How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
Choosing a funeral home is difficult, and calculating funeral pricing can be even more difficult. The average cost of a funeral is hard to pinpoint, but you can get an idea by looking at the 3 basic funeral cost categories:
- Basic Funeral Home Services Fees
The Funeral Rule lets funeral homes charge basic services fees that the customers cannot decline.
These common costs include:
- Funeral planning
- Securing permits and death certificate copies
- Preparing notices
- Sheltering remains
- Finding and coordinating with the cemetery, crematory or other third parties
- Optional Funeral Arrangements
Funeral goods and services that are not part of basic services include:
- Transporting remains
- Embalming and other preparations
- Use of the funeral home for the viewing, funeral or memorial service
- Equipment and stand for a graveside service
- Hearse or limousine
- Casket price
- Outer burial container or alternate container
- Cremation or internment cost
- Cash Advances from the Funeral Provider
When a funeral provider purchases goods and services from another vendor on your behalf, it’s considered to be a cash advance. These funeral goods and services include:
- Flowers
- Obituary notices
- Pallbearers
- Clergy
- Musicians
Another Note About The Funeral Rule
Some funeral providers charge you only what they pay, while others add a service fee. If a funeral provider charges extra, The Funeral Rule requires written disclosure of that fact, but the disclosure does not have to specify the amount of markup. The Funeral Rule requires the funeral provider to tell the consumer about any refunds, discounts, or rebates from the supplier on any cash advance items.