Cremation has overtaken burial as the American ‘preferred’ option for death care. In 2023, just over 60% of Americans opted for cremation over burial. The cremation rate is increasing year-on-year exponentially and is forecast to reach almost 80% over the next ten years.
Why is cremation becoming the preferred choice for families?
Here, we look at five reasons families now choose cremation instead of a traditional burial.
#1 The cost of cremation vs. burial
Choosing cremation instead of burial will likely reduce a funeral bill by half if not two-thirds. At the same time, a typical burial funeral costs a family between $8,000 – $15,000, and a cremation funeral costs in the region of $3,000 to $8,000.
This all depends upon the funeral products and services selected. However, cremation is without question cheaper. There is no requirement for a casket, burial vault, cemetery plot, or embalming of the deceased, all of which add thousands of dollars to a funeral bill.
In many areas, a direct cremation can be arranged for as little as $695, making it an affordable alternative.
Use our Local Provider Search to find affordable cremation prices near you with the DFS Memorials network.
#2 Interest in more environmentally-friendly alternatives
Some families see cremation as a friendlier alternative to a traditional burial, where embalming fluids, concrete, and steel are deposited into the earth. Gas & omissions are still an environmental concern, but less so, especially with the newer cremation machines that cremate faster and use less gas. Families sometimes seek greener alternatives, such as burying ashes in a tree pod.
#3 Families are more dispersed today
People have moved around so much more today, and families are often dispersed across states or even countries. This can make it much more challenging to coordinate a funeral burial service and bring people together at short notice.
Families are not so tied to the notion of a family burial plot if relatives have moved away, and the notion of it being a memorial site to visit is not of the same significance if families live far away.
#4 The ‘unconventional’ and personalization are critical aspects of funeral tributes & memorialization
Cremation is gaining acceptance and popularity as we all become more accepting of the unconventional. We are moving into a new era where traditional values are not held in as high esteem. New ‘norms’ are being embraced…. and being, or doing, the unconventional is popularized.
Examples of this emerge within funeral services, as families opt for non-traditional services and lean towards services as life celebration events.
Today, we seek personalization in our everyday lives, so why not take this ‘to the grave’…..so to speak! Cremation offers much more versatility in what kind of memorial services can be held, ……when, where, and how.
Even the option of personalizing artifacts with cremated remains is becoming a new industry, with many creative ways to design cremation tributes and scatter ashes.
#5 We need more flexibility in arranging funeral services
Cremation offers much more flexibility in arranging a funeral. First, it can enable the immediate disposition of the deceased without the immediate need to arrange a funeral service. One of the hardest things when unexpectedly faced with arranging a funeral service is the need to make so many decisions quickly.
Often, families find this overwhelming and later regret that they didn’t have more time to think through their choices.
Choosing cremation can help remove that immediate need to make decisions about holding a funeral service and what to do to memorialize the remains. A cremation memorial service is where the cremation is conducted first, and then a memorial service is held afterward. Of course, with cremation, there is no ‘rush’ to have the funeral (or memorial) service immediately.
This can allow families time to reflect on what kind of memorial service to conduct. With time to prepare and grieve, families can find that a later memorial service is much more meaningful and uplifting. It can provide time for families to plan to get together, especially if families are dispersed.
Considering these key reasons why families choose cremation can help us understand why the cremation rate is increasing. Cremation offers an affordable, flexible, environmentally friendly, and personalized option for death care.
If you need a low-cost cremation, DFS Memorials are here to help. Use our Local Provider Search to find locations and prices near you now.
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the last fifteen years. End of life services and experiences are something most of us choose not to reflect upon until we are suddenly faced with dealing with it. I have been contributing comprehensive and independent resources for families that explain how the funeral industry operates, and the laws that govern funeral practices. Sara writes for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, as well as contributing to other forums and publications for the death care industry. I have a BA in Cultural Studies. This helps my analysis of cultural death care rituals, alongside a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing an epoch of change and this fascinates me.
