The average cost for a funeral can range anywhere from $7,000 to $9,000. While some families have been preparing for the death—thus saving/planning for the funeral—this is not always the case, especially when the death of a loved one is unexpected. This can place the family in an emotionally vulnerable position where they agree to funeral package prices that are unneeded and out of their budget range. While a family should “shop around” to understand the best price options offered, many do not have the time or resources to do this.
Here we offer a breakdown of different average funeral prices to simplify the planning process. While reading, it is important to understand that the family should be determining their needs financially and emotionally. When it comes to funerals, there is no “one size fits all.”
The family should also remember that they have legal rights when working with funeral homes. These rights include: asking for prices over the phone—this includes casket prices and outer burial containers; only buying goods and services the family wants—they can choose to eliminate services from a package; declining embalming if the burial is within a specified amount of days; and opting for alternative methods like cremation or providing their own casket/urn. With the goal of funeral cost transparency in mind, we outline a list of different average funeral costs in 2017.
Funeral Service Costs
A funeral home’s basic fees, on average, cost around $2,000-$2,500. These fees are not declinable, but there are many other fees stacked on top of the basic fees that can be negotiated. One of the largest fees is the cost of the casket. When choosing a casket, which can cost around $2,000-$5,000 on average, the family should be sure to look at all of their options before choosing a casket, including other burial options that will be discussed later. Another hefty fee is the embalming fee which costs around $500-$700. If burial is within a nationally specified amount of days after the death, the family can choose to have the remains refrigerated rather than embalmed, saving them substantial amount. The next hefty costs are the costs of the burial itself, including the plot, the vault, and a headstone or grave marker. A plot on average costs $1,000-$4,000, while a grave marker can cost around $1,000, and a headstone can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. A vault costs around $1,000 and can, depending on the cemetery, be declined.
While there isn’t really a way to skirt around burial costs, there are ways to save on other funeral expenses, such as floral arrangements and wreaths, and the location of the service. Floral arrangements on average cost $500-$700, and wreaths cost $100-$200. These expenses can be decreased if the family chooses to display arrangements sent to the family as condolences. They can also choose to hold the funeral services in a location that is meaningful to the deceased person, such as a park or church building, for no cost at all. These little changes add up over time and can help the family save substantially. For a more in-depth breakdown of funeral costs, click here.
Cremation vs. Standard Burial
Choosing to cremate a body rather than standard burial can save a family on average $2,500. A cremation funeral on average costs $6,000, while a burial is around $8,500. Not only does cremation cost less than normal burial services, it also is a more ecofriendly option. Cremation can also be personalized to fit the family’s emotional needs with different styles of urns.
Green Funeral Services
If a family chooses to go green when planning their funeral services, they not only are benefiting the environment, but can also save hundreds, even thousands of dollars. One of the best, ecofriendly methods of burial is choosing liquid cremation over standard burial or even normal cremation methods. Water cremation is discussed in detail in a previous editorial, and can cost less than traditional burial or cremation, depending upon the provider being used.
Other ecofriendly options are becoming more popular, such as biodegradable caskets shrouds, or urns, which can save hundreds to thousands of dollars. A biodegradable shroud, which is basically a sheet wrapped around the body, can cost as little as $40. The shroud is usually accompanied with a shroud board, on which the body is placed to be carried to the funeral services. The shroud board can add an insignificant or significant cost to the burial, depending upon the style of board purchased. Shrouds and shroud boards can be used outside of religious burial methods as a way to save money and benefit the environment.
On the other hand, a biodegradable wool coffin, which offers a shape more like a traditional casket, can cost as little as $350. These particular burial methods are regaining popularity because of their low costs and environmentally safe practices. The only downside to these greener burial methods is that there are only 22 operating cemeteries in the United States that accept these alternative burial practices.
Navigating Funeral Costs
Simply put, there are many ways to skirt the pricey demands of traditional funerals. If the family planning the funeral is willing to “shop around” before laying down the thousands of dollars that many funerals cost, they can save significant amounts of money. The family can choose to personalize the location of the funeral and floral arrangements, choose a less costly casket, and opt out on some inclusions in funeral packages. Another way that a family can save thousands of dollars is to choose cremation over standard burial, or turn to greener methods of burial altogether. These alternative routes while planning a funeral can ease the financial stressors of funeral planning for family members of the deceased loved one.