Funeral and end-of-life planning are personal decisions. National figures are useful for setting a starting point, but local prices, services, personal wishes and policy choices can vary widely.
Funeral costs
What national funeral cost figures show.
$8,300
Median funeral with viewing and burial
The 2023 national median covers specified funeral-home services and a metal casket. It does not include a vault, cemetery costs, a marker or cash-advance items such as flowers or an obituary.
$9,995
Median funeral with burial and a vault
Adding the study’s reported median vault charge of $1,695 brings the national median total to $9,995.
$6,280
Median funeral with viewing and cremation
This 2023 national median includes a viewing, ceremony, cremation fee, alternative container and urn. It does not include cemetery, marker or cash-advance costs.
Burial and cremation
Cremation is the more common choice nationally.
63.4%
Projected U.S. cremation rate in 2025
The National Funeral Directors Association projects cremation to account for 63.4% of dispositions in 2025.
31.6%
Projected U.S. burial rate in 2025
The same report projects burial to account for 31.6% of dispositions in 2025.
Source: National Funeral Directors Association, 2025 Cremation and Burial Report
Planning context
A clear plan can matter to more than one person.
17.3%
Of Americans were age 65 or older
In 2022, 57.8 million people in the United States were 65 or older. The Administration for Community Living projects this share to reach 22% by 2040.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans
28%
Of older adults living in the community lived alone
The 2023 profile reports that about 28% of community-dwelling adults age 65 or older lived alone, making shared records and clear contacts especially practical.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans
57.8M
Americans were age 65 or older
The 2023 profile records 57.8 million Americans age 65 or older in 2022, a useful reminder that clear final-arrangements information serves a large and growing part of the country.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans
Using these figures
Three helpful questions to carry into planning.
- Which expenses should the plan address? National medians are a benchmark, not a quote. Ask local providers for itemized pricing that reflects the arrangements your family is considering.
- Who should know the plan? Put the essentials, including wishes, contacts and key documents, somewhere a trusted person can find them.
- What support would help most? Final expense insurance may be one option to discuss alongside savings, pre-arrangements and other resources. The right fit depends on the family and the policy terms.
For a gentler starting point, see our end-of-life planning checklist, or explore final expense coverage guidance.
Methodology and sources
How to read this page.
This page brings together the most recent national figures available from named primary or industry sources as of October 23, 2026. It does not estimate local prices or predict an individual family’s costs. Figures are updated when a key source publishes newer data.
- National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 General Price List Study, published December 8, 2023.
- National Funeral Directors Association statistics, reporting 2025 cremation and burial projections.
- Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans, using Census Bureau and related public data.
- Federal Trade Commission, Funeral Rule, consumer rights and comparison-shopping guidance.
Cite this page
Bear Flag Insurance Services. “U.S. Funeral Cost and Planning Statistics.” Updated October 23, 2026. https://burialorfinalexpenseinsurance.com/funeral-cost-statistics