Plan a simple & Affordable Cremation

Cremation Costs Breakdown 2024: How You Can Save $5,422

Here is some national average cremation costs in the US:

  • Average Cost of Direct Cremation: $2,185
  • Average Cost of a Full Service Cremation: $6,220
  • Choosing Direct Cremation over a Full Burial Service saves you on average $6,805. That makes Direct Cremation 389% cheaper than Burial.
  • Choosing Full Service Cremation over a Full Burial Service saves you on average $2,432. That makes Full Cremation 40% cheaper than Burial.
  • Over 60% of people in the USA chose Cremation in 2023

In this guide, I will discuss differences in cremation services, breakdown the costs within each service and compare cremation to the cost of burial.

I will also give you some inside information what funeral directors don’t want you to know.

Direct Cremation Costs In 2024

StateAverage CostMinimum CostMaximum Cost
Alabama$2,016$600$4,375
Alaska$1,935$1,200$2,985
Arizona$1,430$400$2,890
Arkansas$1,671$595$3,595
California$1,582$438$4,450
Colorado$1,683$495$4,012
Connecticut$3,150$899$6,520
Delaware$2,616$1,195$5,000
Florida$1,683$484$5,190
Georgia$1,918$550$4,810
Hawaii$1,547$895$3,150
Idaho$1,700$765$2,825
Illinois$2,551$695$6,045
Indiana$2,284$595$5,695
Iowa$2,992$995$5,405
Kansas$2,525$695$7,245
Kentucky$2,022$690$4,450
Louisiana$2,283$610$4,149
Maine$2,347$825$4,830
Maryland$2,426$695$5,065
Massachusetts$2,696$995$5,305
Michigan$2,245$695$4,495
Minnesota$2,914$995$5,545
Mississippi$1,986$300$6,860
Missouri$1,845$597$4,780
Montana$2,478$995$4,090
Nebraska$2,969$995$5,100
Nevada$1,428$559$2,370
New Hampshire$2,176$1,275$4,738
New Jersey$2,505$786$5,810
New Mexico$1,940$725$3,700
New York$2,391$555$9,800
North Carolina$1,914$500$4,900
North Dakota$3,183$1,260$4,500
Ohio$2,045$575$4,375
Oklahoma$2,141$695$4,980
Oregon$1,264$500$2,440
Pennsylvania$2,456$500$6,360
Rhode Island$2,615$1,320$5,145
South Carolina$1,937$275$4,590
South Dakota$2,826$1,170$4,450
Tennessee$1,933$500$4,530
Texas$2,108$500$6,595
Utah$1,625$595$2,995
Vermont$2,295$1,290$3,405
Virginia$2,457$775$5,480
Washington$1,460$495$3,855
Washington D.C.$2,149$925$6,800
West Virginia$2,257$750$4,218
Wisconsin$2,862$800$7,538
Wyoming$2,533$1,295$3,580

If you’re looking for the most affordable funeral option, direct cremation is by far the best choice. In the above table you can search your home state to get an idea for what a fair low cost cremation price should be.

Often described as low cost cremation, it does not include traditional funeral proceedings, which makes it the most economical choice.

If you would like to know more about this cremation option, check out our Direct Cremation Guide.

Looking For A Direct Cremation Provider?

If you’re looking for a Direct Cremation Provider right now, we highly recommend getting a quote on After.com.

Whether it’s for pre-planning or right now, customer satisfaction with their quick response times, transparency, and fair pricing is very high.

They’re the fastest growing provider in the US and have 3 affordable cremation packages to choose from.
  • Arrange everything online within minutes hassle
  • Pre planning services as low as $25 per month
  • At Need Cremation services start as low as $695

Average Cremation Costs in 2024

To give you an idea of average cremation costs, here is a table (provided by parting.com) which shows the range of prices in different cities).

As you can see, the typical cost of a basic cremation is between $800-$4000

Keep in mind this is for a direct cremation, but as you can see, it pays to get a few quotes.

Cremation Costs With a Full Service

StateAverage CostLow CostHigh Cost
Alabama$6,141$3,197$11,270
Alaska$6,336$4,675$7,730
Arizona$5,253$3,060$7,425
Arkansas$5,490$3,140$9,620
California$5,414$3,070$9,955
Colorado$5,732$3,280$9,885
Connecticut$7,097$3,915$10,345
Delaware$6,817$4,485$9,090
District of Columbia$6,391$3,840$15,985
Florida$5,885$3,170$9,835
Georgia$6,322$3,195$11,390
Hawaii$7,166$4,040$11,915
Idaho$5,480$4,060$7,400
Illinois$6,697$3,265$10,779
Indiana$6,373$3,575$11,745
Iowa$7,227$4,650$9,980
Kansas$6,454$3,635$19,300
Kentucky$6,087$3,620$8,925
Louisiana$6,394$3,775$11,570
Maine$6,276$3,980$9,740
Maryland$6,767$3,770$13,510
Massachusetts$7,105$4,505$10,850
Michigan$6,530$3,705$9,870
Minnesota$7,459$2,900$10,784
Mississippi$5,837$3,155$10,610
Missouri$5,958$3,295$9,520
Montana$5,710$3,990$7,294
Nebraska$6,530$3,860$10,455
Nevada$6,066$4,125$8,865
New Hampshire$6,393$4,705$9,640
New Jersey$6,873$3,205$12,465
New Mexico$5,583$3,790$7,325
New York$6,294$2,555$17,225
North Carolina$5,848$2,685$10,005
North Dakota$6,791$3,795$8,620
Ohio$5,651$3,390$9,185
Oklahoma$5,662$3,305$8,600
Oregon$5,072$2,765$7,295
Pennsylvania$6,523$3,149$15,570
Rhode Island$6,764$4,475$8,630
South Carolina$5,966$3,385$9,985
South Dakota$6,667$3,955$8,380
Tennessee$5,930$3,250$10,905
Texas$6,396$2,695$14,360
Utah$5,803$3,695$8,070
Vermont$5,912$4,015$7,630
Virginia$6,077$3,625$11,450
Washington$5,211$3,035$10,105
West Virginia$5,848$3,550$8,060
Wisconsin$6,706$3,905$10,790
Wyoming$6,058$4,485$7,415

Cremation Vs Burial Costs

StateCremationBurial
Alabama$6,314$7,271
Alaska$6,028$7,225
Arizona$5,694$6,888
Arkansas$6,405$7,334
California$6,028$7,225
Colorado$5,694$6,888
Connecticut$7,069$7,881
Delaware$7,070$7,800
Florida$7,070$7,800
Georgia$7,070$7,800
Hawaii$6,028$7,225
Idaho$5,694$6,888
Illinois$6,953$7,868
Indiana$6,953$7,868
Iowa$7,560$8,500
Kansas$7,560$8,500
Kentucky$6,314$7,271
Louisiana$6,405$7,334
Maine$7,069$7,881
Maryland$7,070$7,800
Massachusetts$7,069$7,881
Michigan$6,953$7,868
Minnesota$7,560$8,500
Mississippi$6,314$7,271
Missouri$7,560$8,500
Montana$5,694$6,888
Nebraska$7,560$8,500
Nevada$5,694$6,888
New Hampshire$7,069$7,881
New Jersey$7,463$8,093
New Mexico$5,694$6,888
New York$7,463$8,093
North Carolina$7,070$7,800
North Dakota$7,560$8,500
Ohio$6,953$7,868
Oklahoma$6,405$7,334
Oregon$6,028$7,225
Pennsylvania$7,463$8,093
Rhode Island$7,069$7,881
South Carolina$7,070$7,800
South Dakota$7,560$8,500
Tennessee$6,314$7,271
Texas$6,405$7,334
Utah$5,694$6,888
Vermont$7,069$7,881
Virginia$7,070$7,800
Washington$6,028$7,225
Washington DC$7,069$7,881
West Virginia$7,070$7,800
Wisconsin$6,953$7,868
Wyoming$5,694$6,888

As we have established, the traditional burial of a body is the most expensive means of disposition.

The following prices will give you an idea of burial vs cremation.

  • $1,500 – Fee for the funeral director, which most often includes use of the facility, staff, death certificates, and other documents.
  • $1,500 – Preparation of the body for viewing. If an open casket, a stylist is necessary to apply make-up and hair techniques as well. These services are not needed for cremation.
  • $2,400 – $10,000 – For a traditional casket.
  • $2,500 –  The gravesite, which includes the plot, digging, and grave liner. None of these pertain to cremation unless you bury the ashes.
  • $1,500 – Headstone or grave marker.

That’s a total of at least $8,400 for a traditional burial and as discussed above, there are multiple other charges that may be added as well.

Paying For A Funeral

It’s important to also discuss the other side of the coin- how to pay for a funeral.

I will go into all the other payment options in more detail further down in this article. But the key thing to remember is- having a plan as early as possible is key to covering costs.

Probably the simplest, quickest, and most cost effective ways is with Cremation Insurance.

It’s a type of final expense insurance which is specifically designed to help you cover the cost of a funeral.

Additional Costs

If you wish to have a service, there are fees for any additional options added. Comparing and paying close attention can save you a great deal of money. Below are some of those extras and the average prices related to each one:

Funeral Director fees

Funeral homes normally charge a basic fee for their services, which can average from $1,500 – $3,500, but can be as much as $7,000.

This fee generally includes some services such as taking care of any necessary permits, acquiring copies of the death certificate, and assisting with other necessary paperwork.

Some other overhead costs related to the funeral home that may or may not be included are the use of their facilities and staff, transporting the body, and others.

The actual cremation

It’s seldom carried out by the funeral home, but is contracted to a third-party crematory. Crematories typically charge $250 – $400.

When a funeral home offers you a package, make sure the price they disclose actually includes the actual cremating process.

Amazingly, the cost you pay for the actual process is not included in the package fee in some cases.

The casket

It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy a traditional casket for a cremation.

Nevertheless, some people wish to have services before being cremated, which would necessitate a casket, therefore there are alternative options.

Cremation caskets

Caskets made specifically for cremating cost as low as $500 – $600, much less than a traditional one. They are normally available for purchase at the funeral home or crematory.

Renting a casket

An additional option, is to rent a casket  for the viewing, wake, or funeral service. The body is encompassed in a box, typically called an “alternative casket”, which is inserted into the casket.

After the service, this box, holding the body is removed from the casket and then cremated. The cost for renting is about $400 – $600.

Memorial service after cremation

The service is usually conducted in the presence of the ashes contained an urn.

A clergy can hold the cremation ceremony or it may simply be a gathering of family and friends, celebrating the life of the deceased.

Therefore, the price can be as little or as much as you desire.

The Urn

Many funeral homes and crematories furnish a basic container. Otherwise, urns are the most popular choice and can be priced anywhere from $50 – $1,000.

Different Types

There are so many different types of urns depending on your needs and tastes. If you’re interested, our team has created a number of guides for these specific types:

Companion Urns: These double urns are used for a couple who has passed away, a mother and daughter, or maybe a large person. Prices are usually between $150 & $500.

Wooden Companion Urn

Biodegradable Urns: If you’re conscious about the environment, an eco urn might be suitable for you. They can be water urns ideal for scattering, or even a biodegradable tree urn.

Cremation Boxes: These simple yet elegant memorials usually range between $50-$100. If you want to see more, take a look at our cremation boxes guide

Wooden Urns: A natural look that will fit in perfectly at home, the cost is usually between $50-$150. Have a look at our wooden urns article for more information.

Baby Urns: These urns tend to be less than your typical urn. Our infant urns guide will give you an idea of what’s available and how much they cost.

Flowers

The price of course depends on the type and abundance of flowers.

For a decent sized funeral flower arrangement with carnations or flowers that are in season, expect to spend around $50 – $150, for roses or exotic flowers, expect $200 – $300.

A casket spray will cost from $50 – $450. For the full package including all the above, plan on anywhere from $200 – $1,000.

If you’re having a memorial service after, a nice size bouquet next to the urn is a nice touch for about $50 – $100.

Embalming

This charge is often unexpected because people assume it is included. It can vary depending on local rates and on the size and condition of the body.

A body that has significant injuries or has been autopsied often cost more. The average charge is typically $200 – $800.

This frequently does not cover other duties such as cleansing, dressing, and preparing the body cosmetically, which can run around $100 – $500.

Visitation

is the same as with a tradition burial where family and friends are able to visit and usually view the body before the cremation takes place. This may or may not be included in the service fee.

Third party costs

These can include ordering the flowers, organists, soloists, pallbearers, and obituary notices. It’s best to determine these in advance if possible to ensure you are not overcharged.

Another bit of information to remember is that funeral directors are required to inform you of any refunds or rebates that are available from the vendors.

Are Cremation Prices Regulated?

While the Federal Trade Commission does require that all funeral providers follow specific rules, the actual prices they charge for each service is not regulated.

However, they are required to provide an itemized and accurate price list when requested by a consumer.

Funeral providers are not required to disclose their prices on their websites, which can make it more difficult to make comparisons.

Only around 25% of funeral providers display their prices online.

Funeral Assistance

There’s no doubt that a funeral is a big expensive and can be a huge financial burden to a family. Fortunately, more people are using crowdfunding to help pay for funerals.

Crowdfunding allows you to set up a campaign for your loved one’s funeral expenses. Once published and shared via social media, family, friends, and even strangers can make small donations towards your funeral budget goal.

It’s an amazing tool which really helps vulnerable people in need. More importantly it works incredibly well- showing that people are incredibly generous and kind hearted.

Expert Advice and Tips

Below are a few tips and some advice to help you when making these difficult decisions.

  • Purchasing the casket is almost always the largest expense.
  • A direct cremation is normally the most economical plan by far.
  • Adding extras can substantially add to the price.
  • Don’t forget that even though they are sympathetic in most cases, funeral homes are businesses and are there to make money.
  • When comparing different facilities, always ask for an itemized list of their costs for each product and service. Check the final bill to ensure there are no unauthorized expenses.
  • If using a funeral director that does not have cremation facilities, determine in advance if the cost for a third-party crematory will be extra.
  • Don’t allow anyone to talk you into adding extras that you don’t understand or are unsure about.
  • Consult online directory sites to search for funeral homes in your area.
  • Ask for help and recommendations from people you know personally. Usually friends are best since family members are grieving as well.

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