Comparing funeral prices feels like the wrong thing to be doing. When you're grieving, the last thing you want is to sit in a funeral home office doing math.
We understand. And we also know — from talking to hundreds of families — that a little bit of price comparison saves most people between $1,500 and $4,000, sometimes more. That money goes back into caring for the people still here.
So this guide is about doing the comparison gently, quickly, without guilt, and without letting anyone pressure you into more than you want.
Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule has been law since 1984. Every funeral home in America has to follow it. Under the rule, you have four specific rights worth knowing:
- You can get prices by phone — funeral homes must quote prices over the phone if you ask.
- You can get a written General Price List (GPL) when you visit, for free, without any obligation. You can keep the copy.
- You can buy only the goods and services you want — no forced bundles, no mandatory packages.
- You can provide your own casket, urn, or other items bought elsewhere, and the funeral home cannot charge you a handling fee.
The rule exists because Congress recognized that families arranging funerals are often in no state to negotiate — and that some funeral homes were taking advantage of that. The rule was strengthened further in 2023 and the FTC is currently reviewing whether to require online price disclosure by 2026.
The phone-call method
The fastest way to compare prices is three phone calls. Five minutes each. You ask the same questions of each funeral home, write down the answers, and compare.
Here's what to ask:
- "What's your basic services fee?" — This is the non-declinable fee every funeral home charges. It ranges roughly from $1,400 to $3,500 depending on the area.
- "What's your price for a direct cremation?" — The simplest, lowest-cost option. Useful as a baseline even if you're planning something more elaborate.
- "What's your price for a traditional burial package?" — Ask them to break it down. You want casket, embalming, viewing, service, hearse, printed materials listed separately.
- "Can you email me a copy of your General Price List?" — Most will say yes. This is your written reference document.
Three calls done. You have three sets of numbers. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive provider in most US cities is $2,000-$5,000.
One phrase that helps
"We're just starting to gather prices and aren't ready to make any decisions today." Say this up front. Good funeral homes will respect it. The ones that don't are the ones you want to skip anyway.
Reading the General Price List carefully
A GPL is a standardized document. All funeral homes use roughly the same categories. Once you've seen a couple, you know where to look.
The key sections:
- Basic services of funeral director and staff — the non-declinable fee. This is included in every funeral regardless of service type.
- Embalming — listed separately because it's optional. You should see a note that embalming isn't required by law for most services.
- Other preparation of the body — dressing, cosmetics, hairstyling. Usually optional.
- Use of facilities and staff — for viewings, ceremonies, graveside services. Listed separately per event.
- Transportation — hearse, service cars, transfer of remains.
- Caskets and urns — should be on a separate price list (the Casket Price List, or CPL) with multiple options at different price points.
- Outer burial containers — vaults, liners. Should also have its own list.
The GPL should also include prices for direct cremation, immediate burial, and graveside services as distinct package options. If any of these are missing, the funeral home isn't fully compliant. Gently ask about it.
Red flags when comparing
A few patterns worth watching for:
"Our package is simpler" as a reason not to itemize. The Funeral Rule requires itemization even if the home prefers packages. You always have the right to itemized prices.
A handling fee for a casket you bought elsewhere. This isn't legal. Gently remind the funeral director, and if they push back, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
Pressure about embalming. If a funeral home tells you embalming is required for a simple viewing, that's incorrect. Refrigeration is an alternative, and many home-based or short viewings don't require either.
"This is the only casket available at that price." Funeral homes must offer a written casket price list showing all options. Ask to see it.
Online tools that help
A few non-profit resources worth knowing:
- Funeral Consumers Alliance — state-by-state advocacy organization with local chapters that often publish price comparison guides for specific cities.
- Parting — aggregates funeral home prices in many US metros. Not complete, but a starting point.
- Your state's funeral board — often publishes the GPLs of complaints-subject providers.
None of these replaces the three-phone-call method, but they help you know what to expect before you call.
Online cremation providers as a baseline
Direct cremation providers that work nationally — After, Tulip Cremation, Solace Cremation — typically price between $695 and $1,895 depending on state, with everything handled remotely.
Even if you don't choose one of them, use their price as a baseline for what direct cremation should cost in your area. If a local funeral home quotes $3,500 for direct cremation and an online provider quotes $1,195, that's a significant price gap worth asking about.
A gentle reminder about trade-offs
The cheapest funeral isn't always the right one. Small local funeral homes with personal service, a director who sits with you, and a facility that fits a gathering — those have real value even if they cost more than a corporate alternative.
What you're really looking for isn't the lowest price. It's fair pricing for the service you actually want. Comparison isn't about bargain-hunting — it's about making sure you're not paying $3,000 more than you need to because you didn't know to ask.
If you're comparing right now
Take a breath. Use the phone method. Ask for the GPL in writing. Compare the basic services fee and the direct cremation price as your two anchor numbers. Everything else flows from those.
And if at any point the pressure feels too much, you can always step away and come back tomorrow. No decision has to be made in a single day.
Some families find it easier to have a friend make the comparison calls. There's no reason it has to be you if you don't feel up to it.
One last thing
You have the right to say no to things that don't feel right. That's not rude or cheap — it's what the Funeral Rule was written to protect. A fair funeral provider will respect your right to choose.