What You Should Know About Cremation Cost

Cremation as a Rising Trend

It's no secret: more families and individuals are choosing cremation than ever before. Tyler Mathisen, in the 2013 NBC News online article, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry", shares these cremation statistics: "Every year in America, 2.5 million people die. In 2011, the last year for which numbers are available, 42 percent were cremated, according to the funeral directors association. That's double the rate of just 15 years ago." He goes on, getting specific."In some states, largely in the West, the cremation rate tops 70 percent. In Washington, it's 72 percent; in Nevada, almost 74 percent. (The lowest rate of cremation is Mississippi's, at 15.7 percent.)" He argues, as do many people, that cremation costs are the reason why the number of families choosing cremation nearly doubled over fifteen years. If cost of cremation is of critical importance to your family, we encourage you to read further.

It's important to realize there are no standardized cremation costs; every crematory, funeral home, or cremation provider offers cremation services and products at differing price points (depending on their location).

The Average Cost of Cremation

The cost of cremation commonly ranges from a few hundred dollars for direct cremation (when contracted through a low-cost third-party cremation provider), to a few thousand dollars (when ancillary services or products are selected).  Certainly, while cremation prices differ depending upon the area served; commonly cremation will cost you far less than that of a traditional, casketed burial.

What to Expect from a Cremation Service

The price you'll pay for a cremation, at its most basic, will cover the cremation process itself, and the completion of all the necessary paperwork. But, you can incur additional charges above and beyond this amount, for things like:

• Certified copies of the original death certificate
• Transportation of the deceased to the crematory
• Disposition of the cremated remains through scattering or burial
• Removal of pacemakers or other medical implants
• Purchase of an alternative cremation container, cremation casket, or use of a rental casket
• Purchase of items related to a funeral, memorial service, or celebration-of-life

The cost of cremation can vary widely; so it's important you "ask around". Do your online research: visit the websites of each of the providers you've targeted, connect with your social media network to ask for their input. Pick up the phone and make the call, speak with a company representative. (You may want to read these Questions to Ask before you begin, as cremation costs are just a part of the big picture.)

The Top Questions to Ask

Knowing what's important to you and your family is the start to any inquiries you make. Certainly it's safe to say that you're concerned about ethical business practices and processes; after all, you do not want to entrust your loved one's final care to a crematory or cremation provider operating without strict guidelines. (If you're interested in learning more about our professional ethics, we invite you to read Our Code of Ethics.) Let's look beyond our philosophical code, and focus on the fundamental questions to ask a crematory or cremation provider. CANA, the Cremation Association of North America, advises consumers to ask the following questions (to which we've added some of our own):

• Who owns the crematory?
• How often is it inspected by regulatory agencies?
• Are all required licenses and permits current?
• How many crematory operators do they have, and what type of certification do they possess?
• Is there a refrigeration unit on the premises?
• How long will the crematory hold the body before the cremation?
• Does the crematory allow family members to witness the cremation? 
• Will your staff handle all phases of the arrangement and cremation processes?
• Is a member of your staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (holidays included)?
• Will a licensed professional oversee all the details?
• Is cremation performed quickly after the required paperwork is completed and the permits are secured?
• Do you charge extra for a deceased who is overweight?
• What do you charge for a direct cremation? What other cremation service options do you provide, and how much do they cost?

In addition to asking these questions of crematory operators and cremation providers, you should also make some personal inquiries: ask your friends and neighbors for their recommendations or seek the advice of your pastor or clergy person. And here's something very important to remember: never choose a crematory or cremation services provider based on the price they charge.

We believe you should have the funeral you want with a quality of service that you feel good about at a reasonable price. We believe that we are the best suited funeral home in Manhattan to provide this and here's why:

Why You Should Work With Us

There are many benefits that come from working with a reliable and experienced funeral home for your cremation service over other third party direct cremation providers.

Check With Us First

We've suggested you "call around" to find the most appropriate and affordable cremation services for your needs; so it makes sense for us to offer this second recommendation: reach out to us first. When you call upon one of our experienced funeral professionals, you'll not only have access to our current list of our cremation cost & prices, you'll have an educated, insightful ally to help you make the decisions best suited to your situation. And at times like this, a trusted ally can make all the difference. Call us at 212-473-2220. We'll be privileged to serve you. 

Online Sources:

Mathisen, Tyler, "Cremation is the Hottest Trend in the Funeral Industry", January 22, 2013