This article provides average funeral cost data for American funerals.
The average cost for an American funeral, like other goods and services, has been steadily increasing over the last two decades. Anyone that has seen a late-night television commercial for funeral insurance knows the typical American funeral costs more than $6,000 – but is this an accurate estimate? The short answer is “no.”
Unfortunately, this $6,000 estimate is several years old and doesn’t take into consideration the additional expenses associated with burial in a cemetery and the purchase of a headstone. Once all funeral-related costs are factored in, the typical traditional funeral service will cost the average family closer to $8,000 - $10,000. But before we discuss specific funeral costs, we need to spend a few minutes discussing how the funeral industry works. This will help us understand where our money goes when planning a funeral.
