Cost Of Cremation: Your Comprehensive Guide To Cremation Plans
Planning for your own cremation sounds like something you would do when you’re already on your deathbed. However, the reality is that death can happen anytime and making your cremation preparations early will save your family from a lot of stress and financial issues down the road.
In this comprehensive overview, we’re going to consider the financial aspects of cremation to help you find out how much a cremation might cost you.
Cremation refers to the practice of burning a deceased person’s body until only ashes remain. These ashes, or cremated remains, are then stored in a container and then handed over to the family for storage or disposal following the deceased person’s wishes (if applicable).
Cremation is a difficult process that requires the aid of a cremator, an industrial furnace that is specifically calibrated to ensure the disintegration of the corpse. This process typically begins with the remains of the deceased being transported to a crematorium to undergo all the related processes of preparation and cleaning. This entire process of preparation and cremation can take anywhere between 3-15 business days, depending on location.
Cremation is slowly becoming the most popular option for final disposition in the US. This is due to a variety of reasons, including:
Cremations can be as simple or as extravagant as you can afford. Expenses like your chosen urn, flowers, and venue can add up! Let’s take a look at different cost factors in a little bit more detail.
Direct cremations are often referred to as “low cost” cremations because they come with no extra bells and whistles. During direct cremation, the body is often cremated in a simple container soon after death. There is typically no viewing, wake, or visitation which is why there is also no need for embalming. Other than the cost of cremation itself, you will only need to spend money on the final container for the ashes.
Prices for direct cremation usually hover around the range of $2000 and $5000 depending on where you live and what funeral home you go to. The good thing about direct cremation is that you don’t even have to make plans with a funeral home. In some cases, you can save money and go directly to a crematorium for much lower cremation fees.
Holding a memorial service for the viewing and final rites of the deceased is also a big consideration that goes into the total cost of the cremation. Many funeral homes offer packages that include funeral services bundled with the actual cremation itself. The bundles that funeral homes often provide include some combination of the following:
Funeral homes will charge you anywhere between $6000 to $8000 for a cremation with service. This excludes other funeral expenses like flowers, higher-end urns/caskets, or fees for the use of a columbarium or burial plot for keeping the deceased person’s remains.
Caskets aren’t mandatory when opting for cremation, but they’re still a factor to consider in the overall cremation cost. There are typically two kinds of caskets: the casket used for displaying the body during the memorial service and the casket used in the cremation proper. The latter isn’t necessarily required to be a casket though and most funeral homes will provide alternative cremation containers if you ask.
The casket used for displaying the body is wholly up to the budget of whoever is planning the memorial. However, since the deceased person won’t be buried in the casket anyway, it is often more advisable to rent a casket than to purchase one outright. Ask your funeral director about what options you might have.
Planning a cremation can be expensive. If you aren’t paying attention, the numbers can quickly add up and you might find yourself spending a lot more than you actually need to. Here’s a quick breakdown of cremation costs to give you an idea about how much an average cremation might cost with the common add-ons included.
The state where you want to be cremated will play a significant part in determining your cremation costs. Here’s a list showcasing the average cremation prices across the USA from a study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association.
Region | Subdivision | State | Average Cost of Funeral With Viewing, Ceremony, and Cremation |
West | Pacific | Washington | $7290 |
Oregon | |||
California | |||
Alaska | |||
Hawaii | |||
Mountain | Nevada | $6907 | |
Idaho | |||
Montana | |||
Wyoming | |||
Colorado | |||
Utah | |||
Arizona | |||
New Mexico | |||
Mid-West | West North Central | North Dakota | $8123 |
South Dakota | |||
Nebraska | |||
Kansas | |||
Minnesota | |||
Iowa | |||
Missouri | |||
East North Central | Wisconsin | $7855 | |
Illinois | |||
Indiana | |||
Michigan | |||
Ohio | |||
South | West South Central | Texas | $6933 |
Oklahoma | |||
Arkansas | |||
Louisiana | |||
East South Central | Kentucky | $7353 | |
Tennessee | |||
Mississippi | |||
Alabama | |||
South Atlantic | West Virginia | $7461 | |
Virginia | |||
North Carolina | |||
South Carolina | |||
Georgia | |||
Florida | |||
Washington, DC | |||
Maryland | |||
Delaware | |||
North-East | Middle Atlantic | Pennsylvania | $7849 |
New York | |||
New Jersey | |||
New England | New Hampshire | $7612 | |
Vermont | |||
Massachusetts | |||
Connecticut | |||
Rhode Island | |||
Maine |
Funerals can be expensive and stressful for the family, which is why it’s always a good idea to plan early and set aside some money for when the unthinkable occurs. How much exactly you have to set aside will depend on what type of cremation you want to have and where you want it to take place.
Making funeral plans can be a scary thing to do alone. Thankfully, Wesley LLC can help you get all your post-life financial preparations sorted out right away. Contact us today to learn more about what we do for you!