Nobody wants to research cremation costs during a time of grief and loss so we have done the research for you. Below is a guide to help you feel armed with information as you determine the best method to memorialize your loved one.
An average cremation cost can range from $1,000 to $2,500 directly through a crematory. The average cost of cremation through a funeral home ranges between $1,600 and $3,000. Besides the choice to go directly with a crematory or through a funeral home, it all depends upon your state and city and the package options you choose. If you are looking for a cost-conscious approach, this article can help save you a lot of money.
Identify Your Desired Service Options
You need to figure out whether to have a funeral service, memorial service, or a very simple direct cremation. If you want to learn about the differences, check out this article about the types of cremation services.
Most Cheap and Simple Option Is Direction Cremation
If we want to dig into the actual cost of the cremation first, you will want to focus on the direct cremation with an all-inclusive cost. It is critical that you ask for an all-inclusive cost when you are speaking with the funeral homes or crematories.
Some funeral homes may advertise the basic services and management costs of a cremation separate from the actual cremation cost. Funeral homes may even exclude the cost of the casket or transportation from the hospital or home of the deceased to the crematory. They may not include the cost for the death certificate or cremation permit. They may also not include the cost of the urn.
All of these are real costs that someone (likely you) will have to bear unless you come to the table armed with information and prepared to determine the right costs for your needs.
Please do not forget to require an all-inclusive quote when you are speaking with your potential funeral home or crematory.
Costs for Direction Cremation Varies By States
Example Atlanta, Georgia Area
One of the lowest prices, we have found is at Gene Davis White Columns Chapel and Cremations which charges $695 for a direct cremation. As this is a direct cremation this price does not include any service or viewing.
On the higher end, we found H M Patterson & Son, Inc charges $3,640 for a direct cremation which also does not include a service or a viewing.
In the middle of the road is Neptune Society. They charge $1,962 for a direct cremation without any kind of service or viewing. This is one of the largest funeral home service providers in the United States which brings some level of credibility but it also brings a level of overhead costs that maybe the small funeral homes will not have to pass on to you, the consumer.
These prices above are just a snapshot from the Atlanta, Georgia area and you will want to make sure to ask for an “all-inclusive” direct cremation price when you speak to them on the phone.
PLEASE remember that these prices below DO NOT include any kind of funeral or memorial service. These prices are simply the direct cremation and almost nothing else. It is important for you to know this because the funeral or memorial service both cost a great deal more than a direct cremation.
Austin, Texas Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,920 in Austin, Texas. While the lowest advertised option sits around $675. Again, this price is very low so be sure to ask about the specifics.
Boston, Massachusetts Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $2,332 in Boston, Massachusetts. While the lowest advertised option sits around $995.
Chicago, Illinois Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,962 in Chicago, Illinois. While the lowest advertised option sits around $875.
Columbus, Ohio Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,665 in Columbus, Ohio. While the lowest advertised option sits around $675.
Costa Mesa, California Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,492 in Costa Mesa, California. While the lowest advertised option sits around $795.
Dallas, Texas Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,944 in Dallas, Texas. While the lowest advertised option sits around $795.
Denver, Colorada Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,803 in Denver, Colorado. While the lowest advertised option sits around $1,045.
Detroit, Michigan Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,199 in Detriot, Michigan. While the lowest advertised option sits around $650.
Houston, Texas Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $2,190 in Houston, Texas. While the lowest advertised option sits around $695.
Los Angeles, California Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,557 in Los Angeles, California. While the lowest advertised option sits around $620.
Louisville, Kentucky Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,880 in Louisville, Kentucky. While the lowest advertised option sits around $950.
Miami, Florida Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,295 in Miami, Florida. While the lowest advertised option sits around $395.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,898 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While the lowest advertised option sits around $1,325.
New York, New York Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $2,005 in New York, New York. While the lowest advertised option sits around $445.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While the lowest advertised option sits around $820.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,839 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While the lowest advertised option sits around $695.
Portland, Oregon Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,737 in Portland, Oregon. While the lowest advertised option sits around $495.
Sacramento, California Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,765 in Sacramento, California. While the lowest advertised option sits around $615.
Salt Lake City, Utah Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,462 in Salt Lake City, Utah. While the lowest advertised option sits around $650.
San Diego, California Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,331 in San Diego, California. While the lowest advertised option sits around $640.
San Francisco, California Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,663 in San Francisco, California. While the lowest advertised option sits around $850.
Seattle, Washington Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $1,639 in Seattle, Washington. While the lowest advertised option sits around $495.
Washington, DC Area
Average Direct Cremation costs about $2,347 in Dallas, Texas. While the lowest advertised option sits around $1,045.
All prices listed above are directly pulled from the cremation cost resources at parting.com. Some of these prices are subject to change so use these prices are a guide to give you an idea of the costs of a direct cremation for your area.
As noted above, there are a lot of other fees that could be added onto the advertised price. Do not assume anything otherwise, you risk having addition surprise costs added onto your bill.
Knowledge is power and it is our goal to arm you will knowledge!
Why Does the Cremation Cost Vary So Much State By State?
One thing to remember about the pricing is that every funeral home or crematory will offer a slight variation on their services. Depending upon the funeral home or crematory that you choose, you may need to be more or less involved in sourcing death certificates or cremation permits. You may also need to bring your own urn.
Also, the operating costs for a crematory in New York City, New York will vary greatly from Dallas, Texas. The funeral home or crematory may need to pay it’s staff much more in New York City just because of the cost of living requirements for housing, food, and taxes versus Dallas, Texas where housing and taxes are much less expensive.
Additionally, as you need to obtain a death certificate and cremation permit, the state or government issuing those documents may have different charges and costs. The funeral home or crematory will need to pass these costs on to you. They may even be marking up these costs in order to pay for their time to source these documents.
What Other Costs Should I Consider?
The costs so far discussed in this article are focused around the cremation itself, or in other words, the direct cremation. After the cremation is complete, you should have the cremated remains of your loved one in the urn of your choice.
You will want to consider any other costs for a traditional funeral, memorial service, or the spreading of the ashes.
Some families choose to go with a very simple option to have the ashes at home without a service. That is perfectly fine.
Other families choose to choose options such as a burial plot. The costs here will vary greatly depending upon whether the family or the deceased owned a plot at a local cemetery or not.
Occasionally, families will choose to spread the ashes of the deceased at sea. You will want to consider the cost of renting a boat or yacht along with the capital, gas, food, etc. This option along with spreading the ashes will be quite costly but could be a very memorable and exciting way to memorialize and celebrate the life of a loved one.
Another option to consider is spreading the ashes by private airplane but this will certainly be one of the most expensive options. Although not common, it could be very memorable.
You may need to check with your local laws to ensure whether professionals will need to provide certain certificates or permits to spread the ashes.
Traditional funerals or memorial services are both very common. Both can become quite costly.
If you choose to have a funeral or memorial service, you will need to perform as much research as we have our lined above or even more to ensure you do not pay too much.