Easily the question that everyone wants to know. How much does a funeral cost?

To answer this question, simply, it would be “between $2,000 and $30,000”.

How can there be such a range of possible cost?

It all depends on what you choose.

Burials will be more expensive than cremations for a number of reasons… you often buy a more expensive casket (with cremation you often have the option to rent a casket), you must buy cemetery property, you must pay for the grave to be opened, and closed.

The type of ceremonies you choose will also impact the cost. Holding a visitation or a wake will involve additional fees. For the Funeral Service, you may either choose to rent the funeral home, a church, or another location. Much like weddings, the cost of a catered reception is often a major, and surprising, cost to most consumers.

It’s very important to look at the Total Cost for the funeral, when comparing providers, and not simply the cost of caskets. Some providers will have a higher service fee and a lower casket cost, and some providers do the opposite. This can make it difficult to compare services, however an estimate in writing from each provider will assist you.

In addition to funeral home costs, there will also be “Disbursements”. These are amounts of money paid to a third party provider on your behalf, and often amount to over $1,000.