How much does cremation cost?

Before a cremation can occur, you will need to obtain a permit to cremate your loved one from the state, city or county where they will be cremated.

*Costs will vary by state, city or county

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.

*Costs will vary by state, city or county. Additional copies are often cheaper than the first copy.

For direct cremations, funeral homes typically offer a reduced basic services fee as there is minimal planning and co-ordination and often doesn't require a formal arrangement conference. For all other non-direct packages, the regular basic service fee will be charged. A basic service fee is 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.

*The cost of this fee is an estimate based on the median cost of a direct cremation and the known costs of included services.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the crematory.

A cremation fee is the fee charged by the crematory to process the cremation. This fee is the median fee charged by third party crematories and may be cheaper if the funeral home owns their own crematory. It usually includes a temporary urn, which is a cardboard box, to return the cremated remains to the family.

In most cases, you have the option to pickup the ashes from the crematory or the funeral home at no additional cost. However, if you choose to have the ashes delivered or shipped to you, there will be an associated fee which varies by funeral home.

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.

An urn is a small container that holds the ashes after a cremation. Urns come in all different shapes, sizes and forms. You can purchase urns for specific functions like a scattering urn if you plan to be scattered, or a bio-degradable urn if you plan to bury it.

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.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the crematory.

A cremation fee is the fee charged by the crematory to process the cremation. This fee is the median fee charged by third party crematories and may be cheaper if the funeral home owns their own crematory. It usually includes a temporary urn, which is a cardboard box, to return the cremated remains to the family.

An urn is a small container that holds the ashes after a cremation. Urns come in all different shapes, sizes and forms. You can purchase urns for specific functions like a scattering urn if you plan to be scattered, or a bio-degradable urn if you plan to bury it.

This cost is for use of the funeral home facilities and staff for supervision of the service.

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.

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.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to pick up your loved one and transfer them to the funeral home.

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.

This includes fees for common services that are needed when you have a visitation. These services include washing, cosmetology, dressing and casketing.

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.

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.

These are the transportation fees incurred by the funeral home to transport your loved one from the funeral home to the crematory.

A cremation fee is the fee charged by the crematory to process the cremation. This fee is the median fee charged by third party crematories and may be cheaper if the funeral home owns their own crematory. It usually includes a temporary urn, which is a cardboard box, to return the cremated remains to the family.

A cremation casket is any casket that has little or no metal in it, as most non-metal caskets can be cremated. The most common reason for purchasing a cremation casket is for a viewing or funeral service. However some funeral homes offer rental caskets for these services, which can be a cheaper alternative to a cremation casket.

An urn is a small container that holds the ashes after a cremation. Urns come in all different shapes, sizes and forms. You can purchase urns for specific functions like a scattering urn if you plan to be scattered, or a bio-degradable urn if you plan to bury it.

Rental caskets are an option for those who want to have a viewing in a traditional looking casket, but want to have the cremation 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.

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.