How much does cremation cost?
Cremation and funeral costs vary widely by state. Pick yours for itemized cremation, funeral, and burial price ranges — and which charges you can legally decline. “From” prices show the typical direct cremation, the lowest-cost option.
Alabamafrom $1,810Alaskafrom $2,665Arizonafrom $2,125Arkansasfrom $1,785Californiafrom $2,765Coloradofrom $2,295Connecticutfrom $2,505Delawarefrom $2,235District of Columbiafrom $2,665Floridafrom $2,170Georgiafrom $1,995Hawaiifrom $3,015Idahofrom $2,025Illinoisfrom $2,235Indianafrom $1,910Iowafrom $1,910Kansasfrom $1,875Kentuckyfrom $1,875Louisianafrom $1,910Mainefrom $2,235Marylandfrom $2,375Massachusettsfrom $2,635Michiganfrom $2,025Minnesotafrom $2,170Mississippifrom $1,745Missourifrom $1,910Montanafrom $2,080Nebraskafrom $1,910Nevadafrom $2,235New Hampshirefrom $2,340New Jerseyfrom $2,550New Mexicofrom $1,995New Yorkfrom $2,720North Carolinafrom $2,025North Dakotafrom $1,955Ohiofrom $1,955Oklahomafrom $1,825Oregonfrom $2,375Pennsylvaniafrom $2,170Rhode Islandfrom $2,375South Carolinafrom $2,025South Dakotafrom $1,910Tennesseefrom $1,910Texasfrom $2,080Utahfrom $2,125Vermontfrom $2,295Virginiafrom $2,190Washingtonfrom $2,505West Virginiafrom $1,825Wisconsinfrom $2,040Wyomingfrom $2,040
Frequently asked questions
- How much does cremation cost?
- Nationally, cremation ranges from about $800 for a simple direct cremation to $6,000–$7,000 for a cremation with a full service. The biggest factors are where you live and whether you add a viewing or ceremony. Direct cremation — just the cremation, with no service beforehand — is almost always the lowest-cost option.
- How much does a funeral cost?
- The national median for a funeral with burial is roughly $8,000–$9,000, and a funeral with cremation runs about $6,000–$7,000. Costs vary widely by state and by which goods and services you choose — many of which you are legally allowed to decline.
- Is cremation cheaper than burial?
- Almost always, yes. Cremation skips the casket, burial vault, cemetery plot, and grave-opening costs that make burial expensive. A direct cremation can cost a small fraction of a traditional burial.
- What is direct cremation?
- Direct cremation is the simplest option: the body is cremated shortly after death with no embalming, viewing, or service beforehand, and the ashes are returned to the family. Any memorial can be held later, on your own terms. It is typically the lowest-cost choice, often $800–$3,000.
- Why do cremation and funeral prices vary so much by state?
- Local cost of living, competition among providers, and state regulations all affect pricing. The same direct cremation can cost $1,000 in one metro and $3,000 an hour away — which is exactly why it pays to compare local prices before you decide.
- Do I have to pay for services I don't want?
- No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you an itemized price list and let you buy only the items you want. You can decline embalming, a viewing, or an expensive casket, and you can buy a casket or urn elsewhere without penalty.