Cremation Costs

There are basically four types of cremation services. The costs for each type can greatly vary depending on the provider. But there is a clear hierarchy of costs between the types of services.

The direct or simple cremation, which is the most basic offering, usually includes transportation of the body, the funeral home or cremation provider's administrative services, refrigeration, cremation including the container, and death certificate filing. The cost for this baseline service can range from $395.00 to over $2000.00 (if you add in the cost of the urn).

A cremation with a memorial service includes, in addition to the direct cremation services, the cost of the memorial service. This cost, starting at around $500.00, has a wider range because the memorial service expenditure can greatly add cost depending on its complexity. Services that include burial or scattering remains at sea belong in this category.

Tradition Means Extra Cost

By far, the most expensive service involves a cremation following a traditional funeral. Since the average traditional funeral costs about $4300.00, the added cost of cremation would bring the cost up around $4700.00. Then if you add a grave burial, the cost shoots up further to $5300.00.