Burial Expenses Calculator

Funerals are an expensive business with many Americans forking out over $10,000 for a traditional funeral. In fact, funerals are one of the four most expensive purchases most people ever make in their lifetimes, so it stands to reason that you ought to be prepared for your funeral costs and help to lessen the burden on those who are left behind.

Planning a Funeral

There’s a lot to consider when planning a funeral, well, there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye, but there are ways and means of lessening the cost of your funeral whilst still having a tasteful and meaningful send off.

Cremations are a cheaper alternative to a traditional funeral, especially if you have a Direct Cremation which doesn’t involve visitations or embalming etc. Another option which is becoming quite popular is a Green Burial.

If you’re planning a funeral, then this list of expenses can help to make the calculations a little easier for you, and make sure that you haven’t forgotten anything of vital importance.

Burial Expenses Calculator

Professional Services:

• Services of funeral home and staff
• Cost of embalming (optional)
• Other preparations of the body (dressing for visitations etc)

Facilities and Staff Services

• Viewing the body
• Ceremony expenses
• Cemetery and graveside (opening and closing the grave etc)

Transportation Services

• Transferring the remains to the funeral home
• Hearse
• Limousine hire (if any)

Merchandise

• Cost of casket, container or cremation urn
• Burial or urn vault and grave liner
• Monument, tombstone or other memorial

Additional Expenses

• Cost of burial clothing (if applicable, some people are buried in their favorite outfit)
• Flowers or floral arrangements
• Food
• Transportation and accommodation of guests
• Other incidental expenses which are generally incurred