How Much Does A Funeral Cost?

The average funeral cost has been rising steadily over the years. The median funeral cost has increased by 6.6% over the past five years, while cremation cost has increased by 11.3%.

This article will help you understand all the costs involved in the funeral, burial, and cremation services to help you determine how much life insurance coverage to buy to pay for your end-of-life expenses.

Whether you are planning your funeral or a family member’s, knowing the cost of the funeral will help you make the funeral planning process easier.

How Much Does A Funeral Cost?

The median cost of an adult funeral with viewing and burial in the U.S. is $7,848. If the cemetery requires a vault, the average cost can go up to $9,420.

AVERAGE FUNERAL COST WITH VIEWING AND BURIAL
Non-declinable basic services	$2,300
Removal/ transfer of remains to funeral home	$350
Embalming & preparation of the body	$1,050
Use of facilities for viewing & funeral ceremony	$965
Hearse	$325
Service car/van	$150
Basic memorial printed package	$183
Metal casket	$2,500
Vault	$1,572
Median Cost of a Funeral With Viewing and Burial	$9,420

This cost only includes the following:

• Transfer of the remains from the home, hospital, or hospice into the funeral home.
• Body preparation
• Embalming, hair, and makeup
• Use of funeral home and staff for viewing
• Use of funeral home for a funeral ceremony
• Use of hearse
• Use of service car
• Printed materials such as registry book and funeral program
• Metal casket

The average funeral cost report from NFDA does not include the following expenses:

• Cemetery plot
• Headstone
• Obituary
• Flowers
• Funeral keepsakes
• Catering
• Funeral celebrant
• Musicians

How Much Does Cremation Cost?

The adult funeral cost with viewing and cremation is $6,970.

AVERAGE FUNERAL COST WITH VIEWING AND CREMATION
Non-declinable basic services fee	$2,300
Removal/ transfer of remains to funeral home	$350
Embalming & preparation of the body	$1,050
Use of facilities for viewing & funeral ceremony	$965
Service car/van	$150
Basic memorial printed package	$183
Cremation fee (if firm uses a third-party crematory)	$368
Cremation Casket	$1,310
Urn	$295
Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Cremation	$6,970
Rental Casket	$995
Alternate Cremation Container	$150

The average funeral with viewing and cremation report from NFDA does not include the following expenses:

• Columbarium
• Marker
• Obituary
• Flowers
• Funeral keepsakes
• Catering
• Funeral celebrant
• Musicians

What Is The Average Funeral Cost By Region?

The average funeral cost is influenced by the location. Funerals in Arizona ($6,888) cost much less than a funeral in Kansas ($8,500)

Here’s the average funeral cost per region to give you a ballpark figure and estimate how much you will pay for your end-of-life expenses.

Median Cost Of Funerals And Cremation By Region

REGION	STATES	BURIAL	CREMATION
WEST NORTH CENTRAL	IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, SD, NE	$8,500	$7,560
MIDDLE ATLANTIC	NJ, NY, PA	$8,093	$7,463
NEW ENGLAND	CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT	$7,881	$7,069
EAST NORTH CENTRAL	IL, IN, MI, OH, WI	$7,868	$6,953
SOUTH ATLANTIC	DE, FL. GA, MD, NC, SC, WV, VA	$7,800	$7,070
WEST SOUTH CENTRAL	AR, LA, OK, TX	$7,334	$6,405
EAST SOUTH CENTRAL	AL, KY, MS, TN	$7,271	$6,614
PACIFIC	AK, CA, HI, OR, WA	$7,225	$6,028
MOUNTAIN	AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY	$6,888	$6,694

Funeral Expenses People Often Overlook

Funeral expenses can be challenging. Most of the time, some miscellaneous funeral expenses are often overlooked. Here’s a rundown of the items that may be overlooked during funeral planning.

TRANSPORTATION OF THE BODY – Transportation expenses include transporting the remains to the funeral home. If your loved one dies locally, it will not be a problem. However, additional costs may be incurred if death happens out of state.

BURIAL OR CREMATION COST – some funeral home does not include the actual cost of cremation in the funeral package. If they do not have a crematory, ask the funeral director if the cremation fee is included in the funeral package.

BURIAL PLOT – cemetery or burial plot is often not included in the funeral bill. A burial plot in a public cemetery can cost between $200 and $2,000, while a private cemetery plot can cost between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the location.

HEADSTONE OR GRAVE MARKER – headstones, monuments, or grave markers are often not included in the funeral bill. The engraving, delivery, and installation of grave markers can cost $500 to $12,000.

OBITUARY COST – the cost of the obituary is often overlooked because it’s not included in the funeral cost. A newspaper obituary can cost between $298 to more than $600.

BURIAL CLOTHES – most funeral homes offer burial clothes, but it’s not included in the funeral cost. Men’s burial clothing can cost $170 to $400. Women’s burial clothing can cost $95 to $350.

CHURCH OR VENUE FEE – if you decide to have a funeral or memorial service outside the funeral home, you may need to pay for the venue.

FUNERAL MUSIC – if you choose to have special music at the funeral, you may need to pay the musicians by the hour. Some charge a flat rate depending on the number of songs to play. The average musician’s cost is $150.

CLERGY AND CELEBRANT COSTS – most of the time, clergy and celebrant cost is not included in the funeral package. You may need to offer an honorarium if it’s not included. The clergy and celebrant cost ranges from $50 to $500.

FLOWERS – flower arrangements are often an expensive hidden cost that is not factored into the funeral cost. The cost of flowers varies at the time of the year.

PALLBEARERS – the funeral home can provide pallbearers, but you will need to pay for their services.

You may need to make allowances for these expenses in your funeral plan.

An Easier Way To Pay For A Funeral

One of the easier ways to pay for the funeral, burial, and final expenses and to ease the family’s financial worries is to purchase a final expense insurance policy.

Final expense insurance can cover the cost of the funeral and final expenses. Final expense insurance is available to people between 50 and 85. You can buy as little as $2,000 to pay for cremation or $25,000 to pay for your burial and leave something for your family.

BENEFITS OF FINAL EXPENSE INSURANCE:

Ease of issue – no medical exam required

Level premium – your premium will never increase

Fixed death benefit – death benefit will never decrease

Tax-free – death benefit payout is given tax-free

Not cancelable – the policy will not be canceled as long as payment is made

Cash value – accumulates cash value over time.

Small coverage options – you can buy as little as you need

The Negatives Of Paying For A Funeral Without Life Insurance

Dying without life insurance if you have the funds to pay for your funeral is okay. However, dying without life insurance without the necessary funds will leave your family with financial stress.

Here are some ways to pay for a funeral if you don’t have life insurance.

Personal loan – a personal loan from banks, credit unions, and specialized lenders can help pay for the funeral if you don’t have life insurance. Interest rates can range from 16-35% on funeral loans.

Credit Card Payment – you can use your credit card to pay for a funeral. Some funeral home accepts credit card as a payment option.

Ask for contributions – you can ask your family and friends to contribute to the funeral payment.

Ask the Funeral Director for a payment plan – some funeral directors finance the funeral cost and allow the family members to pay them for up to 36 months.

Contact a non-profit organization – some non-profit organizations provide financial assistance to survivors.

Start a fundraising campaign – you can start fundraising on crowdfunding sites like gofundme.com or kickstarter.com

Veterans benefits – if your loved one is military, you can claim benefits from the Veterans Administration office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are funerals expensive?

Yes, funerals are expensive. It can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $10,000, depending on the location and services required.

Are funeral costs tax-deductible?

No, unfortunately, funeral expenses are not tax-deductible. IRS will not qualify funeral costs as tax deductions.

How much does a funeral cost?

The average cost of an adult funeral with viewing and burial in the U.S. is $7,848. If the cemetery requires a vault the average cost can go up to $9,420.

How much does cremation cost?

The average adult funeral cost with viewing and cremation is $6,970.

How much does it cost to be cremated?

A direct cremation can cost less than $1,000. Cremation with embalming and viewing can cost $6,970 or higher.

What are the cheapest funeral costs?

Printed materials for the funeral are often the cheapest funeral cost. Other cheaper funeral cost includes funeral clothing and body preparation.

Who is legally responsible for funeral costs?

The executor is legally responsible for paying the funeral cost if there is a will or an estate plan. If there is no will, the next of kin or family member is responsible for paying the funeral expenses.

Does Social Security pay for funeral costs?

Social Security does not pay for funeral costs but will give the eligible family member a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255 to help pay the funeral cost.

Does Medicare cover funeral costs?

No, Medicare does not cover funeral costs because it is not considered a medical expense.

How much does funeral shipping cost?

Funeral shipping can cost around $2,000 or more, depending on the distance. If a person dies out of state or overseas, the shipping costs will be higher.

How much does a casket cost?

An average casket can cost between $2,000 to $5,000. The price varies by style, materials, and design.

How much is a burial plot?

The average burial plot for caskets can range from $525 to $5,000. The average burial plot for cremated remains can cost $350 to $2,500.

What is the average cost of a funeral in 2021?

The average funeral cost with viewing and burial in 2021, according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) report, is $7,848, while a funeral with viewing and cremation costs $6, 970.

What are reasonable funeral costs?

Reasonable funeral costs fall within or close to the average funeral cost report of the National Funeral Directors Association, which is $7,848 for an adult funeral with viewing and burial and $6,970 for a funeral with viewing and cremation.

What is the average cost of a burial casket?

The average cost of a burial casket is $2,500. The price can be lower or higher depending on the style and materials used for the casket.

Is it cheaper to be cremated or buried?

It is generally cheaper to be cremated than buried. Cremation cost is significantly lower, especially if you go for direct cremation. You will only pay less than $1,000.

Why are funerals so expensive?

Funerals are expensive, and they cost more because people make hasty decisions without thinking during an emotional time.

Are open casket funerals common?

Open casket funeral is common in the US. Relatives of people who died without an infectious disease can always opt for an open casket funeral for their loved ones.

Can you be buried without a coffin?

Yes, you can be buried in a burial shroud. Some cemeteries allow green burials.

How can you save on funeral costs?

• Donate your body to science.
• Compare prices before deciding on providers
• Skip embalming
• Opt for direct cremation or direct burial
• Buy a casket or urn, not from a funeral home
• Go for a green burial
• Consider a home funeral

What happens if you can’t afford a funeral?

If you can’t afford a full-service funeral, your best option is direct cremation because it is the cheapest option. You can also go to crowdfunding sites like gofundme.com to raise funds for a funeral.

What is the cheapest form of burial?

Direct burial is the least expensive burial option because it will not require embalming or visitation.

How much does Social Security pay for funeral expenses?

Social Security pays $255 to eligible survivors to help pay for the funeral expenses.

How much cheaper is cremation than burial?

According to NFDA, the average funeral with a vault can cost $9,420. Cremation is cheaper than burial, you can save about one-third of the cost if you prefer cremation.

How can I raise money to cover a funeral?

People who can’t afford a funeral can go to crowdfunding sites like gofundme.com to raise funds for a funeral