For a more detailed funeral and cremation cost breakdown, check our free funeral cost calculator, or try our online quoting tool to see how much life insurance coverage you qualify for.
Cremation Cost Breakdown
Cremations with traditional funerals involve costs for funeral home rentals, viewings, memorial services, and more. This is why they cost so much more than direct cremation services. Some costs are unavoidable, like cremation service costs and more.
However, cremations cost significantly less than traditional funerals because they normally skip casket and burial plot costs. Cremations still require skilled labor, which is expensive, especially if a memorial involves service and viewing. Funeral homes are required by the FTC Funeral Rule to provide detailed cost breakdowns for services, so if you have any issues with funeral costs, contact your funeral home.
Here’s a breakdown of each service charge involved with a cremation, with a traditional funeral and viewing, and how much each costs:
Cremation Service Costs Breakdown
Data courtesy NFDA.
Here’s an in-depth breakdown of each cremation service and its costs:
- Service Costs & Fees
These service costs include the cost of the cremation service itself, fees for permits, funeral directors, and other basic services. These costs make up the bulk of cremation services and are generally unavoidable, even for seniors opting for direct cremation.
- Transport
Covers transporting the body from the morgue to the crematorium, transit for funerals, and more. These costs will rise if you choose to have services at the funeral home and at a second site, like your home or cemetery.
- Body Preparation
Traditional open-casket funerals require significant body preparation. The most expensive body prep service is embalming, though clothing and makeup can also add serious expenses.
- Service
Includes funeral home rental costs, fees for officiants, and decorations for the memorial.
- Urn & Memorial
Covers costs for the urn and other memorial packages.
Costs for memorials and final resting sites will vary if you choose to be buried in a mausoleum or columbarium at a cemetery. A columbarium, a large space in a cemetery where cremated ashes are stored in their own urns, could cost upwards of $1,000. Mausoleums, which are usually used by families, cost even more, sometimes up to $60,000, depending on their size.
Cremation Costs vs Burial Costs
Average cremation costs are far lower than those of traditional funerals and burials. Per the NFDA, the average cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial is nearly $10,000, far more than the average cremation cost of $6,280.
If you’re looking at direct burial vs direct cremation cost, a direct cremation is still cheaper than a direct burial. According to Funeralocity, the average cost of a direct burial is $5,138, and the average cost of a direct cremation is $2,202.
Many seniors are turning to final expense insurance to cover rising cremation costs, but you may have a few other options. Here are some of the most popular ways to cover cremation costs:
How Can I Cover Cremation Costs?
Funeral and cremation costs add up, and no one wants to leave financial stress for their loved ones. Seniors have many options to cover cremation costs, but final expense insurance is the simplest.
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Final Expense Insurance for Cremation
Also known as cremation insurance or burial insurance, final expense insurance is a great choice for seniors looking to cover their end-of-life expenses. These policies offer lifelong coverage, rates locked at policy start, cash value growth, and benefits tailored to cover seniors’ needs. Plus, final expense insurance has relaxed health underwriting guidelines, meaning that seniors with pre-existing health concerns can qualify for low-cost, reliable coverage.
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 that use pre-planned agreements to cover requested cremations. These societies usually charge membership fees and handle cremation and service planning. However, using a cremation society takes most of the control for your funeral out of your loved ones’ hands.
It’s typically best to cover your end-of-life expenses more straightforwardly. Your beneficiaries can use the final expense death benefits however they want, giving them plenty of freedom and flexibility to create a fitting memorial.
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Prepaid Funeral Plans
Specific funeral homes or organizations arrange prepaid funeral plans. To some, they may seem like a great way to cover funerals, offering significant control to a policyholder and taking most of the guesswork of funeral planning from loved ones’ hands. However, these plans come at a high cost.
Unlike life insurance, which you pay for over time at manageable monthly rates, most preneed funeral insurance requires up-front payment. These plans usually cost around $10,000 to $25,000, nearly the full cost of a funeral.
Preneed funeral insurance plans don’t differ much from paying for a funeral out-of-pocket, and they don’t match the flexibility and low cost of final expense insurance.
4
Social Security
Social Security pays a death benefit of $255, which is nowhere near enough to cover a cremation.
Social Security Survivors’ Benefits may pay up to $2,000 per month, but these payments are typically used for recurring expenses.
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Atypical Memorial Services
Memorials like green funerals, water cremations, and burial at sea aren’t just environmentally friendly; they often mean savings. Seniors may be able to secure no-cost cremation by donating their bodies to scientific studies, but eligibility is often tough. According to the Mayo Clinic, pre-existing conditions and donation surpluses can prevent additional donations.
Using atypical, eco-friendly memorials can help seniors save money on cremation, but careful planners should have a backup. Final expense insurance is the most reliable, accessible, and budget-conscious choice for seniors looking to cover their cremation costs.
Reduce Cremation Costs with Final Expense Insurance
The best way for seniors to cover cremation, funeral, and burial plot costs is final expense insurance, thanks to its affordability and accessibility. Seniors with managed pre-existing health conditions can qualify for policies without a waiting period, while those with more serious concerns may only be eligible for costly guaranteed policies.
The tax-free final expense insurance benefit payouts are plenty to cover cremation costs; average benefits range from around $5,000 to $50,000.
Payouts can be used for whatever your beneficiaries need, offering more flexibility to final expense insurance than other ways to cover cremation costs.
Final Expense Benefits works with America’s top senior life insurance companies, including:
How Much Does Final Expense Insurance Cost?
One of the main reasons why we recommend seniors get final expense insurance is its low cost. Rates usually range from around $30 to $150 monthly for $10,000 policies for seniors ages 50 to 80.
Here are sample rates for a $10,000 final expense insurance policy from our top partner providers, calculated using a non-smoking applicant with no specific pre-existing health 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 fantastic partner providers, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725 to start your application or to learn more. Check our free online quoting tool for a personalized pricing estimate.
Final Thoughts
Average cremation costs are over $6,000 in 2026 and are expected to continue rising. Final expense insurance is a great way for seniors to get ahead of those rising costs and ensure lasting financial stability and peace of mind for loved ones.
Final Expense Benefits is here to help you find a great policy that fits your needs, no matter the budget. Call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Check our free online funeral cost calculator and quoting tool to see how much coverage you need or how much it could cost.
FAQ
What is the average cremation cost in the United States?
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 cover cremation costs ahead of time. You can also save by using non-traditional services such as eco-friendly cremation services or direct cremations.
What is direct cremation?
Direct cremation is a type of cremation service that skips a funeral, saving significant costs.
What factors influence the total price of cremation services?
Several factors impact the cost of a cremation, including the urn, additional funeral services performed, and service fees.
How can I pay for cremation before I die?
Preneed funeral agreements with specific funeral homes and final expense 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, buried at sea, or kept in a cremation urn. It’s up to you how you’d like to best remember your loved one.