Pricing Guide: Memorial, Funeral, Grave marker and Burial Costs
When someone in your family passes away, it’s hard to process how to feel and it often takes time to figure out how to navigate your normal day-to-day. In the midst of your grieving process, you may be feeling the added stress of planning a funeral for your loved one.
When planning a funeral or a memorial, you are unfortunately tasked with making a lot of decisions - usually quickly - all while going through the emotional toll that is brought on by a death in the family. You may be feeling like you don’t know where to begin with making arrangements; you’re probably asking yourself, “how much does a funeral cost?”
The painful truth is that funeral costs have been on the rise over the past several decades. Today, the average cost of a funeral is right around $9,000, with larger and more elaborate funeral services costing more. If you choose to cremate, the average cost for a funeral with cremation is around $6,000-$7,000.
As you begin to try to make some decisions about your loved one’s funeral, the main items that you will want to research include:
The casket cost
The embalming (should you choose to do so)
The cremation and urn cost (should you choose to cremate)
Service fees associated with the funeral home or cemetery
The transportation of your loved one from the funeral site to the cemetery
The burial and viewing arrangements
The headstone or grave cost
Other items such as flowers, having some form of reception after the burial, etc.
We list these items out not to overwhelm you, but rather to help you make sense of all that goes into planning a funeral so that you feel properly prepared.
How much is a burial plot?
The costs associated with the funeral service and the embalming or cremation process are separate from the charges associated with a burial plot. Most cemeteries will have their own costs associated with purchasing a burial plot, as well as the opening of the plot and the covering of the casket. While it largely depends on the cemetery and the area that you live in, average burial plot costs run anywhere between $1,000-$4,000. We advise that you call the cemetery - or several in your area to compare prices - ahead of time to get a sense of what they charge for burial plots. It’s best to get as much information as you can before deciding on a cemetery.
Tips for saving on funeral costs
We cannot stress enough the importance of pre-planning. While no one can predict the future, if you have any early indication that you will be needing to plan a funeral or a memorial we recommend setting aside some funds for the funeral costs as early as possible. That way, when the time comes to plan the funeral you hopefully won’t feel as stressed about the costs. Other things you can do to potentially alleviate some of the funeral costs include:
Don’t feel pressured to purchase services that you don’t want. As we mentioned at the start of this guide, planning a funeral often puts you in the position of making a lot of hard decisions in a very short amount of time. You also may not be thinking as clearly during such an emotionally heavy time. Make sure that you are not getting pressured into paying for items that you don’t feel you need.
Make calls, compare prices, and don’t be afraid to shop around. There is nothing wrong with weighing your options when it comes to choosing a funeral home or a cemetery. It’s a good idea to reach out to several different funeral service providers and cemeteries in your area before making any decisions.
Ask for a quote, an itemized list, or a written price breakdown. Particularly when shopping for a casket (or an urn if you are choosing to cremate), don’t be afraid to ask for prices in writing. Getting a chance to look everything over before you make a purchasing decision will help you make sure you are staying inside your budget.
Don’t rule out alternative, non-traditional arrangements for burial. There is something special about using an alternative container as an urn, especially if you have a family heirloom or household item of some kind that meant something to your loved one. You might also consider hosting the funeral service at your home, or in a private space that is important to your family. Hosting the funeral or memorial at a private residence or space will save you money on funeral and burial costs.
We hope that our pricing guide has helped answer some of the questions you may be having about how much a funeral costs. For more information on the costs associated with headstones, please be sure to read our guide: “How Much Do Headstones Cost?”