How much does a funeral cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, in 2004, the average cost of a funeral in the United States was $6,500 including a basic casket and an outer burial container. This does not include charges for the purchase or opening of a grave or a cremation, clergy honoraria, newspaper notices or paid pallbearers. There are significant regional variations to this figure with the northeast being the highest.
You and your family determine the cost of a funeral. A funeral can be as extravagant or as simple as you desire. There is a wide range of funeral services from which to choose. There are certain expenses basic to almost every funeral, but many are determined by the selections that are made, the services specified, and the additional items requested.
