This guide will help you understand cremation costs in Pennsylvania, the different service options available, the legal requirements for cremation, and how to set up an affordable cremation plan.
Breakdown of cremation costs in Pennsylvania
Below, we have included a breakdown of average cremation costs and a table of cremation prices by city.
| City | Direct cremation price (DFS Memorials network) | Phone number | Average direct cremation price for the area* |
| Philadelphia | $1,295 | (215) 310-0777 | $2,398 |
| Pittsburgh | $695 | (412) 203-5809 | $2,177 |
| Allentown | $1,495 | (610) 273-8022 | $2,855 |
| Erie | $1,395 | (814) 208-5272 | $2,359 |
| Reading | $1,495 | (610) 273-8022 | $3,640 |
| Bethlehem | $1,495 | (610) 273-8022 | $2,855 |
| Scranton | $1,495 | (570) 225-9080 | $2,339 |
| Lancaster | $1,395 | (717) 282-1833 | $2,772 |
| Harrisburg | $1,395 | (717) 207-8252 | $2,625 |
*Funeralocity 2025
Call your nearest DFS Memorials cremation provider now if you have an immediate (or imminent) need for a low-cost cremation service.
Why has cremation become the popular funeral choice for families?
Several reasons are cited for why more families are choosing cremation for disposition. Less traditional attitudes, more spread-out migrated families, simplicity, and convenience play a role.
However, the reduced funeral expenses incurred by choosing a cremation service seem to outweigh the other reasons.
What is the cheapest cremation option?
The cheapest cremation option is direct cremation, which involves no ceremony or services. The deceased is collected from the place of passing and sheltered in refrigeration while the legal aspects of authorizing the cremation are secured.
Then, the cremation is performed, and the cremated remains are returned directly to the next of kin (or nominated legal representative).
The cremated remains can even be mailed directly to the family by a special USPS service. This means the process can be completed without the need to visit a funeral home, significantly keeping costs down.
More funeral service providers and crematories now offer easy and secure online cremation arrangement portals.
Visit our article about The Cremation Process: From the funeral home receiving the deceased, to giving the family the cremated remains to learn more about cremation.
What does a cremation cost in Pennsylvania?
The average cost of a direct cremation service is $2,449 (Funeralocity). However, as the table above shows, a simple cremation can be conducted for much less than that in most areas.
Indeed, a direct cremation can cost as low as $695 in Pittsburgh. The average cost for a direct cremation in Pennsylvania with the DFS Memorials network of low-cost cremation providers is $1,195.
A full-service cremation funeral or a cremation memorial service includes more ancillary services and options. So, if you decide on a cremation funeral service option, the cost will likely increase.
The average cost for a cremation memorial service is $3,740, and the average cost for a full-service cremation funeral is $6,511.
Can you still have a funeral with cremation?
Yes, you can conduct a funeral service and then arrange for the deceased to be cremated afterward. This would be very similar to a traditional funeral but with a cremation disposition of the body as opposed to burial. A cremation funeral can save on funeral costs as it can eliminate (or reduce) any cemetery interment costs, which can account for between $1,500 to $4,000. Also, it is possible to eliminate the need to purchase a casket, as many funeral homes now offer rental caskets for a cremation funeral service.
Alternatively, you can opt for a cremation memorial service. Usually, the service or ceremony is held after the cremation with the cremation urn present. This can be held as a formal service in a funeral home or place of worship, or it can take the form of a family-led memorial gathering anywhere. S
ome families choose to do this when they want to scatter their loved one’s remains in a special place.
Cremation ash scattering in Pennsylvania.
There are memorial scattering gardens in many cemeteries now, but you can also scatter cremation ashes in the beautiful Pennsylvanian countryside. If you want a permanent memorial marker for the location of scattered or interred cremation remains, this is worth considering.
A designated cemetery or niche provides a permanent memorial location for your loved one.
No state laws prevent you from scattering cremated remains, but it is wise to check with local county offices for any restrictions or permissions required, especially if you are considering a scattering ceremony on public or federal land.
Many National Parks now permit ash scattering, but you may need to submit a request for permission. Generally, the Park Ranger’s office handles requests and log details.
Read our Guide to Safely Scattering Cremated Remains for more information about how to disperse cremains.
How soon can a cremation be arranged when someone passes?
Pennsylvania funeral legislation requires a waiting period of 24 hours after the death before a cremation can proceed. It usually takes a few days to process the legal authorizations and obtain the permit to cremate anyway.
Who can authorize a cremation?
Certain legal requirements must be met for a cremation to proceed. The next of kin must sign a cremation authorization form. In the case of multiple next of kin (i.e., siblings of the deceased), all must sign the authorization before the funeral director can obtain a cremation permit.
What does a cremation permit cost?
The funeral director will obtain the permit to cremate from the local county coroner. The cost for a cremation permit varies by county. The permit fee ranges between $15.00 and $40.00.
What if the deceased is at the Medical Examiner’s Office in PA?
Suppose the death occurred as the result of an accident at a residential address or there are any suspicious concerns surrounding the death. In that case, the deceased will be transported into the care of the county Medical Examiner in Pennsylvania.
It is the responsibility of the ME to conduct an investigation and examination of the deceased to determine the exact cause of death and then issue the death certificate. If your loved one is taken to the Medical Examiners, you need to appoint a funeral director to collect him or her when the ME releases the body.
Only a licensed funeral director can collect a body from the Medical Examiner.
Making a simple prearrangement cremation plan
Setting up an affordable cremation plan can ensure your final expenses are covered and protect your family from financial responsibility, providing peace of mind for all.
These days, a simple cremation plan (a pre-arranged direct cremation) can be set up easily ahead of time. This enables you to lock in cremation services at today’s prices. The funds are protected by a state trust fund.
You can even set up a prearrangement cremation plan online, submit the required personal information, and make your payment.
To set up a cremation plan, contact your nearest provider from the listings above.
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.
