The typical cost
The best national numbers come from the National Funeral Directors Association, which surveys funeral homes every two years. Its most recent study found these median costs:
Source: National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 General Price List Study (published December 2023). Median means half of funeral homes charged more and half charged less.
What those numbers leave out
The median is the funeral home's part only. NFDA notes it does not include:
- A cemetery plot and the cost to open and close the grave
- A headstone or grave marker
- "Cash advance" items the funeral home pays for you, like flowers or an obituary
So the real total for a burial is often well above the median once the cemetery is added. Cremation usually costs less, but a niche or burial for the urn adds to it too.
What drives the price up or down
| Choice | Why it changes the cost |
|---|---|
| Burial or cremation | Burial adds a casket, a plot and a marker. Cremation skips most of those. |
| Viewing or no viewing | A viewing usually means embalming, preparation and use of the facility. |
| Direct cremation or immediate burial | No viewing or service at the funeral home. These are usually the lowest-cost options. |
| Casket or urn | Prices range widely. You can supply your own. |
| Which funeral home | Prices for the same service differ from one home to the next, even in the same city. |
Your rights when you shop
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule protects you when you plan a funeral. Under it:
- Funeral homes must give you a written, itemized price list.
- You can pick only the goods and services you want. The basic services fee is the only charge you can't decline.
- You can supply your own casket or urn.
- Embalming is not always required by law.
- For direct cremation, the home must offer an alternative container instead of a casket.
Ask two or three Arizona funeral homes for their price lists and compare them line by line. It's one of the easiest ways to save money.
How families pay for it
Most families use savings, a pre-paid plan with a funeral home, or life insurance. Final expense insurance is a small whole life policy made for this. It pays a set amount to the person you choose, usually without a medical exam, and they can use it for the funeral, final bills or anything else.
Not sure what to ask before you buy? Read 10 questions to ask before you buy final expense insurance.
Watch: how families cover it
How a small final expense policy keeps your family from paying these costs out of pocket. Under 4 minutes.
Want your family covered for this?
I'll help you figure out what a funeral would likely cost for you, then compare final expense plans from several companies. Free, by phone or video, no obligation.
Common questions
What is the average cost of a funeral?
The National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 study found a median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial and $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. Those figures don't include a cemetery plot, a marker, or items like flowers and an obituary.
Is cremation cheaper than burial?
Usually, yes. Cremation skips the casket, plot and headstone in most cases. Direct cremation, with no viewing or service, is often the lowest-cost option.
Do funeral homes have to tell me their prices?
Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you a written, itemized price list, and you can choose only the items you want.
How much final expense coverage should I get?
Start with the kind of service you want, add an estimate for the cemetery or urn, then add final bills and small debts. I can help you land on a number on a free call.
Sources
- National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 General Price List Study
- Federal Trade Commission, Funeral Industry Practices Rule
- Federal Trade Commission, Shopping for Funeral Services
Nick Brown is an independent life insurance agent with NJN Insurance, licensed in Arizona (License 19720244). He compares plans from several companies and explains them clearly. NJN stands for Not Just a Number.