Funeral Cost Breakdown 2024: How To Save (No-BS Guide)

Breakdown of Funeral Costs (2024)

Funeral services include a basic services fee for the funeral director and staff, other services and merchandise charges, and cash advances. Use this information to compare costs when you shop with several funeral homes.

Funeral Cost Breakdown (By Expense Type)

So how much does a funeral cost? Well, the National Funeral Director’s Association breakdown of costs shows the following:

When you plan your funeral, the provider must offer you an itemized breakdown of the overall cost of the funerary goods and services you picked. If the funeral provider does not know the price of any “cash advance” products at that time, they must give you a written “good faith estimate.” This statement should include any regulatory cemetery or crematory requirements for purchasing specific funeral goods or services.

The Funeral Rule does not stipulate a specific layout for the information. This information may be included in any document given to you after discussing funeral arrangements with the funeral provider.

Funeral Cost Calculator

Check Out: Potential Pitfalls of Prepaid Funeral Arrangements

Funeral and Cremation Costs by State

The table below shows the median cost of four different types of final arrangements across each state of the U.S.  The services listed include:

• A traditional burial with a service
• A direct burial (without a service)
• A cremation with a funeral service
• A direct cremation (without a service)

What are the most and least expensive states?

According to the table, Minnesota is the most expensive state, with a median cost of $8,634 for a traditional burial with service and $8,378 for direct cremation.  Hawaii is the least expensive state, with a median cost of $3,400 for a traditional burial with service and $1,697 for direct cremation.

For an overall look at how these costs break down, please see the table below:

How Much More Expensive Is a Burial Than A Cremation?

If you’re interested in learning about the cost of cremation vs. burial, you’re at the right place.
The median cost of a traditional burial with service is $8,177. And how much does cremation cost in 2024? According to the table provided, the median cost of a cremation funeral is $6,766. This means that, on average, a traditional burial with service is $1,411 more expensive than a cremation with service.

It’s important to note that the cost of a traditional burial can vary widely depending on factors such as the location, the specific services and products selected, and the cost of the cemetery plot. Also, the cost of a cremation can vary widely depending on factors such as location and the specific services and products selected.

It’s also worth noting that the costs for direct burial and direct cremation are lower than those for traditional burial with service and cremation with service, respectively. This suggests that the cost of the service or ceremony is a significant factor in the overall cost of a funeral or cremation.

See A Cost Breakdown For Your State (By City)!

Descriptions of Key Funeral Expenses

Below is a description of the key expenses that comprise total funeral costs.

Burial Caskets (Coffins)

The casket is typically the most costly item if you want a “traditional” full-service funeral.

Caskets are available in many styles and prices and are primarily purchased for aesthetic appeal. Metal, wood, fiberboard, fiberglass, or plastic are used to construct them.

Before showing you the caskets, a funeral director or showroom must provide you with a list of coffins available from the firm, including descriptions and costs.

Traditionally, only funeral homes have sold caskets. However, this is no longer true because more “third-party” dealers sell coffins directly through showrooms and websites. You may purchase a casket from one of these businesses and send it to your funeral home directly. Per the Funeral Rule, funeral homes must accept any casket, regardless of where you bought it, and cannot charge you a fee.

The goal of a coffin is to provide a reasonable means of transporting the body before burial or cremation. Regardless of quality or price, a casket cannot forever protect a body from decay.

Funeral Home Basic Services Fee

A funeral home’s basic services fee is a charge for the basic services that the funeral home provides, such as the costs of staff, equipment, and facilities. This fee is typically in addition to the cost of purchasing a casket or urn, arranging for transportation of the deceased, and any other services provided.

The basic services fee can vary from funeral home to funeral home, so it’s important to ask about this fee when contacting different funeral homes about their services. You should also get an estimate of all the charges associated with your loved one’s funeral before making final decisions.

Embalming & Body Preparation

A viewing or memorial service is generally unnecessary if the body is buried or cremated soon after death. If you plan a viewing or visitation, expect to pay for embalming. Embalming is sometimes necessary if the body is kept before burial or cremation for long periods.

• May not provide embalming services without permission
• May not falsely state that embalming is required by law
• Must disclose in writing that embalming is not required by law, except in certain exceptional cases
• May not charge a fee for unauthorized embalming unless embalming is required by state law
• Must disclose in writing that you usually have the right to choose a disposition, like direct cremation or immediate burial, that does not require embalming if you do not want this service
• Must disclose in writing that some funeral arrangements, such as a funeral with viewing, may make embalming a practical necessity and, if so, a required purchase

Preservation Processes & Products

Oil, herbs, and special body treatments have been used to preserve dead bodies since the ancient Egyptians. However, no technique or goods have been developed to keep a corpse in its tomb indefinitely.

Funeral providers are not allowed to tell you that anything may be done at your loved one’s funeral. For example, they may not assert that embalming or a specific type of coffin will keep the deceased intact indefinitely.

Burial Plot

A burial plot is a designated area in a cemetery where a person is buried. It is typically purchased before death to bury one or more individuals. But how much does the burial plot cost?

The average cost of a burial plot will vary depending on the cemetery selected, its size, the type of ground used for the grave, and its location.

The National Funeral Directors’ Association estimates prices range from $3,500 to over $6,000.  Check with your local funeral home’s website or the director for local prices.

You can also look at the National Cemetery Administration, which has a fantastic directory of cemeteries nationwide. The directory shows which cemeteries have burial plots available for purchase.

Burial Vaults Or Grave Liners

Burial vaults, grave liners, or burial containers are increasingly used in “traditional” full-service funerals. Before burial, the vault or liner is placed in the ground, and the coffin is lowered into it.

The intent is to keep the ground from collapsing as the casket decomposes. A reinforced concrete grave liner will meet any cemetery specification. A grave liner merely covers the top and sides of the coffin.

A burial vault is more substantial and costly than a grave liner. It surrounds the coffin in concrete or another substance, with an assurance of protective strength, and may be purchased as a package deal.

Although a vault or liner is not required by law, funeral providers may not inform you differently. However, remember that many cemeteries utilize some outer burial container to prevent the grave from sinking in the future.

Grave liners and burial vaults are not intended to keep dead bodies from decaying. If a vault does not keep water, dirt, or other debris from entering the coffin, if that isn’t true, it is against the law for funeral companies to promise this.

A funeral provider must provide a pricing list and descriptions before showing you any outer burial containers. Buying an outer burial container from a third-party merchant may be less expensive than purchasing one from a funeral home or cemetery. Before choosing a design, compare prices from several vendors to see whether the deal is right.

Funeral Homes & The Funeral Rule

The Funeral Rule permits funeral businesses to charge a basic services fee that consumers must pay. The basic services fee covers services provided in all funerals, regardless of the form they take.

The following are examples of funeral details to complete: arranging for a burial plot, obtaining the required permissions and death certificates, preparing notifications, providing shelter for the remains, and coordinating the arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other third parties. The cost does not include charges for optional services or goods.

Charges for other services and merchandise include costs for optional goods and services such as:

• Transporting the remains
• Embalming and other preparation
• Use of the funeral home for the viewing, ceremony, or memorial service
• Use of equipment and staff for graveside service
• Use of a hearse or limousine
• A casket
• Outer burial container (burial vault)

The funeral home subtracts from the total amount due for goods and services it obtains on your behalf, such as flowers, obituary notices, pallbearers, officiating clergy, organists, and soloists.

Some funeral businesses charge you the price of the goods they buy on your behalf. Others tack on a service fee to the overall cost. Although the Funeral Rule does not require suppliers to disclose their markups, it does require them to inform you if any cash advance item is refundable, discounted, or rebated by the supplier.

A Price Menu Of Funeral Home Goods & Services

One of the key provisions of the Funeral Rule is that every consumer must receive a General Price List when talking about or buying funeral goods or services from a funeral provider.

Funeral homes are required, by law, to give customers a “General Price List” when talking about the purchase of good or services

Sample Funeral Home General Price List (GPL)

How To Afford A Funeral

Average funeral costs have gone through the roof, and few Americans have $10,000 of spare cash to spend on a family member’s funeral.

If you want to take that burden off your loved ones, we’ve laid out some options that will help make a traditional funeral more affordable:

1. Burial Insurance
2. Pre-Need Funeral Plan
3. Burial Bank Account (Irrevocable Funeral Trust)
4. Government Assistance

Final Expense Insurance (Burial Insurance)

Burial insurance is a whole life insurance policy that can help you afford the average cost of a funeral.

When buying a burial insurance policy or funeral plan, you may be able to choose what kind of funeral service provider you want to use. This will give you more flexibility when planning your loved one’s funeral. It also may give you greater control over how much money is spent on funeral arrangements. Burial financial plans often act as alternatives to funeral insurance policies or funds.

A financial professional can help inform families about these options so they can make an informed decision about how their final wishes should be carried out after death. A financial professional can also recommend which funeral arrangement works best based on budget, income, and funeral planning preferences.

A funeral pre-planning program can help you prepare financially for your funeral costs. For example, funeral financial plans are an option to consider when planning your funeral. The best funeral financial plan may vary depending on your income and needs. You can talk to a funeral professional about the options available to help you choose which funeral savings option is right for you.

When planning, you must discuss your wishes with your family members and legal advisers so they know what to do once you’re gone. If not planned, you might find yourself stuck making arrangements during an emotional time or simply signing papers without knowing all the details involved.

Pre-Need Funeral Plan

A pre-need funeral plan is a funeral arrangement where a person makes their funeral arrangements ahead of time while still alive. This allows them more time to plan funeral service arrangements, goods, and establishments. Funeral establishments include cemeteries, funeral homes, and crematories.

Pre-need funeral plans make it easier for your family to carry out funeral arrangements when you pass away. You can choose everything from funeral service providers and cemeteries to memorials and obituary notices. In most cases, funeral costs are much lower when a pre-need funeral plan is in place.

You pay funeral providers in advance for funeral services, goods, and establishments. Funeral establishments include cemeteries, funeral homes, and crematories.

Some funeral service providers offer financing plans to help with the costs of pre-need funeral arrangements; others work with an outside finance company that allows you to pay over time with no interest or credit check. When considering a plan like this, carefully read the fine print before signing any agreement, as some companies require consumers to put down 50 percent of the cost upfront.

If you purchase your funeral through a pre-need funeral plan, keep all paperwork regarding your arrangements in one place so it’s available if needed after death occurs. It may also be a good idea to give a copy of funeral plans and funeral financial information to your family members so they won’t have to guess what funeral purchases have been made.

In some states, funeral directors must tell consumers they lack the legal authority to change or overrule the funeral arrangements specified in the contract. Some state laws require funeral homes to give a copy of a plan to a third party to prove what was authorized at the time of death, but not all do. You should check with your funeral home before signing a contract if you want your “plan” shared with someone.

Burial Bank Account (Irrevocable Funeral Trust)

A burial bank account is a funeral savings account to prepay funeral costs. The funds can pay for funeral costs, homes, and establishments. Some funeral homes offer these accounts in conjunction with pre-need funeral plans, while others may require you to have one even if you aren’t organizing all of your funeral arrangements ahead of time.

A burial bank account (also known as a prepaid plan or funeral contract) is where you pay money into an account to guarantee your funeral arrangements in advance; however, if you don’t use all the money you paid when arranging your final funeral, any remaining funds can be taken by state law (in most states). They may give interest back on top of what was already paid when using the accumulated fund.

Some states allow consumers to use the money in their burial bank accounts after death, but others limit what can be done with any remaining funds. This information should be outlined in the contract regarding the account and how the interest accrued thereon will be handled. You’ll always receive an accounting of how much money is left after paying for expenses, including any interest accrued on your account.

Government Assistance With Funeral Costs

Government benefits, such as funeral assistance from the Veterans Administration or funeral expenses covered by Social Security, have strict criteria. If you think one of these benefits might apply to your funeral arrangement plans, check out the qualifications online—or ask a funeral director to help, you sort through them if it’s an option that will work for your family.

This can be an excellent way to afford basic funeral and burial expenses.

Funeral and Burial Cost FAQs

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

We hope you benefited from this guide to funeral costs in 2024!

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to comment or email us. We’ll respond within 24 hours.

Warm Regards,
The GetSure Team