In 2025, 63.4% of Americans are projected to choose being cremated over a traditional burial. Just how much does it cost to cremate someone? The average costs of cremation can vary significantly depending on where you live and the type of services you are looking for.
The above tool allows you to explore average cremation costs near you by state and cremation service type. Also, the following guide provides a detailed breakdown of how much it can cost to cremate someone to help you with your or your loved one’s funeral planning.
Average Cremation Costs By State
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a cremation is $6,280, including a memorial service and body viewing. However, costs vary by state. The average cremation cost in Florida is within the national average at $6,103. By comparison, an average cremation in Maryland is $7,023.
| State | Cremation Cost |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $5,858 |
| Alaska | $5,812 |
| Arizona | $5,505 |
| Arkansas | $5,890 |
| California | $5,812 |
| Colorado | $5,505 |
| Connecticut | $7,023 |
| Delaware | $6,103 |
| Florida | $6,103 |
| Georgia | $6,103 |
| Hawaii | $6,103 |
| Idaho | $5,812 |
| Illinois | $5,505 |
| Indiana | $6,120 |
| Iowa | $6,120 |
| Kansas | $6,713 |
| Kentucky | $6,713 |
| Louisiana | $5,858 |
| Maine | $5,890 |
| Maryland | $7,023 |
| Massachusetts | $6,103 |
| Michigan | $7,023 |
| Minnesota | $6,120 |
| Mississippi | $6,713 |
| Missouri | $5,858 |
| Montana | $6,713 |
| Nebraska | $5,505 |
| Nevada | $6,713 |
| New Hampshire | $5,505 |
| New Jersey | $7,023 |
| New Mexico | $6,498 |
| New York | $5,505 |
| North Carolina | $6,498 |
| North Dakota | $6,103 |
| Ohio | $6,713 |
| Oklahoma | $6,120 |
| Oregon | $5,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,812 |
| Rhode Island | $6,498 |
| South Carolina | $7,023 |
| South Dakota | $6,103 |
| Tennessee | $6,713 |
| Texas | $5,858 |
| Utah | $5,890 |
| Vermont | $5,505 |
| Virginia | $7,023 |
| Washington | $6,103 |
| Washington DC | $5,812 |
| West Virginia | $6,103 |
| Wisconsin | $6,120 |
| Wyoming | $5,505 |
| Source: 2023 NFDA General Price List Study | |
Direct Cremation Costs- Cremation Without Services
According to Funeralocity, the average direct cremation costs $2,183, and it’s the most affordable cremation type. It’s sometimes called “simple cremation,” “basic cremation,” or “immediate cremation.”
Direct cremation is when the cremation provider immediately cremates the body in a cremation container (aka “cremation casket”) and places it in an alternative container without a viewing or full funeral service. Your loved ones cannot view the body or conduct a funeral ceremony before the crematorium incinerates the body.
It’s so inexpensive because you’re essentially just paying the cremation fees. You’re not paying for the burial plot, embalming, casket, headstone, refrigeration, funeral facility charges, or other basic services fees or additional costs.
Costs for direct cremation also vary significantly by state. For example, direct cremation in Alabama costs $2,032 on average, while in Nevada it costs $1,467 on average.
The table below outlines direct cremation service costs by state on a high, low, and average basis to help you better understand how much a direct cremation would cost near you.
| State | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $695 | $4,475 | $2,032 |
| Alaska | $1,275 | $2,985 | $1,972 |
| Arizona | $400 | $2,895 | $1,490 |
| Arkansas | $595 | $3,595 | $1,679 |
| California | $438 | $4,450 | $1,642 |
| Colorado | $495 | $4,012 | $1,725 |
| Connecticut | $899 | $6,520 | $3,102 |
| Delaware | $1,195 | $5,000 | $2,603 |
| Florida | $484 | $5,190 | $1,706 |
| Georgia | $550 | $4,810 | $1,940 |
| Hawaii | $895 | $3,150 | $1,688 |
| Idaho | $765 | $2,825 | $1,706 |
| Illinois | $695 | $6,045 | $2,564 |
| Indiana | $695 | $5,695 | $2,295 |
| Iowa | $995 | $5,405 | $2,991 |
| Kansas | $695 | $7,245 | $2,553 |
| Kentucky | $800 | $4,450 | $2,031 |
| Louisiana | $610 | $4,149 | $2,312 |
| Maine | $825 | $4,830 | $2,372 |
| Maryland | $695 | $4,925 | $2,419 |
| Massachusetts | $995 | $5,305 | $2,720 |
| Michigan | $695 | $4,495 | $2,268 |
| Minnesota | $995 | $5,545 | $2,955 |
| Mississippi | $300 | $6,860 | $1,994 |
| Missouri | $635 | $4,780 | $1,852 |
| Montana | $995 | $4,090 | $2,476 |
| Nebraska | $995 | $5,100 | $2,958 |
| Nevada | $559 | $2,370 | $1,467 |
| New Hampshire | $1,275 | $4,738 | $2,190 |
| New Jersey | $786 | $5,810 | $2,511 |
| New Mexico | $725 | $3,700 | $1,935 |
| New York | $555 | $9,800 | $2,395 |
| North Carolina | $500 | $4,900 | $1,933 |
| North Dakota | $1,260 | $4,500 | $3,183 |
| Ohio | $575 | $4,375 | $2,057 |
| Oklahoma | $695 | $4,980 | $2,159 |
| Oregon | $595 | $2,440 | $1,319 |
| Pennsylvania | $500 | $6,360 | $2,460 |
| Rhode Island | $1,320 | $5,145 | $2,619 |
| South Carolina | $275 | $4,590 | $1,911 |
| South Dakota | $1,170 | $4,450 | $2,826 |
| Tennessee | $500 | $4,530 | $1,933 |
| Texas | $500 | $6,595 | $2,135 |
| Utah | $595 | $2,995 | $1,627 |
| Vermont | $1,290 | $3,405 | $2,297 |
| Virginia | $775 | $5,480 | $2,515 |
| Washington | $495 | $3,855 | $1,522 |
| Washington DC | $925 | $6,800 | $2,206 |
| West Virginia | $750 | $4,218 | $2,289 |
| Wisconsin | $895 | $7,538 | $2,908 |
| Wyoming | $1,295 | $3,580 | $2,550 |
| Source: Funeralocity. Data valid as of 03/09/2026. | |||
Breakdown Of Cremation Funeral Costs
Opting for a full-service cremation incurs additional costs, including embalming and body preparation, facility use for viewing and services, transportation, and printed materials.
The infographic illustrates a breakdown of the average costs of a full-service cremation based on the National Funeral Directors Association’s statistics.
Cost Of Cremation Vs. Burial
Cremation pricing is lower than traditional burial, which is why Americans are increasingly choosing cremations vs burials. The NFDA estimates that the current cremation rate is approximately 60%, and anticipates that cremations will account for 80% of funeral types by 2045.
The current median cost of a cremation service with viewing is $6,280. However, if you opt for a basic cremation (the cheapest type), the average price drops to $2,202.
In contrast, the average cost of a traditional funeral and burial service with a viewing is $8,300, or $9,995 if a vault is added. The average price of a direct burial is $5,138, and green burials cost roughly $2,250.
How To Reduce The Cost Of A Cremation
Even though cremation funerals are cheaper than burials, they can still get very costly, depending on your preferences. Here are some functional ways to save money on a funeral:
- Shop around — Funeral home cremation costs vary significantly. Call at least five funeral homes or crematories for price estimates. Funeral homes, by law, must give you prices over the telephone if you ask. You’ll also need to arrange for the transfer of the body from the place of death to the funeral home or crematory. Check with multiple providers to ensure you get the best price possible.
- Get a general price list (GPL) — The FTC’s Funeral Rule grants you certain rights when shopping for cremation options. One such right is to see a General Price List (GPL) that spells out their crematory fees and the cost of all their products and other services.
- Keep your budget unknown — Don’t disclose to any providers how much you can spend. Otherwise, they might offer a cremation package that matches your budget.
- Buy the urn somewhere else — It is your right to purchase a cremation urn from a third-party vendor. By law, they are required to accept products from other providers. You can find affordable urns from online stores such as Amazon.
- Rent the casket for viewing instead of buying it — If you opt for a wake (viewing), you’ll need a casket to showcase the body. Funeral homes typically offer rental caskets for $750 to $1,500. Comparatively, caskets can cost between $2,000 and $10,000 on average if you purchase one.
- Conduct the memorial at a private residence — Upon completing the necessary paperwork, holding a viewing ceremony for the deceased at your home is perfectly legal, allowing friends and family to pay their last respects. Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for the transfer of remains from your home to the crematory.
- Opt for direct cremation — A direct cremation does not include a full-service funeral, which is why it’s so much less expensive. In fact, there is no memorial service or viewing of any kind. The body is immediately cremated and returned to the family.
It’s wise to become familiar with all your rights under The Funeral Rule to ensure you get the best price possible for your desired service.
What You Can Do With The Ashes, Including The Cost
After the cremation process is complete, you must decide what to do with the ashes and the urn. There are dozens of options, most of which are unknown to the general populace. Deciding what you would like to be done with your ashes can have a significant impact on how much it costs to be cremated.
- Keep the cremains at home ($70-$2,250) — This is the most common option. You store the cremated remains in an urn and place it on a mantle or other designated spot in your home for safekeeping. The only cost you incur is that of the urn.
- Keepsake urns ($25-$60) — These are tiny urns meant only to hold a portion of the cremains. The idea is that family members will all have their own keepsake urn to retain a part of their departed loved one.
- Scatter the ashes ($100-$1,000) — Some people want their ashes scattered as their final resting place. Many state and local governments have strict rules about scattering human cremains. It would be wise to check your local laws before scattering any ashes.
- Scattering gardens ($100-$1,000) — Some cemeteries have specific gardens set up where you can spread the deceased’s ashes.
- Scatter in water ($100-$1,000) — Dumping the ashes in a body of water is often called a “burial at sea” or “water burial.” You essentially drop a biodegradable urn (containing the ashes inside), allowing it to dissolve in water. Or you can dump the raw ashes directly in the water. Check your state and local laws before disposing of cremains in a body of water. Many states have regulations that govern if and how you can spread human ashes in water.
- Urn/remains burial ($350-$3,000)– While uncommon, some people opt to bury the urn of remains in a cemetery. The average cost of burying an urn at a cemetery is $350-$3,000; there may also be additional fees if you work with a cemetery that requires an urn vault.
- Store in a columbarium or mausoleum ($1,000- $60,000) — A columbarium is a building that has little niches meant to hold urns. A mausoleum is a small house-like structure meant to store caskets or urns. Some mausoleums are very large and extravagant, making them extremely expensive.
- Cremation jewelry ($1,250-$13,200) — You can have a small portion of the ashes mixed in with the materials necessary to make a ring, pendant, or another piece of jewelry.
- Vinyl record ($2,250) — The ashes can be pressed into a vinyl record that plays whatever music you want.
- Tattoo ($200-$500) — The tattoo artist will add a small amount of the cremains to the ink before applying the tattoo.
- Painting ($100-$1,000) — An artist will mix a small amount of the ashes into their paint.
- Space ($5,000-$12,500) — You can pay to have your ashes ejected into space.
- Coral reef ($4,500-$7,500) — Companies like Eternal Reefs use some of the ashes when they construct an artificial reef formation. Over time, this will attract and grow into an entire reef system in the ocean.
- Fireworks display ($400-$5,000) — Some ashes will be incorporated into the fireworks.
- Memorial tree ($6,700-$25,000) — Companies like Better Place Foresters will integrate some of the ashes into the soil near a dedicated tree that you select. They’ll also place a permanent marker on or near the tree, signifying who lies there.
There are many more options, including having your ashes scattered from a plane.
Ways To Pay For Cremation Expenses
Pre-planning your funeral is an act of love. Everyone should do it so that surviving loved ones don’t have to make hasty decisions under great emotional duress.
That said, how the funeral will be paid for is a critical part of the funeral planning process. You cannot rely on Social Security, as it only provides $255 in benefits after someone passes away. Also, most states don’t offer financial assistance via Medicaid.
Here are the most practical ways to pay for the cost of cremating a person.
- Buy cremation insurance — Cremation insurance is a small whole life insurance policy designed to cover cremation costs. These plans last your entire life, and the monthly premiums remain level. After you die, your beneficiaries will receive tax-free funds from the insurance company. There are no restrictions on how they spend the money, and any unused funds are theirs to keep. Please note that a death certificate is required for your beneficiaries to collect the funds.
- Set up a pre-paid funeral — A pre-paid funeral plan is an agreement directly with a local funeral home. After you design your entire funeral, they will inform you of the net cost. There are several payment options available. First, you can pay it all in cash and be done with it. You can also opt for monthly payments over a period of many years. Once you pass away, the funeral home will execute your final wishes as you’ve designed. Pre-planning is very different than a final expense insurance policy. With a final expense policy, you typically name people, not the funeral home, as the beneficiary.
- Put money in a savings account — If you’re a disciplined saver, you can reliably set aside money in a savings account to one day have enough to cover the total cost. The money in this account should be explicitly earmarked for your final expenses. You must not touch this money in the event of financial emergencies. Otherwise, life will happen as it always does, and then you’d have no money to pay for your cremation service. Also, it’s helpful to have someone else named on your account. If not, your bank account will be subject to the probate process. That would render the funds inaccessible for many months until probate is complete.
- Set up a POD account — A Payable on Demand Account is a unique bank account that includes a beneficiary. The money in the account will be automatically disbursed to your beneficiaries upon your death. Ensure that your beneficiaries are aware of this account so they know to file a claim after your passing.
- Use existing life insurance — All types of life insurance pay out cash to your beneficiaries. There is no reason the proceeds from existing life insurance cannot be used to pay for your cremation expenses. In fact, covering burial and final expenses is the #1 reason Americans purchase life insurance. Just be sure that your current life insurance won’t expire before you do. Some life insurance, such as term life, will expire after a specific number of years. Many life insurance companies offer policies specifically designed to cover end-of-life expenses. They’re often referred to as “burial insurance” or “final expense insurance.” Before making your final decision, compare offers from the best funeral insurance companies to find the policy that best meets your needs.
- Liquidate assets after death — Essentially, your family sells your real property and other items you own. That is the least ideal option due to the time it takes to sell off your assets. More than likely, your entire estate will need to go through the probate process (which can take months) before anyone can sell your valuables.
How To Get A No-Cost Cremation Via Donating Your Body To Science
If a funeral ceremony, memorial, or unique disposal of your ashes does not interest you, consider donating your body to science. If they accept you, they will cremate your body and return the ashes to your family free of charge.
Please be aware that some individuals may not be eligible for body donation. For example, the Mayo Clinic reports that you won’t be eligible if you have certain infectious diseases such as Hepatitis or HIV.
It’s important to note that every organization with a body donation program establishes its own guidelines. For example, Science Care would deny you because of an extremely high or low BMI.
If you plan to donate your body, it would be wise to ensure the receiving organization will accept you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct cremation and direct burial are the cheapest types of funerals. A direct cremation typically costs $2,250 through a crematory, and a direct burial typically costs $5,138.
Yes, cremations can be carried out without a funeral. Often referred to as “direct cremation” or “immediate cremation,” these are a type of cremation that does not include a memorial package of any kind. The body is immediately cremated, and the ashes are returned to the family.
Direct cremation is the most affordable option. With direct cremation, the body is cremated immediately without undergoing a viewing or any other type of funeral service. On average, a direct cremation costs about $2,250, depending on the funeral home.
Cremation without a funeral or services is considered a “direct cremation” or “immediate cremation” and is the most affordable option. The national mean average cost is about $2,250, but it varies by state. At the low end, it costs an average of $1,319 to be cremated in Nevada, and at the high end, $3,183 in North Dakota.
The average cost of burying an urn in a cemetery is $350-$3,000. It varies based on multiple factors, including the type of urn, placement in the cemetery, open and closing fees, and more.
Cremation is relatively affordable, but it can get costly if you opt for a full cremation service. Funeral home fees, viewing fees, expensive urns, and other factors can drive the price up to, or even exceed, what a burial service would cost.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 16 years of experience.
- Personal annual production that puts him in the top .001% out of all life insurance agents in the nation.
Anthony Martin is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 16 years of experience and has personally served over 10,000 clients with their life insurance needs. He frequently authors entrepreneurial and life insurance content for Forbes, Inc.com, Newsweek, Kiplinger, and Entreprenuer.com. Anthony has been consulted as an expert life insurance source for dozens of high-profile websites such as Forbes, Bankrate, Reuters, Fox Business, CNBC, Investopedia, Insurance.com, Yahoo Finance, and many more.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 20 years of experience
- Best selling Amazon author.
Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 20 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
- Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.
David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 20 years of experience
- Best selling Amazon author.
Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 20 years of experience. He has personally helped over 3000 clients with their life insurance needs. Jeff is a best-selling Amazon author and the managing partner of a highly successful insurance brokerage that manages over 2,500 licensed insurance agents across the USA. He has been a featured life insurance source for prestigious websites such as Forbes, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Nerdwallet, and many more.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
- Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.
David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience. He has personally helped more than 15,000 clients buy life insurance. David has been featured as an expert source for highly authoritative publications such as A.M. Best and Insurancenewsnet. He also runs one of the largest Youtube channels to help aspiring insurance agents serve their clients better.
Choice Mutual often cites third-party websites to provide context and verification for specific claims made in our work. We only link to authoritative websites that provide accurate information. You can learn more about our editorial standards, which guide our mission of delivering factual and impartial content.
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NFDA. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral
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Funeralocity. https://www.funeralocity.com/average-funeral-price
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National Funeral Directors Association. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral
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Funeralocity. https://www.funeralocity.com/average-funeral-price
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NFDA. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
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NFDA anticipates. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/7717/us-cremation-rate-expected-to-top-80-by-2045
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NFDA. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/8134/2023-nfda-general-price-list-study-shows-inflation-increasing-faster-than-the-cost-of-a-funeral
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FTC’s Funeral Rule. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule
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General Price List. https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-funeral-rule#the-general-price-list
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Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/urns/s?k=urns
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rental caskets. https://dfsmemorials.com/cremation-blog/save-money-using-a-rental-casket-for-a-cremation-service/
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The Funeral Rule. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/truth-advertising/funeral-rule
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mausoleum. https://trustedcaskets.com/blogs/news/what-is-a-mausoleum-the-pros-and-cons
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space. https://www.celestis.com/
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Eternal Reefs. https://www.eternalreefs.com/
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Better Place Foresters. https://www.betterplaceforests.com/
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plane. https://www.ajourneywithwings.com/
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Social Security. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html
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probate process. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/the_probate_process/
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Payable on Demand Account. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/avoid-probate-book/chapter1-1.html
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Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/body-donation/why-donation-denied
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Science Care. https://www.sciencecare.com/resources/faq-whole-body-donation-science-care#pre
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columbarium. https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/grants/columbarium_cremain_burials.asp
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63.4%. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/9786/nfda-releases-2025-cremation-burial-report-comprehensive-insights-to-guide-the-future-of-funeral-service
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Direct cremation. https://www.cremationsocietyofamerica.com/direct-cremation/
