Funeral Costs: What to Expect Now and in the Future

Saying goodbye to a loved one is never simple, and understanding the costs involved can feel overwhelming. Whether you're considering burial, cremation, newer methods like promession, or arrangements for an infant, expenses can vary widely. This guide offers clear, compassionate insights into today’s funeral costs, what affects them, and the options available to help you plan ahead with confidence.

What Is the Average Cost of a Funeral Today?

A typical funeral with a burial costs between $7,000 and $10,000 in the U.S., depending on the location and services selected. 

In the United States, the national average cost of cremation, including funeral and viewing, was $6,970 in the 2021 survey, a 11.3% increase since 2016, according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA).

These costs include:

• Basic services fee from the funeral home
• Embalming and body preparation
• Casket purchase
• Transportation of the body
• Use of facilities for viewing and ceremony
• Burial plot and vault
• Headstone or grave marker

Opting for cremation can lower the total cost significantly, but prices can still reach $6,000 or more when viewing, memorial services, and an urn are included.

Infant Funeral Costs

Funerals for infants and stillborn babies can come with many of the same basic costs as adult funerals, though scaled down. A casket, funeral home services, burial, cremation, and transportation are typically required. On average, a funeral for an infant might cost between $1,000 and $5,000, but many funeral homes offer reduced or even free services for grieving families. Some nonprofit organizations also help cover or offset these expenses.

Lowering Funeral Costs for Veterans

Veterans may be eligible for burial benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which can help reduce funeral costs. These benefits may include a gravesite in a national cemetery, a government-issued headstone, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate. However, families may still be responsible for certain services, such as transportation and funeral home fees.

Cost of Burying Cremated Ashes

Even though cremation is generally more affordable than burial, costs can add up if you choose to bury the ashes. Expenses might include:

• Purchasing a cemetery plot or niche: $350–$5,000
• Grave liner or urn vault (if required): $200–$1,000
• Burial service fees: $500–$1,500
• Engraved marker or plaque: $500–$3,000+

In total, burying cremated remains can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the choices made and location.

What Does it Cost to Move a Grave?

While rare, some families choose to move a loved one’s remains from one cemetery to another – perhaps to be closer to surviving relatives or in a preferred location. This process is known as grave relocation and involves several steps, including permits, disinterment, transportation, and reburial.

The costs for moving a grave can range from $3,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on:

• Local and state legal requirements
• Whether the grave is a full burial or cremated remains
• Distance between locations
• New plot and reburial services

This process also carries significant emotional considerations and is typically only done after careful planning and consultation with both cemetery authorities and legal professionals.

Promession: An Emerging Burial Alternative

Promession is an emerging method of body disposition that offers an environmentally friendly alternative to burial and cremation. The process involves freezing the body with liquid nitrogen, gently vibrating it into powder, removing any metals, and placing the remains in a biodegradable container for natural decomposition.

While promession is not yet widely available or legally approved in the U.S., it is being explored as a future option. Cost estimates vary, but if it becomes more mainstream, it could be priced similarly to or slightly less than traditional burial methods, ranging from around $7,000 to $10,000. 

Promession may appeal to individuals who seek a more sustainable and natural way to return to the earth.

What Will a Funeral Cost in 30 Years?

Predicting future funeral expenses requires looking at inflation, industry trends, and changing consumer preferences. Based on current projections, the cost of a traditional funeral could double by 2050, reaching $15,000 to $20,000 or more.

Factors influencing these rising costs include:

• Inflation in service, labor, and material costs
• Increased use of technology in memorials
• Higher demand for customization and experience-based services
• Environmental considerations driving interest in alternatives

To prepare, many people choose to pre-plan and prepay for their funeral now, locking in today’s prices and relieving future financial burden on loved ones.

Planning Ahead for Funeral Costs

Funeral expenses can vary widely based on personal preferences, location, and the method of disposition. From traditional burials and cremation to eco-friendly options like promession, the choices you make will impact both emotional and financial aspects of your end-of-life plans. Whether you're planning for yourself or navigating the unexpected loss of a loved one, understanding the current costs—and how they might change over time—can help you make informed, meaningful decisions.

Learn how to curb funeral costs with our tips, see how to avoid hidden fees in low-cost cremation, and discover how to plant a tree to show your support.

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