Free tool · Eulogies & Obituaries
Obituary Cost Calculator
Work out what it will cost to publish an obituary in one or more newspapers, plus any online or writing fees. Newspapers set their own prices, and they differ a lot, so you enter each paper's quoted rate and the calculator does the math by word, by line or as a flat price. A funeral home may add its own charge for placing the notice.
- No sign-up
- Private: nothing you enter leaves your device
- Figures checked Sep 30, 2026
Your obituary costs
Newspapers set their own rates, so enter the price each one quotes you. The calculator does the multiplying.
Used for papers that charge per word. A short notice is often 100 to 250 words. Online pages usually have no limit.
Publication 1
Charged per run in this estimate.
Enter 1 for a single day. Ask if repeat runs are discounted.
Estimated total
Add a quote
Enter a price from a newspaper's rate card or quote to see your total.
This tool uses your numbers, not averages, because obituary prices differ a lot from one paper to the next. Call or check the paper's obituary page for its current rates.
How this estimate works
There is no national price list for newspaper obituaries. Each paper decides how to charge, and some change the rate by day of the week or by section. So this calculator doesn't guess an average. You enter the paper's quote and it multiplies it out.
| Paper charges | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Per word | Price per word × number of words |
| Per line | Price per line × number of printed lines |
| Flat price | The package price for the notice |
For each paper the tool adds any photo fee, multiplies by the number of runs, then adds online, writing and funeral home charges. Every number comes from you, so the total is only as accurate as the quotes you type in.
What to ask the newspaper before you submit
Most papers have an obituary or classifieds desk that will quote a price once you send the text. Asking a few questions first avoids surprises on the invoice.
- How do you price a notice: by the word, by the line, or at a flat rate?
- How many lines or words will my text come to, and what will it cost?
- What does a photo add, and does that apply to each day the notice runs?
- Is the price different on weekends or for a particular section?
- Does the notice also appear on your website, and is that included?
- Can I submit it myself, or does it have to come through the funeral home?
When the funeral home places the notice
Funeral homes often place the notice for you. The FTC Funeral Rule lists obituary notices as an example of a “cash advance item,” meaning a charge the funeral home pays on your behalf and bills back to you. The Rule lets a funeral home add a service charge for doing this. It doesn't require the home to state the amount, but it must tell you on your statement of goods and services that it charges for obtaining those items. Some states set stricter rules.
Ask the funeral home whether the price it quotes is the newspaper's own price or includes its charge. If you'd rather pay the paper directly, ask whether that's allowed. Use the “funeral home service charge” box above to see the difference. The funeral home's other prices are in our funeral cost calculator.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Keep the newspaper version short and put the full life story online or in a printed program. Where a paper charges by the word or line, every extra sentence adds to the bill. Our obituary length and format guide covers what to include, and the obituary template generator gives you an outline.
- Write it yourself instead of paying someone to draft it.
- Compare two papers in the calculator. The paper where the person lived may cost less than one in a larger city.
- Ask whether a photo or extra days are worth the added fee for your family.
- Share a free notice with family and friends by email or social media, alongside the paid one. See how much an obituary costs for more detail.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an obituary cost?
Why do obituary prices vary so much?
Do I have to publish an obituary in a newspaper?
Can the funeral home charge extra for placing an obituary?
Can I write and submit the obituary myself?
Sources we checked
- 1.The FTC Funeral Rule · Federal Trade Commission
- 2.Complying with the Funeral Rule · Federal Trade Commission
- 3.16 CFR 453.1: Definitions (cash advance item) · Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Please note: General information, not legal, financial or medical advice. Check the details with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the organization concerned. If you spot something out of date, tell us.
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