Average Funeral Costs By State

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the median cost of a funeral with burial is $8,300. However, if you add a vault, the price jumps to $9,995. Furthermore, their report states that a cremation funeral with a viewing typically costs $6,280.

Those figures represent national averages; however, please note that funeral costs can vary depending on location. The table below provides a state-by-state breakdown of funeral costs.

StateBurialCremation
Alabama$7,615$5,858
Alaska$7,835$5,812
Arizona$7,390$5,505
Arkansas$7,912$5,890
California$7,835$5,812
Colorado$7,390$5,505
Connecticut$8,985$7,023
District Of Columbia$8,023$6,103
Delaware$8,023$6,103
Florida$8,023$6,103
Georgia$8,023$6,103
Hawaii$7,835$5,812
Idaho$7,390$5,505
Illinois$8,280$6,120
Indiana$8,280$6,120
Iowa$8,755$6,713
Kansas$8,755$6,713
Kentucky$7,615$5,858
Louisiana$7,912$5,890
Maine$8,985$7,023
Maryland$8,023$6,103
Massachusetts$8,985$7,023
Michigan$8,280$6,120
Minnesota$8,755$6,713
Mississippi$7,615$5,858
Missouri$8,755$6,713
Montana$7,390$5,505
Nebraska$8,755$6,713
Neveda$7,390$5,505
New Hampshire$8,985$7,023
New Jersey$8,573$6,498
New Mexico$7,390$5,505
New York$8,573$6,498
North Carolina$8,023$6,103
North Dakota$8,755$6,713
Ohio$8,280$6,120
Oklahoma$7,912$5,890
Oregon$7,835$5,812
Pennsylvania$8,573$6,498
Rhode Island$8,985$7,023
South Carolina$8,023$6,103
South Dakota$8,755$6,713
Tennessee$7,615$5,858
Texas$7,912$5,890
Utah$7,390$5,505
Vermont$8,985$7,023
Virginia$8,023$6,103
Washington$7,835$5,812
West Virginia$8,023$6,103
Wisconsin$8,280$6,120
Wyoming$7,390$5,505
Source: 2023 NFDA General Price List Study

 

Direct Funeral Costs

A direct funeral is when the body is immediately buried or cremated with no viewing or memorial services of any kind. According to Funeralocity, the median cost of a direct funeral is $5,138, and the average cost of a direct cremation is $2,202.

Below is a state-by-state direct funeral cost breakdown.

StateDirect BurialDirect Cremation
Alabama$5,041$2,032
Alaska$4,327$1,972
Arizona$4,480$1,490
Arkansas$4,466$1,679
California$4,700$1,642
Colorado$4,857$1,725
Connecticut$6,139$3,102
District Of Columbia$5,469$2,206
Delaware$5,657$2,603
Florida$5,226$1,706
Georgia$5,137$1,940
Hawaii$4,723$1,688
Idaho$4,625$1,706
Illinois$5,312$2,564
Indiana$5,211$2,295
Iowa$5,813$2,991
Kansas$5,374$2,553
Kentucky$4,823$2,031
Louisiana$5,201$2,312
Maine$5,452$2,372
Maryland$5,694$2,419
Massachusetts$5,535$2,720
Michigan$5,005$2,268
Minnesota$5,900$2,955
Mississippi$5,005$1,994
Missouri$4,995$1,852
Montana$5,092$2,476
Nebraska$5,467$2,958
Neveda$4,982$1,467
New Hampshire$5,339$2,190
New Jersey$5,403$2,511
New Mexico$4,757$1,935
New York$5,005$2,395
North Carolina$4,840$1,933
North Dakota$5,458$3,183
Ohio$4,950$2,057
Oklahoma$4,902$2,159
Oregon$4,469$1,319
Pennsylvania$5,287$2,460
Rhode Island$5,243$2,619
South Carolina$4,926$1,911
South Dakota$5,164$2,826
Tennessee$4,774$1,933
Texas$5,262$2,135
Utah$4,655$1,627
Vermont$5,035$2,297
Virginia$5,176$2,515
Washington$4,594$1,522
West Virginia$4,902$2,289
Wisconsin$5,579$2,908
Wyoming$5,082$2,550
Source: Funeralocity. Data valid as of 07/14/2025.

 

Breakdown Of Funeral Costs

Venn diagram comparing the cost of a burial vs cremation.

 

Other Possible Funeral Expenses To Consider

Depending on your preferences, you may need to account for the following additional expenses:

  • Cemetery plots ($2,750 on average) — Plot costs vary wildly depending on your region of the country. Also, the specifics of the cemetery, its location, and its size all influence the cost of a burial plot. For example, some plots in Alaska cost as little as $775, while in California, they might run you over $7,000.
  • Grave markers and headstones ($2,000 average cost) — A reasonable expectation for headstone costs is $1,000 to $3,000. Plain, flat grave markers usually cost hundreds of dollars rather than thousands. However, custom upright monuments or statues can cost more than $10,000, depending on the project’s complexity.
  • White doves ($150-$600) — Some families like to opt for the release of white doves as a symbolic way to acknowledge the departed’s transition to another life.
  • Mausoleum ($4,000-$10,000) — A mausoleum is a prominent above-ground final resting place. Some people refer to mausoleums as “burials above ground.” These can be very expensive, often costing about $4,000-$5,000 for the most basic option. A private family walk-in mausoleum can cost well over $100,000.
  • Grave liner ($900-$7000) — A grave liner supports the soil to protect the casket. Some cemeteries make these mandatory.
  • Interment fee ($300-$1,500) — The cost of the opening and closing of the grave.

 

Cost Of Burial Vs. Cremation

According to the National Funeral Directors Association  (NFDA), over 60% of consumers are expected to opt for cremation. In contrast, the burial rate is expected to be roughly 33%. By 2045, the NFDA expects the cremation rate to top 80%.

Consumers opting for cremation services at a higher rate is likely due to the lower cost. The average cremation costs $6,280, whereas the average cost of a funeral with a traditional burial is $9,995.

Remember that you can substantially lower these costs if you opt for a direct funeral, which is when you either bury or cremate the body with no commemorative services. Similarly, green burials cost substantially less than traditional funerals, which is another option to save money.

A bar chart comparing the cost of various burial and cremation types.

 

The Funeral Rule- Know Your Rights

In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission established “The Funeral Rule.” This law grants you the following rights when dealing with a funeral provider:

  • Buy only what you select, rather than having to accept the packages they offer you.
  • Obtain price information over the phone.
  • See a General Price List (GPL) that outlines the cost of all the various services and products the funeral home offers.
  • See casket prices before physically seeing them.
  • See an outer burial container (vault) price list if it’s not included in the GPL.
  • Receive an itemized price list of your selections before paying.
  • Get an explanation that describes any requirement imposed by a cemetery or crematory.
  • You are free to use alternate containers (other than caskets) for cremation.
  • You can buy a casket or urn from third parties.
  • Embalming is not required.

The FTC created the funeral rule to ensure that predatory providers don’t take advantage of grieving families. Be sure to remember these rights if you find yourself making funeral arrangements.

 

Tips For Saving On Funeral Costs

Here are some practical ways you can significantly reduce funeral expenses:

  • Ask for the general price list — All funeral homes must show you a General Price List upon request. Funeral homes are required to honor the funeral pricing shown on their general price list, regardless of what they state verbally. Every price list will have a separate line entry for each item. It is your right to purchase only the services and goods you want.
  • Shop around — Call four to seven funeral homes to get estimates on the services that interest you. Funeral homes are compelled (via the FTC’s Funeral Rule) to give you prices over the telephone.
  • Keep your budget a secret — Don’t tell the funeral homes how much money you can spend. If they ask you about your budget, simply say, “I’m not sure, but it won’t be much. What’s the best you can do?”
  • Consider buying a casket/urn and other items separately — You aren’t required to purchase a casket, urn, prayer cards, obituary notices, or flowers directly from the funeral home. The funeral home typically up-charges all those items, and alternatives can be much cheaper. For example, Costco sells caskets and urns.
  • Don’t insist on a viewing — Embalming and body preparation are often not required unless the body is not buried within a specific time. If the funeral needs to be delayed, refrigeration is usually an acceptable storage option instead of embalming.
  • Consider a direct cremation/burial — With direct cremation, the cremation process is executed immediately without a funeral ceremony of any kind. Similarly, direct burials are burials without a funeral service. Either option will reduce the cost by thousands of dollars.
  • Have the memorial at home — You can opt to have the wake (viewing) at a private residence. That will alleviate basic services fees that funeral homes charge for hosting the viewing at their facility. You also won’t have to pay for a service car to transport funeral attendees. However, you’ll still have to pay for a hearse to transport the body of the deceased.
  • Consider an eco-friendly green burial — A green burial (aka “natural burial) is the internment of the body in such a way that decomposition is not inhibited. The goal is for the body to be naturally recycled. There is no embalming, burial vault, liners, or anything else that is not fully biodegradable. The cost of a green burial is much less than a traditional one. While a typical burial can cost upwards of $10,000, green burials can cost as little as $2,000.
  • Hold a graveside service – Conduct the memorial service at the graveside instead of paying an additional cost to the funeral home to host the service in their facility.

A funeral cost calculator can be very helpful to create a baseline and budget. You can also print this official FTC checklist for funeral expenses and use it as you price shop or compare your options.

If a funeral home includes a fee not listed on the official FTC checklist, never be shy to ask what it is and why it’s there.

 

How To Pay For A Funeral

Various ways to pay for a funeral

Proper funeral pre-planning can help alleviate the massive financial burden for surviving loved ones who face these unexpected expenses.

Here are some of the best ways to prepare for final expenses:

  • Put cash in a savings account — Put cash aside specifically to cover end-of-life costs. It’s vital that this money is never used for emergencies or any other life event. If you use it, it won’t be there to pay your funeral costs. That way, the funds in the account are not subject to the probate process, which can take many months to resolve.
  • Get burial insurance — Purchase burial insurance (aka “final expense insurance” or “funeral insurance”) specifically to cover final expenses. These small face-value whole life insurance policies are meant to cover funeral costs. Final expense insurance premiums are affordable and are available for seniors, even those with pre-existing health issues. Some life insurance companies even offer these plans with guaranteed approval, meaning your eligibility is assured regardless of prior health issues. Ultimately, it’s best to speak with an insurance agent who can evaluate all your insurance options to recommend the best burial policy.
  • Pre-pay at a funeral home — A pre-paid funeral is a contract set up directly at a funeral home. It outlines all of your funeral preferences, including the net cost. The contract usually includes a “pre-need” policy as a funeral funding mechanism. It’s essentially a life insurance policy where the funeral home is the policy’s beneficiary. With a pre-paid plan, you cannot name your own beneficiaries. You can opt to pay the total cost of the contract in one lump sum. They’ll allow you to make payments if you don’t have the cash on hand to pay it outright. The installment periods are generally 1, 3, 5, or 10 years. Like paying off a financial loan over time, your total payments will surely exceed the total cost of the funeral if you opt to make monthly payments. Pre-paid funerals are a great way to document and pay for your final wishes if you can afford it.
  • Sell off assets after death — Liquidate assets to acquire the funds to pay off the funeral bills. This option really should be a last resort because assets (property, 401K, investments) must go through the probate process before they are accessible. For that reason, there will be a substantial amount of time between the date of death and when you’re loved ones will have the cash in hand to pay for the funeral. However, if all other options are unavailable due to your financial situation, this might very well be the only way to pay off the final expenses.
  • Set up a POD account — POD stands for “payable on demand account” (aka “Totten Trust”). It’s a unique type of bank account where the funds will automatically transfer to your chosen beneficiaries after you die. You can put your funeral funds in this account as a burial allowance. Then, when you die, your beneficiaries can access the money to pay for your funeral.
  • Use existing life insurance — Every type of life insurance (term life insurance, whole, universal & final expense) pays out a tax-free cash death benefit to whomever you name as the beneficiary. The life insurance payout can be spent on anything, including burial costs. You’ll need a death certificate to file a claim.

The key is to think ahead about how much your funeral will cost. You should plan your own funeral as soon as possible. Get specific in your will about your wishes, and create a plan to pay for it. Then, make sure your family knows about your plans ahead of time.

 

Getting Financial Assistance If You Cannot Afford A Funeral

If you’re struggling with funeral expenses, you’re not alone. Many grieving families get hit with a substantial financial burden after a loved one passes away. Thankfully, qualifying families can often get financial help from:

  • State and local funding — Some state and local governments offer assistance to low-income residents who cannot afford a funeral. For example, Nevada County in California will pay for a low-cost direct cremation for qualifying residents. Every locality is different, so check what’s available in your state or local jurisdiction.
  • Medicaid — Low-income families are often eligible for assistance from state-run Medicaid funeral assistance programs. Since individual states operate their own programs, you’ll need to see what’s available in your resident state. For instance, Michigan’s Medicaid program provides $520 for burial services or $145 for cremation services. Rhode Island, similarly, pays up to $900 for funeral expenses via its Medicaid program.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs — If your loved one was a veteran, you should be eligible for certain VA funeral planning benefits. The current maximum VA burial allowance is $2,000.
  • Social Security — Surviving spouses or eligible children can receive a one-time death payment of $255. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for survivor benefits from the Social Security Administration.
  • National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards — Certain states offer financial assistance for funeral expenses to family members of a loved one who died from a violent crime. Check your state for more details.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

In most cases, funeral costs are not tax deductible for individuals. However, the IRS allows some expenses to be claimed as a deduction on estate tax returns.

In most cases, the least expensive type of funeral is a direct cremation, which typically costs $2,202, according to Funeralocity.com. You avoid the costs of funeral home services, a casket, a vault, and cemetery fees. You’ll likely save thousands this way, but it can be a difficult choice because most families want a service to honor their loved ones.

A casket is the most expensive part of a funeral. Depending on the material of the casket, they can cost $900-$10,000. Keep in mind that metal caskets tend to cost more than wood ones.

Direct cremation is the least expensive option for most families. Your state may offer funds to offset end-of-life expenses if your family qualifies for Medicaid. You may also be eligible for assistance from FEMA, the VA, Social Security, or other state and local programs.

Anthony Martin
Anthony Martin
Choice Mutual CEO
Author
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 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 15 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.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 19 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 19 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.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 14 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 14 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.

Jeff Root
Jeff Root
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 19 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author.

Jeff Root is a nationally licensed life insurance expert with over 19 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.

David Duford
David Duford
Life Insurance Expert
Editor
  • Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 14 years of experience
  • Best selling Amazon author of five insurance sales books.

David Duford is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 14 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.

  1. 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
  2. Funeralocity. https://www.funeralocity.com/average-funeral-price
  3. 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
  4. Funeralocity. https://www.funeralocity.com/average-funeral-price
  5. per arrangement. https://www.us-funerals.com/funeral-flowers/#expensive
  6. white doves. https://www.releasewhitedoves.com/dove-release-packages-prices/
  7. mausoleum. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/costs/mausoleum
  8. grave liner. https://www.everplans.com/articles/how-to-choose-the-right-outer-burial-container-burial-vaults-and-grave-liners
  9. opening and closing. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/pre-planning/funeral-costs/opening-and-closing-fees
  10. NFDA. https://nfda.org/news/statistics
  11. NFDA expects. https://nfda.org/news/media-center/nfda-news-releases/id/7717/us-cremation-rate-expected-to-top-80-by-2045
  12. The Funeral Rule. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule
  13. General Price List. https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-funeral-rule#the-general-price-list
  14. green burial. https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/greenburialdefined.html
  15. official FTC checklist. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0301-funeral-costs-and-pricing-checklist#Funeral_Pricing
  16. payable on demand account. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/avoid-probate-book/chapter1-1.html
  17. Nevada County in California. https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/225/Low-Income-Assistance-Cremation-Program
  18. VA burial allowance. https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/
  19. one-time death payment. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html
  20. survivor benefits. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/
  21. your state. https://nacvcb.org/state-information/
  22. direct funeral. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/types-funerals
  23. on average. https://www.cemetery.com/learning-center/cemetery-funeral-costs-financing-insurance/costs-cemetery-plots
  24. headstone costs. https://www.brownmemorials.com/blogs/prices-for-headstones
  25. markers usually cost. https://www.monuments.com/2024/06/25/how-much-do-flat-grave-markers-cost/
  26. Costco. https://www.costco.com/funeral-caskets.html
  27. Michigan’s Medicaid program. https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/emergency-relief/burial
  28. Rhode Island. https://dhs.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur426/files/Documents-Forms/GPA-Burial-Funeral-Home-Checklist-Fillable-Form-April-2020-Final.pdf
Article Published
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