THE EDUCATION / BURIAL

Let’s talk burial

Traditional burial means placing your loved one in a casket or coffin, interred in a grave and often marked with a headstone. It gives your family a place of rest to visit.

It really all comes down to what you are paying for, so that’s where this page starts.

WHAT IT COSTS

A typical burial has two bills: the funeral home and the cemetery.

Funeral home

Basic services fee: $2,500
Casket: $2,500
Transportation: $900
Embalming: $800
Facilities: $600
Subtotal: $7,300

Cemetery (billed separately)

Cemetery plot: $3,000
Vault or outer burial container: $1,195
Grave opening and closing: $1,000
Subtotal: $5,195

EXAMPLE TOTAL

$12,495

A headstone or marker is extra: expect $1,000 to $3,000.

What each line means

  1. Basic services fee ($1,000 to $2,500) – Coordinating arrangements and handling paperwork. This is basically paying for the funeral director.

  2. Casket ($2,000 to $5,000) – Price depends on material and design. High-end options can be much more.

  3. Facilities ($400 to $800) – Use of the funeral home’s chapel or reception room for a rosary or funeral service.

  4. Transportation ($400 to $700, plus hearse) – Bringing your loved one into care, then the hearse to the cemetery at $300 to $500.

5​. Other costs (varies) – Flowers, obituaries, and outside facilities for a viewing or service.

6​. Burial plot ($500 to $5,000 or more) – Depends on the cemetery and its location. Urban areas cost more.

7​. Grave opening and closing