What Is the Average Cost of a Funeral in the United States?
The average cost of a funeral in the United States is $7,848 for a burial service and $6,971 for a cremation service, according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2023 data.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2023 Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial is $7,848, while a funeral with viewing and cremation averages $6,971.
Average Funeral Costs by Service Type
| Service Type | National Average |
| Funeral with burial | $7,848 |
| Funeral with cremation | $6,971 |
| Direct cremation (no service) | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Direct burial (no service) | $4,000–$5,500 |
| Green/natural burial | $1,000–$4,000 |
What's Included in the Average Funeral Cost
A typical funeral with burial includes: - Basic services fee: $2,300 (funeral home overhead) - Removal/transfer of remains: $350 - Embalming: $775 - Other preparation: $275 - Use of facilities for viewing: $450 - Use of facilities for funeral ceremony: $500 - Hearse: $350 - Service car/van: $150 - Printed materials: $175 - Metal casket: $2,500
*Note: Cemetery fees (burial plot, opening/closing, grave marker) are NOT included in these figures and typically add $2,000–$5,000.*
Average Funeral Costs by State
Funeral costs vary significantly by location:
| State | Average Funeral Cost |
| Hawaii | $12,000+ |
| California | $10,500 |
| New York | $10,200 |
| Massachusetts | $9,800 |
| Washington | $9,200 |
| Illinois | $9,184 |
| Texas | $8,791–$9,500 |
| Florida | $8,200 |
| Arizona | $7,500 |
| Missouri | $8,200 |
| Michigan | $8,500 |
| Nevada | $7,800 |
| Louisiana | $9,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $8,800 |
| National Average | $7,848 |
How Final Expense Insurance Covers These Costs
A $10,000–$20,000 final expense insurance policy provides a tax-free lump sum to your beneficiary, which can be used to pay funeral home bills directly. Most funeral homes accept assignment of benefits, meaning they can be paid directly from the insurance company without your family needing to come up with cash upfront.
Funeral Cost Trends
Funeral costs have risen approximately 3–5% annually over the past decade, outpacing general inflation. A funeral that costs $8,000 today may cost $11,000–$13,000 in 10 years. This trend underscores the importance of purchasing final expense insurance sooner rather than later.
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