How much does burial cost?
How much does burial cost?
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If you're trying to understand burial costs, then it might be helpful to first understand the what your burial funeral options are. While there are many different ways to customize and personalize a funeral, the most common burial funeral types are:
Green Burial
Direct Burial, sometimes called immediate burial
Burial with graveside service
Burial with viewing and funeral service
Below, we dive into the services and costs of each, based on the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) General Price List Survey. Prices will vary by state, city and funeral home.
Before you continue, we wanted to let you know that After Goodbye works with local funeral homes to list their services on our website. Funeral homes bundle commonly purchased services into packages for your convenience. You can see these packages, compare them across other funeral homes and personalize your arrangements from the comfort of your couch. Our services are completely free, find funeral homes near you now.
Green Burials Explained
Green Burials Explained
What is a green burial?
What is a green burial?
Green burials are defined by the Green Burial Council as the process of burial without any toxic preparation of the body and use of only organic containers and materials. This means the body cannot be embalmed by traditional methods. The goal is to care for the deceased and have a funeral by natural means from start to finish.
If there is no embalming involved, can I still have an open casket visitation?
If there is no embalming involved, can I still have an open casket visitation?
By law, embalming is not required for a funeral, however most funeral homes will require it to have an open casket viewing. Funeral homes approved by the green burial council must have an option for a viewing without embalming.
Are prices for green burials the same as traditional burials?
Are prices for green burials the same as traditional burials?
While most of the services remain the same, a green burial might actually be cheaper than a traditional burial. This is due to the omission of embalming, wood or metal caskets, which are the most expensive caskets, outer burial containers and non-natural grave markers from the funeral process. With a green burial, you can still have a visitation, funeral service, graveside service or any other service you would like at the same price as a non-green burial. These costs all vary by funeral home, but you can use the below burial packages as a guide.
Can I have a green burial at any cemetery?
Can I have a green burial at any cemetery?
No. In fact, most cemeteries do not offer the ability to have a natural burial without an outer burial container or grave marker. However, you can find a green burial council approved cemetery on their website.
Common fees for all burial funerals
Common fees for all burial funerals
*All costs below will vary by state, city or county
What is a cash advance item?
What is a cash advance item?
A cash advance is a common purchase, such as a death certificate, that a funeral home does not provide but will obtain for you at no additional cost. Funeral homes will charge you for these costs once and advance them to the respective vendors and agencies so you don't have to manage multiple payments. For example, a death certificate and a burial permit are purchased from separate government agencies. Since funeral directors deal with these agencies all the time, they will collect payment from you and advance it to the respective agencies, saving you the time and headache. Funeral homes do not mark up these costs. If a funeral home charges you a fee for obtaining any cash advance item, that fee must be listed separately from the cost of the item.
Common cash advances include:
Common cash advances include:
Burial Permit - ~$40
Before a burial can occur, you will need to obtain a permit to bury your loved one from the state, city or county where they will be buried.
*Costs will vary by state, city or county
Death Certificates - ~$15 per copy
A certified death certificate is often required to certify a loved ones death for an estate, financial institution, insurance company, social security and many other companies. Each company or institution typically requires a certified death certificate for their records, which means you will need to purchase multiple death certificates.
Note - Additional copies are often cheaper than the first copy.
Cemetery Costs: $3,400 to $15,000
Cemetery Costs: $3,400 to $15,000
The most common costs you will incur at a cemetery include the burial plot, opening and closing fees, a grave marker and cemetery maintenance fees.
Burial Plot: $1,000 to $4,000
Purchasing a plot really means you are purchasing "interment rights" to determine who can be buried in a specific place in the cemetery. The land is still the property of the cemetery, but you own the right to be buried there in perpetuity.
Grave Opening & Closing: $500 to $1,500
Cemeteries may charge one fee for both opening and closing, but sometimes this will be two separate fees. It's an important question to clarify with the cemetery when you are looking to purchase a plot.
Grave Marker: $250 - $5,000
A grave marker, sometimes called a headstone or a tombstone, is concrete or granite structure at the head of the grave that identifies the plot with the deceased’s name, dates of life, and sometimes personal inscriptions. Grave markers come in all different shapes and sizes. They may be as simple as a plaque laid into the ground, or as unique as one made by an artisan headstone maker.
Grave Marker Installation Fee: $500 to $1,000
Cemeteries may charge you to install the marker on the grave.
Endowment Care: $150 to $500
Usually a one-time fee charged by the cemetery to pay for general maintenance and upkeep at the cemetery. This price can be a flat fee or up to 15% of the plot price.
Direct Burial: $4,500
Direct Burial: $4,500
What is a direct burial?
What is a direct burial?
Sometimes called immediate burial, this package includes burial of the deceased without any funeral services or viewings before they are laid to rest. It is a simple option including transportation of the deceased to the funeral home, basic care and transport to the cemetery for burial.
Other important notes about direct burials:
Other important notes about direct burials:
Direct burials are one of the two packages that funeral homes are allowed to offer without having to itemize the price of each service included.
Prices below do not include any cemetery costs.
What services are included in the price of a direct burial?
What services are included in the price of a direct burial?
Basic Services: $2,300
Basic Service fees are a non-declinable service charged by the funeral home when planning funeral arrangements. This cost covers the fees for:
The staff's time to plan and coordinate services with all other parties involved in the funeral.
The arrangement conference with the family.
Securing any necessary authorizations or permits.
Overhead and administrative costs, such as facility maintenance, equipment, insurance and governmental compliance.
*Some funeral homes may offer a reduced basic services fee for a direct burial as there is minimal planning and coordination for a direct burial.
Transfer of remains to funeral home: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.
Transfer of remains to the cemetery with a hearse: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the cemetery in a Hearse. Typically you can request the use of an alternative vehicle instead of a hearse which may lower the cost.
Casket: $1,500
Casket prices vary greatly based on many factors, the most significant one being material. Below are the median prices for caskets by their material:
Wood Burial Casket: $3,000
Metal Burial Casket: $2,500
Natural Material Casket: $1,500
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Outer Burial Container: $1,572
An outer burial container, sometimes called a burial vault, is a concrete or granite structure that surrounds the casket in the cemetery plot. These may be required by a cemetery to help prevent the ground from caving in.
Alternative Container: $150
Since a direct burial does not include any services or viewings, an alternative containers is an option to save on casket costs. Alternative containers are basic containers often made of sturdy cardboard or fiberboard.
Cemetery Fees: Starting at $3,400
To see a list of the cemetery fees that make up this price, please see the cemetery fee section
*Some funeral homes may charge for custodial care, like refrigeration, if embalming is not chosen in the funeral arrangements. Those costs were not included in the survey results and therefore are not included in this article.
Burial with Graveside Service: $4,950
Burial with Graveside Service: $4,950
What is a graveside service?
What is a graveside service?
A graveside service, sometimes called a committal service, is a last rites ceremony performed graveside before the deceased is buried. Timing and cost depends on the cemetery, but graveside services are typically less than 30 minutes.
How is this package different from a direct burial?
How is this package different from a direct burial?
This package includes the same basic services as a direct burial, however it also includes the ability to have a small ceremony at the cemetery before the deceased is buried. Neither of these packages offer any viewings of the deceased before they are buried.
Other important notes about this package:
Other important notes about this package:
You may want to contact any religious or spiritual leaders that the deceased may have known to perform the ceremony at the grave.
What services are included in the price of a burial with graveside service?
What services are included in the price of a burial with graveside service?
Basic Services: $2,300
Basic Service fees are a non-declinable service charged by the funeral home when planning funeral arrangements. This cost covers the fees for:
The staff's time to plan and coordinate services with all other parties involved in the funeral.
The arrangement conference with the family.
Securing any necessary authorizations or permits.
Overhead and administrative costs, such as facility maintenance, equipment, insurance and governmental compliance.
Transfer of remains to funeral home: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.
Transfer of remains to the cemetery with a hearse: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the cemetery in a Hearse. Typically you can request the use of an alternative vehicle instead of a hearse which may lower the cost.
Use of Staff and Equipment for graveside service: $450
This cost is for use of the funeral home equipment and staff for supervision of the service.
Casket: $1,500
Casket prices vary greatly based on many factors, the most significant one being material. Below are the median prices for caskets by their material:
Wood Burial Casket: $3,000
Metal Burial Casket: $2,500
Natural Material Casket: $1,500
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Outer Burial Container: $1,572
An outer burial container, sometimes called a burial vault, is a concrete or granite structure that surrounds the casket in the cemetery plot. These may be required by a cemetery to help prevent the ground from caving in.
Alternative Container: $150
An alternative container is an option to save on casket costs. Alternative containers are basic containers often made of sturdy cardboard or fiberboard.
Cemetery Fees: Starting at $3,400
To see a list of the cemetery fees that make up this price, please see the cemetery fee section
*Some funeral homes may charge for custodial care, like refrigeration, if embalming is not chosen in the funeral arrangements. Those costs were not included in the survey results and therefore are not included in this article.
See prices for burial with graveside service packages at funeral homes near you.
Burial with Visitation and Funeral Service - $6,515
Burial with Visitation and Funeral Service - $6,515
What is a visitation?
What is a visitation?
A visitation is a gathering for family and friends to come together in the presence of the body, be it an open or closed casket. This price includes having the visitation at the funeral home.
What is a funeral service?
What is a funeral service?
A funeral service is a gathering of family and friends but for the purpose of having a final religious ceremony. This price includes having the funeral service at the funeral home.
How is this package different from a direct burial?
How is this package different from a direct burial?
This package includes the same basic services as a direct burial, however it also includes a viewing of the deceased and a formal religious ceremony before the burial.
What services are included in the price of a burial with visitation and funeral service?
What services are included in the price of a burial with visitation and funeral service?
Basic Services: $2,300
Basic Service fees are a non-declinable service charged by the funeral home when planning funeral arrangements. This cost covers the fees for:
The staff's time to plan and coordinate services with all other parties involved in the funeral.
The arrangement conference with the family.
Securing any necessary authorizations or permits.
Overhead and administrative costs, such as facility maintenance, equipment, insurance and governmental compliance.
Transfer of remains to funeral home: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.
Embalming: $775
Embalming is the process of replacing a body’s fluids with a formaldehyde solution to delay decomposition. Once a body has been embalmed, it does not need to be refrigerated. If you’ve been to an open casket viewing before, chances are you were looking at an embalmed body as most funeral homes will require embalming for an open casket viewing. Though, its important to note that by law embalming is not required to be purchased for a funeral. However, most funeral homes will require embalming if you select certain services, like a viewing.
Other preparation of the body: $275
This includes fees for common services that are needed when you have a visitation. These services include washing, cosmetology, dressing and casketing.
Use of staff and facilities for visitation: $450
A visitation is a gathering for family and friends to come together in the presence of the body, be it an open or closed casket. This price includes having the visitation at the funeral home.
Use of staff and facilities for funeral service: $515
A funeral service is a gathering of family and friends but for the purpose of having a final religious ceremony. This price includes having the funeral service at the funeral home.
Transfer of remains to the cemetery with a hearse: $350
These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the cemetery in a Hearse. Typically you can request the use of an alternative vehicle instead of a hearse which may lower the cost.
Casket: $1,500
Casket prices vary greatly based on many factors, the most significant one being material. Below are the median prices for caskets by their material:
Wood Burial Casket: $3,000
Metal Burial Casket: $2,500
Natural Material Casket: $1,500
Instead of a casket, you may choose to rent a casket and purchase an alternative container or natural casket for the burial. Rental casket availability varies by funeral home.
Rental Casket: $995
Rental caskets are an option for those who want to have a viewing in a traditional looking casket, but want to have the burial in an alternative container or natural casket. Not all funeral homes offer rental caskets and you may be limited to a smaller selection, so be sure to discuss your options with the funeral director before you make a decision.
Alternative Container - $150
Many people don’t know that the deceased needs to be laid in a container before they can be put into a cremator. Alternative containers are basic containers often made of sturdy cardboard or fiberboard. They are the most commonly used containers for cremations and the lowest cost as well.
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Other costs that may be added to this package:
Outer Burial Container: $1,572
An outer burial container, sometimes called a burial vault, is a concrete or granite structure that surrounds the casket in the cemetery plot. These may be required by a cemetery to help prevent the ground from caving in.
Cemetery Fees: Starting at $3,400
To see a list of the cemetery fees that make up this price, please see the cemetery fee section
See prices for burial with visitation and funeral service packages at funeral homes near you.
If you're looking for more information about funeral costs or planning a funeral, check out our funeral planning page for more articles and answers to your questions.
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Sources
Photo by Aubrey Odom-Mabey on Unsplash
All costs are derived from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2021 General Price List Survey. It looked at the price lists of 814 funeral homes from around the country and compiled the median price of common services.
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