How much does a funeral cost in 2024?

Key points

• The median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is $8,300.
• Prepaying for a funeral has pros and cons. 
• Life insurance can be an effective way to plan ahead for funeral expenses. 

How much does the average funeral cost?

The median cost of a funeral is $8,300, according to a recent study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association. 

The median cost of a funeral with cremation comes in at $6,280.

Knowing how much a funeral costs and what to expect with funeral planning can help you avoid leaving your loved ones facing a steep bill after you’re gone. It can also help you prepare for any expenses you might incur when planning a funeral for a parent or another loved one.

Breakdown of funeral costs

How much a funeral costs can sometimes be difficult to estimate, as it’s influenced by the funeral home’s fees along with any add-on services you might choose.

Funeral costs for viewing and burial

The median cost of a funeral is $8,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

Funeral costs for a vault

Additional charges may apply if you opt to inter remains in a vault. The median cost of a vault is $1,695, which raises the total median cost of a funeral to $9,995.

Funeral costs for cremation

Cremation costs slightly less, as there’s no need for a hearse and the cremation casket isn’t as expensive. The median cost for a cremation casket is $1,310 and the median cost of an urn is $295. 

EXPENSE	COST	DESCRIPTION
Casket	$2,500	Cost for a metal casket — casket costs may vary depending on the style selected
Basic Services Fee	$2,495	Covers the funeral home’s overhead costs and storage of the remains
Embalming	$845	Some funeral homes may require you to pay for this if you plan to hold a viewing
Use of facilities and staff for the ceremony	$550	Covers the cost of using the funeral home’s facilities and having staff assist with funeral services
Use of facilities and staff for viewing	$475	Covers the cost of using the funeral home’s facilities and having staff assist with the viewing
Transportation of remains	$395	This fee covers the transportation of remains to the funeral home
Hearse	$375	Covers the cost of transporting the remains to the burial site
Other preparation of the body	$295	May include other services, such as dressing, makeup application or hairstyling
Printed materials	$195	Memorial package and guest book
Service car or van	$175	For cars or vans used to transport family members to the burial site

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^{Source: National Funeral Directors Association}

Average funeral costs by state

The cost of a funeral varies by region. Here’s a breakdown of funeral expenses by state, according to survey data from the National Funeral Directors Association.

STATE	MEDIAN COST OF A FUNERAL WITH VIEWING AND CEREMONY FOLLOWED BY BURIAL	MEDIAN COST OF A FUNERAL WITH VIEWING AND CREMATION
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
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
Nevada	$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

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Is it a good idea to prepay for a funeral? 

Prepaying the cost of a funeral allows you to establish a plan ahead of time while making arrangements to cover expenses that arise later. However, it’s not necessarily right for everyone. 

“Prepayment is an excellent idea if the state in which the person resides requires the funeral home to trust 100% of the funds,” said Joe Laedtke, funeral director at Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Homes.

A funeral trust allows you to deposit money for the cost of a funeral, which is then held in an interest-bearing account and managed under the direction of a trustee. Trustees are obligated to follow a fiduciary standard and act in your best interests when managing trust funds. 

Portability is another important consideration, said Laedtke. If you decide you’d like to move the service to a different funeral home, it’s important to know whether you’ll be able to take the funds already held in trust with you.

Randy VanderVaate, president and owner of Funeral Funds of America, said that prepaying for a funeral can be risky, as you could end up locked into a plan that no longer fits your needs. There are other risks as well. For example, it’s possible that you could lose the money you have on deposit if the funeral home goes bankrupt. Likewise, a move to a new city could make it difficult to get the money back if your prepaid arrangement does not include a portability clause. 

If you decide to prepay for a funeral, ask about a cost guarantee, said Laedtke. A cost or price guarantee is a promise from the funeral home that your family members won’t be responsible for excess expenses if the growth of the investment vehicle that holds your prepayment funds doesn’t keep pace with inflation.

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Ways to reduce funeral costs

If the thought of spending $8,300 or more on a funeral seems overwhelming, it’s helpful to consider how you might be able to reduce the expense. Some of the ways you might be able to save on the cost of a funeral include:

• Opting for a funeral without a viewing or embalming.
• Holding funeral services at home, rather than at the funeral home’s facility.
• Picking out a simple casket.
• Sticking with simple flower arrangements.
• Selecting a direct burial, without a funeral ceremony.
• Creating memorial pages through social media or free obituary websites, in place of a print advertisement.

Cost of cremation vs. a funeral

Choosing direct cremation over a traditional funeral is another cost-saving move. With direct cremation, there is no memorial service, which can eliminate a number of costs. The average cost of direct cremation performed at a funeral home ranges from $1,600 to $3,000, according to Parting.com. The cost drops to between $1,000 and $2,200 when performed at a crematory.

Jeff Kleczka, vice president and funeral director at Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Home, said an uptick in the number of people opting for cremation over burial reflects a trend toward more cost-conscious funerals. 

The National Funeral Directors Association found that the typical cremation rate in 2021 was 57.5%, versus 36.6% for a funeral with burial.

How to pay for funeral costs

There are a number of options for paying for the cost of a funeral, and life insurance is often at the top of the list. 

Life insurance

You could purchase a traditional term life insurance or permanent life insurance policy, which would pay out a death benefit to your named beneficiaries when you pass away. They could then decide if they’d like to use part of the policy proceeds to cover funeral costs. 

Burial insurance

Another option is burial insurance, also known as funeral insurance or final expense insurance. 

Burial insurance allows for flexibility, said VanderVaate, since you’re not obligated to use a specific funeral home for services. 

Policy beneficiaries also have flexibility, as they can use the death benefit to pay expenses other than burial and funeral costs if necessary. 

The size of the policy you purchase determines how large of a death benefit they’re able to access after you’re gone, though coverage is typically in the $5,000 to $25,000 range. 

Burial insurance vs. life insurance 

Purchasing a burial insurance policy may be less expensive than getting traditional life insurance coverage. However, it’s important to consider the bigger picture. 

If you think your loved ones may also need additional funds to pay off a mortgage, cover education costs for your children or simply cover basic living expenses, it might make more sense to opt for term life or whole life insurance coverage instead.

Other options for paying for funeral costs

• Funeral trusts. Prepaid funeral trusts allow you to deposit money for final expenses and name a trustee to manage them. You could establish a funeral trust independent of a prepaid funeral plan. 
• Payable on death (POD) account. A POD account transfers to a named beneficiary when the original account owner passes away. You might set aside money in a POD account specifically for funeral costs and name a trusted person to serve as beneficiary.
• Savings accounts. Savings accounts are a less complicated option for setting aside funeral funds. However, funds in your savings account may get held up in probate after you die. 
• Personal loans. Taking out a personal loan to pay for a funeral may not be ideal, but there are lenders that offer funeral loans for that exact purpose. Funeral loans are typically unsecured, meaning there’s no collateral required, but they may carry high interest rates.
• Crowdfunding. If you’re unable to come up with the funds to cover funeral expenses for a loved one, you may turn to the crowd to raise the money. Sites like GoFundMe allow you to create a campaign and collect donations for a number of causes, including final expenses. 

Beyond those options, you may be able to take advantage of government programs that help with paying the cost of a funeral. Veterans, for instance, can be buried in national cemeteries at no cost. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides financial assistance for deaths stemming from a federally declared disaster or emergency, including COVID-19. 

You may also be able to get help through state government assistance programs or programs that provide financial relief to cover funeral costs for victims of violent crime.