Funeral costs, explained
What a funeral really costs.
The average cost of a funeral with burial or cremation, what the price includes, what comes on top, and the legal rights that help you pay less.
Funeral with viewing and burial
$8,300
National median · plus cemetery costs
Funeral with viewing and cremation
$6,280
National median
Source: National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 General Price List Study
The short answer
The national median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023. With a viewing and cremation, it was $6,280, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Those figures cover funeral home charges only. The cemetery plot, vault and headstone come on top.
Key takeaways
- Burial with a viewing: $8,300 national median in 2023 (NFDA).
- Cremation with a viewing: $6,280 national median in 2023 (NFDA).
- Cemetery costs are extra: plot, grave opening, vault and headstone.
- The FTC Funeral Rule gives you the right to itemized prices, by phone or in writing.
- Direct cremation and immediate burial are generally the lowest-cost options.
Where the money goes
What funeral expenses include
A funeral home's General Price List breaks the bill into items. You can decline anything marked optional.
Basic services fee
Usually requiredThe funeral director's time, planning, permits and overhead. Every funeral home charges it.
Transfer of remains
Usually requiredBringing the body from the place of death to the funeral home.
Embalming and preparation
OptionalPreserving and preparing the body for a viewing. Generally not required by law.
Viewing and ceremony
OptionalUse of the funeral home's rooms and staff for a visitation or service.
Hearse and cars
OptionalTransport to the service and the cemetery.
Casket or urn
OptionalOften the single largest item. You can buy one elsewhere.
Side by side
Burial costs vs. cremation costs
Bars show national median funeral home charges (2023, NFDA), drawn to scale. Cemetery costs vary by location and are not included.
| Cost | Traditional burial | Cremation |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral home charges (median) | $8,300 with viewing | $6,280 with viewing; less for direct cremation |
| Burial plot | Needed, unless already owned | Optional (for burying ashes) |
| Opening and closing the grave | Usually charged by the cemetery | Only if ashes are buried |
| Vault or grave liner | Often required by the cemetery | Rarely |
| Headstone or marker | Usually | Optional |
Free calculator
Estimate your family's total
Start from the national median, then add cemetery and other costs. Replace any number with a local quote.
Then see how much coverage you'd need
Or request information about final expense insurance:
Call 1-833-635-4066Cemetery costs
These are not included in funeral home prices. Ask your cemetery for its price list. Leave blank if they don't apply.
Estimated total
$8,300
Next: see how much coverage you'd need to pay for this.
Want to help your family be more prepared? Talk to a Licensed Insurance Agent: 1-833-635-4066
The FTC Funeral Rule
The law is on your side
Federal rules protect you when you buy a funeral. Use them.
Prices by phone
Funeral homes must tell you their prices over the phone if you ask.
A written price list
When you visit, you get an itemized General Price List to keep.
Only what you want
Apart from the basic services fee, you can choose items one by one instead of a package.
Your own casket or urn
The funeral home must accept one bought elsewhere and cannot charge a fee for it.
No required embalming
Embalming is generally not required by law, and never for direct cremation or immediate burial.
Pay less
Seven ways to lower funeral costs
- 1Compare two or three funeral homesAsk each for its General Price List. Prices for the same service can differ a lot.
- 2Consider direct cremation or immediate burialThese are generally the lowest-cost options a funeral home offers.
- 3Buy the casket or urn elsewhereOnline and local sellers often charge less, and the funeral home must accept it.
- 4Hold the memorial somewhere elseA church, community hall or home can replace the funeral home chapel.
- 5Skip what you do not wantEmbalming, a second viewing day and extra cars are all optional.
- 6Claim every benefitSocial Security, VA burial benefits and county programs can each help.
- 7Plan aheadSavings, a funeral trust or final expense insurance keep the bill off your family.
Coming soon
Local funeral prices, state by state
We're collecting itemized prices directly from funeral homes and publishing them with the number of homes and the date collected. A state appears once at least 8 funeral homes have reported.
Help paying
Where the money can come from
Common questions about funeral costs
What is the average cost of a funeral?
The national median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial was $8,300 in 2023, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. A funeral with a viewing and cremation was $6,280. These figures cover funeral home charges only, so cemetery costs come on top.
What is not included in the average funeral cost?
The NFDA medians do not include cemetery costs: the burial plot, opening and closing the grave, a burial vault or grave liner, and a headstone or marker. They also leave out flowers, obituary notices and a reception. Ask the cemetery for its own price list.
Is cremation cheaper than burial?
Usually, yes. Cremation avoids most cemetery costs, and direct cremation (no viewing or ceremony at the funeral home) is generally the lowest-cost option a funeral home offers. A cremation with a full viewing and service can still cost several thousand dollars.
Do I have to buy the casket from the funeral home?
No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral home must accept a casket you buy elsewhere, such as online or from a local retailer, and cannot charge you a fee for using it.
Is embalming required by law?
Generally, no. The FTC says embalming is not required by law in most cases. A funeral home may require it for certain services, such as a public viewing, but it must tell you when you can choose an option without embalming, like direct cremation or immediate burial.
Can I get funeral prices over the phone?
Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to give you price information over the phone if you ask. When you visit in person, they must give you a written, itemized General Price List to keep.
Who pays for a funeral if there is no money?
Usually the family or the estate pays. Social Security pays a one-time $255 to an eligible spouse or child, veterans may qualify for VA burial benefits, and many counties or states have limited help for families who cannot afford a funeral.