How Much Does A Funeral Cost?

The average funeral in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania tri-state area costs between $7,000 and $12,000. This includes viewing and burial, basic service fees, transporting remains to a funeral home, a casket, embalming, and other preparation. The average cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,000 to $7,000. These costs do not include a cemetery, monument, marker, or other things like flowers.

Funeral costs have been rising steadily since the 1980’s. Today, it’s not uncommon for the average funeral to cost up to $9,000 or more depending on whether the body is buried or cremated. A significant part of this costs are caskets and urns, which can cost thousands of dollars alone depending on the style and material used.

If you’ve ever helped arrange a funeral, you know even the most basic funeral expenses can be difficult to afford. If you went into the process with a budget in mind, the add-ons alone can send the cost of a funeral spiraling out of control.  One of the best ways to control these costs is to plan ahead by knowing the average cost of a burial and what each of the items costs. Once you know the costs, you can decide which items are must-haves, what would be nice to have, and what you can do without.

You Are Not Required To Purchase A Casket From The Funeral Home

There is a federal law unknown to many individuals which states that a funeral home must accept any casket that a family wishes to use.  Knowing this, and planning ahead with this in mind, will help the average individual cut funeral expenses in half.  For those who are unaware, there are literally dozens of varieties of caskets, with options to choose from including width, length, material, color, patterns, design, and more.  Traditionally, funeral directors would issue guidance on what casket to choose, without letting their clients know that they could obtain the same caskets elsewhere for much less.  Funeral homes sell caskets at an enormous markup, largely because of convenience and, frankly, due to a lack of knowledge of other options by consumers.

Websites such as casketemporium.com provide the same brands, types, options, and quality of caskets that funeral directors do, but for thousands of dollars less.  Casket Emporium is able to do this by “cutting out the middle man”, and obtaining these products direct from the warehouse. Companies such as Casket Emporium will personally deliver any casket you choose to your funeral home or other destination of choice, on the same day if necessary.  Obtaining a casket from an outside company such as this is the smartest money move you can make when planning a funeral, literally cutting the overall cost in half.