COMPARING FUNERAL PRICES
It can be difficult and confusing to compare funeral prices, whether between different types of services offered by a particular funeral home, or between similar services offered by different funeral providers. However, a little bit of research and inquiry now could save you and your family from unfortunate surprises down the line.
Funeral services are complex and made up of several individually priced components. Which components are included and which are not is entirely dependent on the type of service in question. Funeral services can be as unique as the person planning them, and thus so too can the price structure.
Another thing to bear in mind is that there are things a full-service funeral provider, such as ourselves, may do for you as part of our basic services that a discount provider may only do fat additional cost. Many providers, especially budget-priced ones, will charge extra for basic tasks - if they do them at all. There is a difference between full-service and minimal service - and you do get what you pay for! For more information on these types of items and services, we encourage you to refer to our
"How Much Does a Funeral Cost?" planner.
it is important to keep two things in mind if you are trying to compare funeral costs:
1) The cost estimates should include all components necessary for your desired type of service.
Make sure you have put together the whole puzzle! Our "How Much Does a Funeral Cost?" planner can help you determine the total overall cost of a funeral. Bear in mind that there are three areas of charges: 1) services and 2) merchandise (both provided by the funeral home), and 3) cash advances (external costs such as obituaries, flowers, etc.).
If comparing different services from the same funeral home, it is important to determine which elements are included in the different services and where the services differ from one another in structure and cost.
If comparing the same services between different funeral homes, you should be aware that service and merchandise charges for similar items can vary greatly between different providers, but cash advances will remain relatively constant, as they are external charges from other parties.
2) When comparing prices with another funeral home's charges, be sure the services you are comparing include all of the same components.
You will find that different funeral providers charge for similar services and/or merchandise in varying ways. For example, some will include certain services in a quoted package price, while others will impose separate charges for some of those services - above and beyond their price for what appears to be a similar package. It is very important to ensure you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges! Examine what is included in the charges very carefully to ensure that you are making an accurate comparison between identical services. Do not be misled by vague terminology; ensure you know exactly what items the quoted price includes and what it does not.
Also, the way funeral providers distribute their charges can vary greatly. Some may have a low basic service charge, but then charge a higher price for add-on services. Others might charge a higher up-front fee, but then charge less for additional items. Some may have high service charges and low merchandise costs; others vice-versa.
Do not be fooled by low up-front costs that are made up for with high follow-on charges! Some providers will have a very attractive "starting from" price, but that price may be for an absolute minimum of services; most consumers will find themselves needing or desiring more than the absolute minimum, and will find the price for the additional services escalating quickly beyond the advertised price.
Similarly, beware of hidden charges. Some funeral providers will charge separately for services that others include for free, such as deaths occurring outside normal working hours, storage of the body or cremains, care of an autopsied body, hairdressing, delivery and installation of burial vaults, or obituaries on their website, just to name a few. Another example is that most funeral homes charge for register book and memorial cards, sometimes significantly; we include these items at no additional cost. And while almost all providers will have fees for certain things such as weekend or evening services, those fees may vary; if you desire an evening service, and one charges $200 extra but another $500 extra, that is important to note! Always make sure you have been given full pricing for all items that pertain to the services you want, and that you are aware of anything that might result in extra fees.
Again, cash advance items are relatively constant from funeral home to funeral home, as they are external charges from other parties.
Below, we have listed several commonly selected service packages and their costs. We have tried to include an accurate listing of all components involved in each package to help you compare, as well as notes on things that may not be included in the given package. Itemized prices for all types of services are listed on our General Price List.
PLEASE NOTE: Charges listed below are only for funeral home services; merchandise and cash advance charges are not included unless noted. Merchandise prices may be seen on the pages for caskets, burial vaults, urns, and urn vaults. Potential cash advance charges are covered in detail in the "How Much Does a Funeral Cost?" planner.
We highly recommend taking the time to speak with a funeral director to get as accurate an estimate of your desired services as possible. This can help ensure that you are including everything you need, that you are not including unnecessary items or services, and can even make you aware of service options you may not have considered.
Cremation Services
Casketed Burial Services
See the General Price List for itemized prices. Variations in service chronology or location could result in additional charges. See GPL or consult with a funeral director for details.
