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Budget Tips
Get Multiple Quotes
Request itemized price lists from 3+ funeral homes
Know What's Required
Only embalming for open-casket viewings is often legally required
Consider Alternatives
Church, community center, or home services can save venue costs
Buy Third-Party Caskets
Funeral homes must accept caskets purchased elsewhere
Skip Unnecessary Items
Vault liners aren't required by law (though cemeteries may require)
DIY Where Possible
Write your own obituary, arrange flowers through grocery stores
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical funeral budget should include: professional services ($2,000-$4,000), casket/urn ($500-$5,000+), ceremony costs ($500-$2,000), transportation ($400-$1,000), cemetery costs ($1,500-$5,000 for burial), and additional items like flowers, obituary, and programs ($500-$2,000). Total budgets range from $3,000 for direct cremation to $15,000+ for traditional burial.
The largest expenses are typically: casket (20-30% of budget), professional services fee (15-25%), cemetery plot and opening (15-20% for burial), and the vault/grave liner (5-15%). Cremation eliminates several of these costs, which is why it's significantly cheaper.
To control costs: get itemized price lists from multiple funeral homes, consider cremation, purchase caskets/urns from third parties, skip embalming if possible, hold services at a church or home instead of funeral home, limit flowers, and write your own obituary.
The basic services fee covers: staff coordination, paperwork and permits, use of facilities for planning, and general overhead. This fee is charged regardless of which other services you select. It does NOT include casket, embalming, viewing, ceremony, or transportation.
Watch for: cemetery perpetual care fees, vault/liner requirements, death certificate copies ($15-25 each), obituary publication costs, gratuities, flower delivery, and overtime charges for weekend/evening services. Always request an itemized General Price List.
Prepaying locks in today's prices but ties you to one provider. Consider: is the money held in trust and refundable? What happens if the funeral home closes? Can you transfer the contract? An alternative is setting aside funds in a dedicated savings account or funeral insurance policy.