How to lower funeral costs: 9 strategies that actually work

The most effective ways to lower funeral costs are to request itemized price lists from multiple funeral homes, choose direct cremation or immediate burial over a full-service arrangement, and provide your own casket or urn — which funeral homes are legally required to accept under the FTC Funeral Rule without charging a handling fee.

A meaningful funeral does not have to cost $10,000 or more. The families who pay the most are almost always the ones who had no plan — who faced unfamiliar decisions in grief, with a funeral home invoice due in 24 to 72 hours. The families who pay less aren't cutting corners. They simply made decisions before that window arrived. The strategies below are drawn from AARP's consumer research on funeral costs and payments. They work — but most of them require at least some advance thinking.

Why funerals cost what they cost

The median funeral with viewing and burial in the United States runs approximately $8,300 according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Add cemetery costs — plot, opening and closing fees, vault, and a marker — and the total often exceeds $12,000 to $15,000.

Several structural factors drive this:

• Concentrated decision-making under grief. Families typically make thousands of dollars of decisions within 48 hours of a death, in a state of acute emotional distress.
• Opaque pricing. While the FTC Funeral Rule requires itemized disclosure, many families don't know to ask for it.
• Time pressure on payment. Funeral homes typically require payment before services are rendered — before most families have accessed life insurance proceeds or estate accounts.

Understanding these dynamics is half the battle. The other half is having a plan.

9 strategies to reduce funeral costs

1. Choose direct cremation

Direct cremation — cremation without a viewing, embalming, or service at the funeral home — is the lowest-cost disposition option in the United States. Costs range from $700 to $2,500 depending on provider and location, compared to $6,280 for a full cremation service and $8,300 for a traditional burial.

A direct cremation does not prevent a meaningful memorial. Families who choose direct cremation often hold a separate gathering — at home, at a park, at a house of worship — weeks later, when grief is less acute and family members can travel. The cost of such a gathering is typically a few hundred dollars.

2. Compare providers before you need one

Funeral home pricing for identical services can vary by thousands of dollars within the same city. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must provide itemized price information over the phone to anyone who asks. You do not need to visit, explain yourself, or commit to anything.

Call two or three providers in your area. Request the General Price List. Compare the basic service fee, transportation costs, and facility use fees — these are often the largest variables. Do this well before the need arises, when you can think clearly.

3. Buy your casket or urn from a third-party retailer

The casket is typically the single largest cost in a traditional funeral, ranging from under $1,000 to $10,000+. Funeral homes are required by the FTC Funeral Rule to accept caskets purchased elsewhere and cannot charge a handling fee for doing so.

Third-party casket retailers — including warehouse clubs and online retailers — often sell equivalent caskets at 40–70% below funeral home pricing. This single change can save $1,500 to $4,000 on a traditional funeral.

The same applies to urns. Simple cremation urns start around $30 from third-party sellers, versus $200 to $1,500 from funeral homes.

4. Decline embalming unless legally required

Embalming is optional in most circumstances. No federal law requires it, and most states do not either. Funeral homes must offer refrigeration as an alternative.

Embalming typically costs $700 to $1,000. Unless you are planning an open-casket viewing that will be delayed by several days, or transporting the body across state lines in circumstances where it is legally required, you can decline it.

If a funeral home insists embalming is required, ask them to cite the specific legal requirement. "Our policy" is not a legal requirement.

5. Set up a payable-on-death (POD) account

One of the biggest financial challenges at the time of death is that most accounts are frozen until probate clears — a process that can take months to a year. Meanwhile, funeral homes often require payment within days.

A payable-on-death bank account passes directly to the named beneficiary upon death, bypassing probate entirely. The beneficiary needs only a death certificate to access the funds. Setting one up in advance — earmarked specifically for funeral and final expenses — means your family has access to cash exactly when they need it.

6. Understand what veterans' benefits cover

If the person who died served in the US military, significant benefits may be available at no cost:

• Free burial at a national cemetery for veterans, spouses, and dependent children
• A government-furnished headstone or marker for any eligible veteran's grave, anywhere in the country
• A burial allowance of $300 to $807 for veterans whose deaths were not service-connected

Many families do not know these benefits exist or assume they do not qualify. Eligibility information is available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is one of the most meaningful free resources available to eligible families.

7. Consider a home funeral or alternative venue

All 50 states permit families to manage some or all aspects of a funeral themselves. A home funeral — where the family prepares the body and holds the service at home — can cost a fraction of a traditional funeral home arrangement.

Home funerals are not for every family. But for families who are emotionally and practically prepared, they represent one of the most meaningful (and lowest-cost) options available. Home funeral guide networks and death doulas can assist.

Separately, holding a memorial service at home, at a park, or at a place of worship rather than at a funeral home can save several hundred dollars in facility fees.

8. Explore green burial

Natural or green burial — burial without embalming, in a biodegradable casket or shroud — eliminates several significant cost components: embalming, a metal casket, and a concrete vault. In a green cemetery, plot and opening fees are often lower as well.

NFDA data shows 61.4% of Americans expressing interest in green burial options, though availability varies by region. Dedicated green cemeteries are expanding across the country. Ask funeral homes and cemeteries in your area about availability.

9. Consider body donation

Some families choose to donate the body to a medical school or body donation program. Accepted donations are typically cremated at no cost, and remains are returned to the family afterward — often within 1 to 2 years. Programs vary, and not all donations are accepted, but for families in financial hardship this can be a genuinely meaningful option.

Contact your nearest medical school or a national organization such as the Science Care network to learn about your options.

The cost of not planning

AARP research makes a point that cuts across all nine strategies: advance planning "eases stress at a time when very few people can think clearly." It is not just a financial observation. It is a human one.

Families who make financial and logistical decisions in acute grief are not making their best decisions. They are making fast decisions — and fast funeral decisions are almost always expensive ones. Every dollar saved on a funeral is a dollar that stays with the family. That's not a small thing.

You can use Passings to document your funeral preferences, set a target budget, and record the information your family will need — so the choices you've made in advance are the ones that get carried out. Start building your plan →

The full AARP consumer guidance on funeral costs and payment strategies is available at aarp.org.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I realistically save by planning ahead?

The difference between an unplanned at-need funeral and one with even basic pre-planning can easily be $3,000 to $6,000. Choosing direct cremation over traditional burial saves $2,000 to $6,000. Buying a casket from a third-party retailer saves $1,500 to $4,000. These aren't marginal savings.

Does prepaying a funeral lock in savings?

Sometimes — prepaid funeral contracts can lock in itemized prices — but AARP research cautions that 89% of funeral homes will not honor prepaid plans from other providers. If your funeral home closes, changes ownership, or you move, a prepaid plan may not transfer. Documenting preferences without prepaying, combined with a dedicated savings or POD account, is often a more flexible approach.

Can I really buy a casket on Amazon and bring it to the funeral home?

Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must accept third-party caskets and cannot charge a handling fee. Caskets are available from major online retailers and warehouse clubs at prices well below funeral home rates. Confirm the casket dimensions with the funeral home in advance.

What's the best thing I can do right now to reduce future funeral costs?

Document your preferences clearly and share them with your family. The most expensive funerals happen when families make rushed, uninformed decisions without knowing what the person wanted. A written plan — even a simple one — eliminates most of the emotional spending that drives costs up.

Related resources

• What does a funeral actually cost in the US? National data explained
• The FTC Funeral Rule: your rights and how to use them to control costs
• Cremation vs burial: costs, considerations, and how to decide

Disclaimer — For informational purposes only

This article is compiled from publicly available resources and is provided solely for general informational purposes. It does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, psychological, or other professional advice. Passings is a planning and organizational platform, not a licensed advisory service, and no attorney-client, financial advisor-client, or other professional relationship is created by reading this content.

Laws, regulations, financial products, and professional standards vary by state and change over time. Passings makes no representations or warranties — express or implied — regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or suitability of any information contained herein. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Passings disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or harm arising from your use of or reliance on this content. Always consult a qualified, licensed professional — including an attorney, financial advisor, CPA, or licensed counselor — before making decisions specific to your situation.

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