Our nation is changing its death care preferences, and cremation now accounts for over 60% of funerals. This trend is set to continue, with the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) forecasting the cremation rate to reach 85% by 2035. This is leading more families to start considering cremation and asking questions about what options they have if they choose cremation. In this post, we will explore cremation, the growing trend for direct cremation, how much direct cremation costs, and how the funeral industry is responding to the demand for cremation services.
If you need to speak with a funeral director immediately (or imminently) about arranging a low-cost direct cremation, visit our DFS Memorials Locations page to find your nearest cremation provider.
What do you understand about cremation? How does this impact our deathcare choices?
Cremation is an alternative means by which to conduct the disposition of a body. A cremation can be conducted after holding a traditional funeral service. The cremated remains can still be interred in a cemetery plot, as you would do with a casketed body.
Cremation is proving a growing trend for several reasons. The primary reason is cost. A cremation, even with a full funeral service, works out much cheaper than a traditional burial service. No casket, burial vault, or cemetery plot is immediately required. Even if you opt to hold a funeral service prior to cremation, many funeral homes now offer rental caskets for the purpose of the service.
Another reason cremation is gaining popularity is that it is a simpler, ‘less fuss’ option that many people prefer today. Who wants to spend thousands of dollars on a single funeral expense when a dignified cremation can be conducted for under $2,000?
Cremation is a very final disposition of a body, and therefore, there are strict laws governing its authorization. A Cremation Authorization Form must be signed by all legal next-of-kin before a cremation can proceed. This is largely because it is such a final act, and if there is even the slightest dispute or uncertainty amongst surviving next-of-kin, then a cremation should not go ahead.
The county also must authorize that cremation can be conducted. Generally, the funeral director must obtain a county permit before he can cremate.
What is a direct cremation?
Direct cremation is an industry term for a cremation conducted without ceremony or services. The funeral director’s services are merely those to collect, complete the legal paperwork, and conduct the cremation process. The cremated remains are then returned directly to the family. This is the least expensive cremation option, and in most cities, it can be performed for under $1,000.
The average cost for direct cremation with DFS Memorials is $795.
The funeral industry often refers to a direct cremation as a ‘simple cremation’, a ‘basic cremation’, or a ‘no-ceremony cremation’.
The price for a direct cremation must be listed on a funeral home’s general price list (GPL), and it is usually listed towards the bottom of the GPL.
How much should you expect to pay for a direct cremation?
As with all funeral services, prices vary, not just by area but also according to the service providers. A direct cremation can cost anywhere between $595 and $3,200. A full-service funeral home will generally charge a higher fee as it has a greater overhead to offset.
Visit this Guide to Direct Cremation Costs in 2024, which provides a breakdown and comparison of costs in major cities.
Some traditional funeral homes offer more affordable direct cremation, but often through a separate cremation entity that they have established to cater specifically to the direct cremation market.
It is always wise to check a few prices to compare direct cremation costs. But more importantly, ensure you ARE comparing like-for-like packages. Be very mindful of what is included in the price for direct cremation. Often, third-party fees, such as death certificates, permits, and sometimes even the crematory fee, are not included. Some cremation providers and funeral homes offer an inclusive direct cremation package that may include death certificates and a simple cremation urn.
How is cremation affecting the funeral industry?
The simple truth is that cremation is revolutionizing the funeral industry, and many within the industry have either been resistant to the change or slow to respond. It is understandable….when a traditional burial costs in the region of $10,000 to $15,000 and a cremation funeral costs around $3,500…this represents a significant decline in income and profits for a funeral home.
For the last decade or so, we have had too many funeral homes to service the death care needs of their communities. However, many survived because conducting maybe two traditional funerals a month was enough to exist and even make some money. Now that has changed, and this is and will continue to have, a dramatic effect on the funeral industry.
Some more progressive funeral directors, especially those who were business-minded, have responded to and even embraced the change. They have strategically placed their funeral business to respond to the demand for cremation, formulated simple and affordable cremation packages, and openly disclosed their cremation prices.
Others have been slower to respond. I am still hoping that cremation is a trend and the industry will return to the ‘glory’ days of elaborate (and expensive) funerals.
Direct cremation is, for many, their least-favored request from a family, and some will still be compelled to convince a family that it is not enough.
We at DFS Memorials believe this is not true. Direct cremation offers families a simple, efficient, convenient, and affordable means of conducting funeral services.
Once the family has the cremated remains returned from the funeral director, it is simple, personal, and inexpensive for the family to conduct their own memorial services (without the expense of a funeral director).
Memorial services can be held at home, in a place of worship, community center, outdoors, or just about anywhere you wish! The shift towards Life Celebration events to memorialize allows us to use our imagination to celebrate the life of a loved one without the somber tone long preached by the funeral industry.
How did the Covid pandemic affect the funeral industry and direct cremation trends?
A more recent impact on decisions to opt for a direct cremation has arisen from the Covid pandemic. For some time, social distancing regulations prevented families from even holding a funeral service. So, direct cremation became the most logical option for a family to select. Read more here: How Coronavirus has affected Funerals & driven further growth in the direct cremation market.
I have been researching and writing about the death care industry for the past fifteen years. End-of-life services and experiences are topics most people avoid thinking about until they must face them. My work provides comprehensive and independent resources for families, explaining the workings of the funeral industry, the laws governing funeral practices, and the death care trends that impact consumers. With a BA in Cultural Studies, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing cultural death care rituals, complemented by a career background in Business Management. The death care industry is undergoing significant changes, which I find fascinating. The shift towards cremation services and the emergence of sustainable alternatives like aquamation and human composting are of particular interest. I am also intrigued by how technology is reshaping the funeral planning process and experience. I write for US Funerals Online and DFS Memorials LLC, and contribute to various forums and publications within the death care industry.
