Top 5 Cremation Costs to Consider

The option to cremate your loved one is a very personal decision for you and your family.  

Historically, traditional burials have been the preferred final disposition method in the U.S., but this has changed in recent years. According to the NFDA, the U.S. cremation rate is expected to increase from 60.5% in 2023 to 81.4% by 2045.  

As cremation continues to become a more popular choice among families, it’s important to know the costs associated with this final disposition method. In this guide, we’ve broken down the top costs that are associated with cremation.   

1. Type of Cremation Service 

There are two forms of cremation services that families can choose from. 

• Direct cremation: This is the most affordable option for cremation services and involves cremating the body with or without a funeral service. The cost of a direct cremation includes transportation, necessary paperwork, memorial service and the cremation itself which is between $1,000 to $3,000. 

• Alkaline cremation: This type of cremation is an eco-friendlier alternative to direct cremation and uses water and chemicals to break down into ashes. This alternative is usually more expensive due to the specialized equipment used and can range from $2,000 to $5,000. 

2. Funeral Home Service 

The service to remember your loved one, gathered by family and friends is another aspect of the memorialization process. If asked to have a funeral home service, this can include the professional service fee for funeral directors, funeral home service and transportation. The average cost of a funeral with cremation is around $6,000.  

3. Decorative Urn for the Ashes  

There are a few options for the container you wish to use for your loved one.  

• Decorative Urns: Urns are usually made of metal, stone or wood boxes to keep your loved one’s ashes safe and enclosed. Depending on the material used, the cost of an urn can range from $39 to $1,000.
  

• Alternative container: Many funeral homes initially provide an alternative plastic container to hold on to your loved one’s ashes, which then can be put into a permanent urn.  

• Urn vault: A cremation urn vault is a lined and sealed outer container that houses your loved one’s urn and can be buried without an additional casket.  

>>> Related Resource: 5 Alternatives to the Traditional Cremation Urn 

4. Cremation Niche for Ashes 

Columbariums are private or public structures where remains are placed into an urn within a niche for permanent remembrance. Private columbariums vary in price depending on the size and level of customization. The two examples pictured below are private columbariums. Columbariums start around $4,500 and go up in cost from there depending on how many people you may be memorializing.  

Niches are the receptacles within the columbarium to display your loved one. Like a headstone, niches can be engraved with your loved one’s name, birth and death dates, and sometimes etched photos if space allows. The cost of a niche depends on the cemetery and the location of the compartment but can range from $300 to $3,000. 

5. Burial Plot and Other Cremation Memorial Options 

If you choose to bury your loved one’s cremated remains or place them in a memorial other than an urn or columbarium, you will want to consider the following costs.  

• Burial Plot: Before burying cremated remains, a burial plot will need to be purchased. Most cemeteries have a discounted burial plot rate for cremated remains, however the average burial plot in 2023 for U.S. cemeteries was $3,581.  

• Traditional Headstone: If you choose to bury your loved one’s cremated remains, a traditional headstone can be designed and placed on top to mark the grave. Your options for headstone size and design are the same as they would be for a traditional burial. For a detailed breakdown of headstone costs, view our Memorial Cost Guide.  

• Monuments or Memorial Benches Recessed Urns: For a larger monument or memorial bench, you can request your urn to be recessed into the granite of the memorial stone and sealed. These can be placed in a cemetery or at a public park and start around $3,500. 

• Boulders With Recessed Urns: For those who want something smaller and closer to home, personalized stones and rocks are another option. To hold the cremated remains, a hole is cut in the stone, then the urn is placed inside before sealing the hole. Depending on the level of customization and size, boulders with recessed urns can vary in price. Memorial boulders can also be customized without adding cremated remains inside.

• Urn Garden: This is another alternative some cemeteries or parks offer to remember loved ones in the area. These are usually in landscaped areas with benches, boulders, markers, statues and pedestals to honor loved ones.  
• Cremation Jewelry: Memorial jewelry is designed to hold a loved one’s cremated remains. They could also hold something else significant to the person, such as a thread from their favorite shirt or scarf. The cost of cremation jewelry varies based on type of jewelry and provider.  

>>> Related Resource: 7 Cremation Memorials Explained 

Learn More About Your Cremation Memorial Options 

The cremation memorialization process comes with several choices, costs and decisions to remember your loved one. Download our cremation guide to understand the cremation process and how to honor and memorialize your loved one.