A funeral costs $2,202 to $11,040 in 2026
A funeral costs $2,202 to $11,040 in 2026. After.com puts the national average at $8,500. Partingstone estimates a funeral with a viewing and burial at $9,170 without a vault and $11,040 with one. A direct cremation is the lowest at about $2,202. The type of service, the casket, and the funeral home all move the price. Cemetery costs are billed apart.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| Partingstone | Partingstone estimates a 2026 funeral with viewing and burial at $9,170 without a vault and $11,040 with a vault, and with viewing and cremation at $6,940. |
| After.com | After.com says the national average funeral is $8,500, direct cremation averages $2,202, and full service cremation averages $6,250. |
| Choice Mutual | Choice Mutual lists a funeral with burial at $9,995, cremation with a service at $6,280, direct burial at $5,138, and direct cremation at $2,202. |
Funeral prices by type of service
| Service | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation | $2,202 | After.com |
| Full service cremation | $6,250 | After.com |
| Direct burial | $5,138 | Choice Mutual |
| Funeral with burial, no vault (2026 estimate) | $9,170 | Partingstone |
| Funeral with burial and vault (2026 estimate) | $11,040 | Partingstone |
| Funeral with viewing and cremation (2026 estimate) | $6,940 | Partingstone |
| Metal burial casket | $2,500 | Choice Mutual |
| Public cemetery plot | $1,500 | After.com |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Burial or cremation | Choice Mutual lists direct cremation at $2,202 and a traditional funeral with burial at $9,995. Burial costs more because of the casket, vault, and plot. |
| Casket | Choice Mutual lists a metal burial casket at $2,500, and After.com lists a wood casket at $3,000. The casket is one of the largest items in the bill. |
| Embalming and viewing | After.com lists embalming at $775 and a viewing facility at $450. Skip them and the bill goes down, as with a direct cremation or direct burial. |
| Funeral home fees | Choice Mutual lists a basic services fee at $2,495, while After.com lists $2,300. Every home sets its own prices, so the same service can cost different amounts. |
| Cemetery and marker | After.com lists a public plot at $1,500 and a private plot at $3,500. Choice Mutual lists a $2,750 plot and a $2,000 marker on average. |
What the price includes
A funeral home price usually covers its basic services fee and the items you pick, such as a casket, embalming, a viewing, and a hearse. Partingstone says cemetery costs, such as the plot, opening and closing the grave, and the headstone, are billed apart. Flowers, a printed program, and a meal can be extra too. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
A funeral home bills you for its services and for the items you choose. The bill has a basic services fee plus each extra, such as embalming, a viewing, a hearse, and a casket. The cemetery bills you on its own for the plot, opening and closing the grave, and the marker. Partingstone says these are not in the funeral home total. Flowers, a printed program, and a meal may come from other sellers. Ask each seller for a written price list, and check who sends each bill so no cost is missed. Choice Mutual lists an interment fee of $300 to $1,500.
When you need this
You need a funeral plan when a person dies, or when you plan ahead for yourself or a loved one. The funeral home can move the body, help with the death certificate, and set the date. Making choices fast is hard when you are sad. A written budget and a price list help you decide what matters and what to skip.
How to judge your quote
- Did you get the itemized price list before you chose anything?
- Does the quote list the basic services fee, casket, and embalming apart?
- Are cemetery costs and the headstone listed or left out?
- Is any item sold in a package that you do not want?
- Compare the total with the range above: $2,202 to $11,040 per funeral for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for the itemized price list, then pick only what you want. Choice Mutual lists a direct cremation at $2,202 and a traditional burial at $9,995.
- Think about a direct cremation with a memorial later. After.com lists direct cremation at $2,202, versus $6,250 for a full service cremation.
- Compare funeral homes. After.com lists the basic services fee at $2,300 and Choice Mutual lists $2,495, so prices differ from home to home.
- Ask about each extra before you say yes. Embalming runs $775 to $935 and a vault runs $1,572 to $1,870 across these sources.
- Ask about a green burial. Choice Mutual lists it at $2,000 as its lowest cost burial option.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from Partingstone, After.com and Choice Mutual. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a funeral cost in 2026?
After.com says the national average is $8,500. Partingstone estimates $9,170 for a funeral with a viewing and burial and no vault. With a vault, it estimates $11,040.
How much does cremation cost?
After.com and Choice Mutual both list direct cremation at $2,202. After.com lists a full service cremation at $6,250. Partingstone estimates a funeral with viewing and cremation at $6,940.
Are cemetery costs included in the funeral price?
No. Partingstone says the plot, opening and closing the grave, and the headstone are billed apart. After.com lists a public plot at $1,500 and a private plot at $3,500.
What is the cheapest way to hold a funeral?
A direct cremation is the lowest priced at $2,202, and After.com lists a package starting at $995. Choice Mutual also lists a green burial at $2,000.
How much does a casket cost?
Choice Mutual lists a metal burial casket at $2,500. After.com lists a metal casket at $2,500 and a wood casket at $3,000. Partingstone estimates $2,760 for 2026.