Title: Cost of an Average Funeral | Synonym
Headings: Cost of an Average Funeral
Cost of an Average Funeral
Explore this article
1 National Median Prices
2 Other Major Expenses
3 Other Smaller Expenses
4 Cremation Costs

Content: Cost of an Average Funeral | Synonym
Cost of an Average Funeral
Funeral costs have risen steadily since the National Funeral Directors Association started tracking them in 1960, with a median price higher than $7,000 in 2012. Funeral costs vary drastically depending on several factors including where you live, whether you have a viewing as part of the funeral service and your casket choice. Explore this article
National Median Prices
Other Major Expenses
Other Smaller Expenses
Cremation Costs
1 National Median Prices
The NFDA surveys funeral prices every few years, and in 2012, the median price for a funeral was $7,045. That's up from $6,560 in 2009. This cost includes the most common services families request from funeral homes such as embalming, a metal casket, use of the funeral home facilities for the visitation and memorial ceremony, and transportation of the body by hearse to the cemetery. Many of these services, such as embalming and visitation, are optional. The Federal Trade Commission requires funeral homes to provide price sheets in person and price quotes over the phone about all their services; calling around to different funeral homes in your area can sometimes save thousands of dollars on the same services, according to a 2013 Fox Business article. 2 Other Major Expenses
Along with funeral home expenses, you must pay for the plot where you bury the body. These costs vary considerably depending on factors such as where you live -- urban areas are often more expensive -- and whether the cemetery offers perpetual care.