How Much Does Cremation Cost in California?

According to the NFDA Cremation & Burial Report, cremations will reach 70% by 2030. No one enjoys dealing with the passing of a loved one, but some options can make the process much easier on families. Peace of mind and dignity are important for everyone, even when dealing with death. It’s helpful to research your options, check the cost of cremation in California, and learn how to keep things manageable.

Cremation vs. Burial

More people are choosing cremation over burial for various reasons, but one of the most prominent is that it is less expensive than a burial. It's also often seen as a "greener" option than a burial.

The cost of just about everything is going up, and funeral services are no different. Given how much more cost-effective cremations are, we can see that the percentage of people who prefer cremation has gone from 40% in 2010 to 56% in 2020. However, now that cremation is becoming a more popular choice, the cost of this service is also increasing.

On the other hand, many people still prefer burial over cremation, mainly because it's viewed as more traditional. No matter which option you decide, there are ways to ensure the service is uplifting, reverent, and within budget.

Average Pricing for Cremation with Funeral

Like most things, pricing for services varies from state to state. On average, the cost of a cremation package ranges between $2,000 and $10,000, depending on the funeral home.

This breakdown comes from the national median cost of an adult funeral with cremation in 2021:

• Basic service fee (non-declinable) - $2,300
• Cremation fee - $368
• Removal/transfer of the body to the funeral home - $350
• Embalming - $775
• Body preparation - $275
• Use of facility for the viewing - $450
• Use of facility for the funeral - $515
• Service car or van - $150
• Basic printed memorial materials - $183

Note, these packages often do not include an urn or casket. In 2021, the median cost of an urn was $295, and the median cost of a cremation casket was $1,310.

Burial with Funeral

Many of the service fees for burials are similar to those listed above. However, the body will be buried in a casket and not cremated. The average cost of a casket ranges between $2,000 and $5,000. The price depends on the type of materials used (and the thickness of those materials) to make the casket.

Direct Cremations

Direct cremations are a low-cost way of providing a wonderful service for your loved one. With direct cremations, you do not have a funeral service or memorial service beforehand. After the cremation, the funeral home gives the ashes to the family members. In some areas, you can work directly with a crematory instead of a funeral home, which can help save on costs.

In California, the average direct cremation costs are around $1,595 if the family provides an urn.

No-Cost Cremations

If you choose to donate your body to science, your body will be cremated for free, and the ashes will be returned to your surviving family members. However, there are some exceptions. If you have a communicable disease such as HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and others, they will not accept the body. Also, they will not take bodies that have been traumatized or decomposed.

After Cremation: Scattering the Ashes

After cremation, it’s a popular wish to have ashes scattered in a place that was important to the deceased. According to California law, anyone “who has the right to control the disposition of the remains” can scatter ashes in California, as long as they do not dispose of more than ten sets of remains in one calendar year.

Most often, cremains are scattered by family members and loved ones. There are many places where you can legally scatter cremains, but some of the more popular areas in California include:

• Private land
• Scattering garden (designated areas in churches, cemeteries, and memorial parks)
• Public land (beaches, mountains, deserts, etc.) with written permission
• Federal land (national parks) with written permission
• In the Pacific Ocean (as long as you're three nautical miles from the shore)
• By air (dropped from an airplane, and ashes only—no urns)

Even though cremation is becoming a popular option, how and where the ashes are laid to rest is a personal decision. It's important to talk with your family members about how you want this done, as well as how much it will cost—before any decisions are made.

Talk about Your Options with Funeral Experts

There are many options for laying your loved one to rest, so it's always a good idea to talk to funeral home professionals about how much cremation or burial options cost. They can go over available plans and costs, as well as help you make the right choice for your family. Contact us to learn more about cremation pricing in California.