Tool
Is my funeral quote fair?
Got an itemized quote from a funeral home? Enter the numbers and we'll show you, line by line, which charges are above typical national pricing — and which you can shop elsewhere or refuse outright.
To check if a funeral quote is fair, compare each line item against typical national prices. The biggest overcharges usually hide in the non-declinable basic services fee (typically $1,000–$4,500), the casket, and the burial vault. Under the FTC Funeral Rule you can buy a casket or urn elsewhere, decline embalming in most cases, and pay only for the goods and services you choose.
Funeral homes must give you an itemized price list (the FTC's “General Price List”). Type the amount you were quoted next to each line you were charged for — leave the rest blank. We'll compare each against typical national prices.
| Line item | Typical | Your quote | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic services fee (non-declinable)The provider's overhead/staff fee. The single biggest swing between funeral homes. | $2,300 | $ | — |
| Transfer of remains to funeral homeCollecting the deceased and bringing them into care. | $395 | $ | — |
| EmbalmingOptional in most cases; only needed for a public open-casket viewing. | $845 | $ | — |
| Other body preparationDressing, cosmetology, casketing. | $295 | $ | — |
| Viewing / visitationFacilities and staff for the viewing. | $450 | $ | — |
| Funeral or memorial ceremonyFacilities and staff for the service. | $515 | $ | — |
| Graveside serviceStaff at the cemetery for the committal. | $375 | $ | — |
| HearseTransport of the casket to the cemetery. | $375 | $ | — |
| Service car / utility vehicleFor staff, flowers, paperwork. | $175 | $ | — |
| CasketHuge range; you may legally buy a casket elsewhere and the home must accept it. | $2,500 | $ | — |
| Burial vault / grave linerRequired by most cemeteries, not by law. | $1,495 | $ | — |
| UrnYou can buy an urn elsewhere for less. | $295 | $ | — |
| Cremation feeThe crematory charge, sometimes billed as a third-party fee. | $400 | $ | — |
| Printed materialsPrograms, memorial cards, register book. | $175 | $ | — |
Your rights under the Funeral Rule
- How do I know if a funeral quote is too expensive?
- Compare it line by line against typical national prices. The biggest swing is usually the funeral home's non-declinable 'basic services fee,' which can range from about $1,000 to $4,500 for the same service. Caskets, vaults, and embalming are also common places to overpay. This tool flags each line that's well above typical so you know what to question.
- What is a General Price List?
- Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must give you an itemized, written General Price List (GPL) on request — including by phone — before you agree to anything. It breaks the bill into individual charges, which is exactly what lets you compare prices and decline things you don't want.
- What can I refuse or buy elsewhere?
- A lot. You can buy a casket or urn from a third party and the funeral home must accept it without a handling fee. Embalming is rarely legally required — refrigeration is an alternative for a viewing. A burial vault is a cemetery requirement, not a law. You only have to pay for the basic services fee plus the goods and services you actually choose.
- Does a higher quote mean I'm being ripped off?
- Not necessarily — labor, facilities, and cemetery costs genuinely vary by region, so a higher number can be legitimate. But a line well above the typical range is a signal to ask why, get a second quote, or buy that item elsewhere. The tool points you at the lines worth a conversation, not at a verdict of wrongdoing.
Typical figures are national medians for general guidance only — not a quote, not legal or financial advice. Local prices legitimately vary. Nothing you enter is uploaded or stored. Estimate a full arrangement.