Five years ago, the cost of cremation vs funeral rates were virtually identical. Now, the estimates for 2020 appear to be a bit different. Burials are expected to account for 37.5 percent of all burials, while cremations will account for 56.4 percent. Not only that but “the cremation rate in the United States is predicted to climb from 52.0 percent in 2017 to 79.1 percent in 2035,” according to their 2018 research. And it’s understandable that the number of cremations is rising; in certain locations, such as Japan, cremation is the only choice due to a lack of land and space.
Nonetheless, many people find deciding between cremation and burial to be a difficult task. So, what makes individuals choose cremations to burials?
The Advantages of Cremation
First and foremost, cremations are believed to be far more cost-effective than burials since there are no gravesite costs, caskets, cemetery fees, or headstones to contend with.
Second, cremations are beneficial for the environment since they do not require any land or space.
Some people believe that cremations result in non-traditional funerals, which they believe is a betrayal of the loved ones they’re attempting to commemorate. This, on the other hand, could not be further from the truth.
Cremation is not mutually exclusive with a “conventional” funeral. The urn carrying the ashes can be buried after the cremation, and the only variation from a typical burial is the size of the vessel being buried. You can also have an open-casket viewing, but the cremation must take place between the viewing and the burial, which will take a few days.
Cost of Cremation vs Funeral on the Average
When comparing the cost of cremation to the cost of a traditional funeral burial, cremation is often less than a third of the cost. This might explain why cremations have become more popular in the United States in recent years, as they are a more cost-effective alternative to conventional burials.
Typical Cremation Costs
Prices for cremations handled by a funeral home normally run from $2,000 to $3,000. If they’re handled directly through a crematory, though, the costs are slightly lower, ranging from $1,500 to $3,000.
Prices can differ based on the state you are in. These costs might vary even further depending on whether you want a conventional funeral service with an open casket visitation and a burial after the cremation.
Then there’s the matter of urn prices. Urns range in price from as low as $10 to hundreds of dollars for the more costly ones.
Burial Costs for Veterans
In the case of veterans, depending on whether the deceased died as a result of service-related reasons, the Department of Veterans Affairs may fund burial fees. If the person died after September 11th, 2001, as a result of a service-related injury or medical condition, the Department of Veterans Affairs will normally donate $2,000 to the funeral burial ceremony.
If the person died before September 11th, 2001, due to a medical condition or accident, the VA will still give $1,500 to the burial service.
If the person died in the line of duty, they will cover the majority of the expenditures, including cremation, transportation of the remains, burial service, urn/casket, and other expenses.
Burial insurance for Seniors
Burial insurance, sometimes known as “end of life insurance,” is generally utilized by older persons to relieve family members of the financial burden of burial expenditures.
The cost of burial insurance for seniors is determined by the amount of money set aside for the funeral. These costs can range from $18 to $256 each month, depending on the individual’s age, gender, health, and desired level of coverage.
What Is Typically Included in a Cremation + Ceremony
Although cremation is often less expensive than burial, a formal cremation ceremony can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $8,000 and contains many of the same elements as a traditional burial service, such as readings, music, viewings, and an urn burial service.
A typical burial service, on the other hand, might cost anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000, depending on the size of the container in which the body is interred.
What Is Typically Included in a Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is the most affordable alternative, with prices ranging from $700 to $3,500. A direct cremation, on the other hand, does not involve the customary aspects of the ritual, such as open-casket viewing and post-cremation burial.
However, because each funeral home conducts ceremonies differently, make sure to read the fine print to see what’s included in the price.
Cremation Costs That Are Surprising
Despite the fact that cremation is a less expensive option than burial, it can still be fairly costly. This is partly owing to the lengthy cremation procedure.
- The identification and purification of the body is the first stage.
- To avoid an unfavorable response in the cremation chamber, any jewelry is removed from the corpse, as are any medical equipment such as prosthesis, pins, or screws in the joints.
- After that, the body is taken to a cremation chamber.
- Cremations have a significant electrical demand, which necessitates a considerable quantity of space, as well as fire-resistant bricks that can sustain temperatures of up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In addition, severe environmental and air laws must be followed during the cremation process.
- All that’s left after the incineration is bones, which are cooled and then placed through a grinder.
Overall, it’s critical to base your selection on personal preference and financial constraints. When comparing cremation versus burial, cremation is typically significantly less expensive and healthier for the environment, but it is a little less conventional. However, both are legitimate ways to honor your loved one at the end of the day.