Funeral Providers
MUST you hire anybody?
No. You can do it all yourself.
Green options might be harder to find.
Because all the green options are considered specialized, you need to shop for in a different way than searching the nearby funeral homes.
Instead, jump to our Green Options page.
Be prepared for scams and unethical practices!
This is the only sector in the deathcare industry that is regulated at the national level. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) governs funeral homes with The Funeral Rule.
Many funeral directors are descent, helpful, compassionate and trustworthy. We hope you encounter only those people.
RED FLAGS for those who are possibly unethical:
- You feel pressured to make a decision.
- Their General Price List is not on their website and when you call, they try to get you to reveal your contact info before telling you their prices.
- You feel pressured to purchase more expensive options.
- They say things that make you feel guilty about your choices.
- They try to convince you that embalming is required (it rarely is) and do not discuss alternatives.
- A casket purchase is required, even though the deceased is cremated.
- The less expensive casket or urn is out of stock.
What to ask when you shop around
When you start making calls, you may realize something is important to you that you didn’t know when you started, so you may have to make multiple calls to the same business.
To get you started:
- What is your price for a simple, direct cremation or burial? What is NOT included in that price?
- How can I get your General Price List (if it is not on the website)?
- How far will you go to transfer the body before adding additional fees… and then how much? (Are they in range of the deceased?)
- What is your least expensive casket or urn available?
- Do you offer viewings without embalming?
- What are your greenest options?
- Are you independently owned or is it owned by a larger corporate entity?*
- Is your staff experienced with: my specific religious/cultural practices? preparing and presenting decedents with non-white skin and hair? gender non-conforming presentation?
- What are your restrictions and fees if I want to spend time with the body? What about witnessing the cremation?
*What does it matter who owns it?
How much do funeral services cost?
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has calculated the national median cost of a funeral with burial by totaling the cost of the following items: basic services fee, removal/transfer of remains to funeral home, embalming and other preparation of the body (casketing, cosmetology, dressing and grooming), a metal casket, use of facilities and staff for viewing and funeral ceremony, use of a hearse, use of a service car/van, and a basic memorial printed package (e.g., memorial cards, register book, etc.). The cost does NOT INCLUDE cemetery, monument or marker costs or miscellaneous cash-advance charges, such as for flowers or an obituary.
2021 Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Burial: $7847
2021 Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Cremation: $6,970
Their price survey page includes much more detail, including a breakdown of these totals and regional price differences.
Sites that claim to help you compare prices
Funeralocity
PRICES ARE NOT ACCURATE. Not responsive to inquiry. This is a FOR-PROFIT privately held company. It charges providers a FEE EVERY YEAR to get their “Best in America” certification. You will probably get pop-ups trying to sell you something.