Average Cremation Cost by U.S. State

 

The national average cost of a funeral followed by cremation is $6,280, according to a 2023 report from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). This price includes a container for cremation and an urn.

The 2023 NFDA report also states that the national average cost of a funeral followed by cremation without an alternative cremation container and urn is $5,825. This is an 8.6% increase from 2021 and a 21.4% increase from 2014.

As costs continue to rise, this guide to average cremation costs is designed to help you understand the specific expenses involved and how they vary by region and state.

What affects funeral and cremation costs?

There are hundreds of decisions that must be made when planning a funeral or cremation. Learn what to expect and get your free Guide to Understanding Funeral & Cremation Costs today.

* indicates a required field
Please enter a valid email
+1
Please enter a 10-digit phone number
Please enter a valid zip code
We will never sell your information or use it for any purpose except official Dignity Memorial correspondence. See our privacy policy.

Average cremation cost by state

The NFDA figures below are average costs of a cremation with a memorial service, including embalming, a viewing, a container for cremation and an urn. These costs don't include cemetery property or a monument or marker. Many families opt for cremation without a viewing or memorial service, which reduces costs.

*Within each state, costs may vary depending on location and provider.

 

Avg Cremation Costs by US State 2

 

Breakdown of average cremation costs

According to the NFDA, the average cost of a cremation in 2023 broke down like:

  • Basic services fee for the funeral director and staff: $2,495
  • Removal/transfer of the loved one to the funeral home: $395
  • Embalming: $845
  • Preparation of the loved one: $295
  • Staff costs and use of the funeral home for the viewing: $475
  • Staff costs and use of the funeral home for the service: $550
  • Use of a service car/van: $175
  • Basic printed materials for the memorial: $195
  • Cremation fee (if the funeral home uses a third party): $400
  • Alternative cremation container: $160
  • Urn: $295
  • Total: $6,280

*Costs vary by region and provider.

Regional cremation cost differences

Cremation costs vary greatly by region due to differences in cost of living, land and real estate costs, staffing costs and other factors. Venues for a memorial or celebration of life may also be more expensive in certain areas of the country.

New England Average: $7,023

 

new england region map

 

The states in this region include

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Middle Atlantic Average: $6,498

 

middle atlantic region map

 

The states in this region include

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

South Atlantic Average: $6,103

 

south atlantic region map

 

The states in this region include

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia

East South Central Average: $5,858

 

east south central region map

 

The states in this region include

Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee,

West South Central Average: $5,890

 

west south central region map

 

The states in this region include

Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

East North Central Average: $6,120

 

east north central region map

 

The states in this region include

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin

West North Central Average: $6,713

 

west north central region map

 

The states in this region include

Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska

Mountain Average: $5,505

 

mountain region map

 

The states in this region include

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

Pacific Average: $5,812

 

pacific region map

 

The states in this region include

Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington

Avoid rising cremation costs no matter where you live

The loss of a loved one can be overwhelming, and planning a service in the midst of grief can be a very difficult thing to do. When you pre-plan and pre-fund your cremation, you save your family from emotional and financial burdens. You also lock in today’s prices on many items and avoid future inflation. A Dignity Memorial® planner can walk you through the process of planning ahead and explain all your choices, including financing options.

Cost protection even if you move

In addition, when you plan a cremation ahead of time with a Dignity Memorial provider, your plan is entirely transferable to any one of our more than 1,900 locations in 47 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico if you move more than 75 miles (or 120 kilometers). That means you can plan today at a location near you, and if you move at any point in the future, every detail of your plan moves with you. That's part of The Dignity Difference.

 

Find a provider

 

Related Content

Tags