Cremation Cost by State (2026)
A direct cremation costs about $1,995 nationally, but the price ranges from about $1,190 in Nevada to about $3,020 in Connecticut. These are median prices from real funeral home price lists, 10 or more per state, across 39 states in 2026. The table below shows your state.
Jump to the state table, the cheapest and most expensive, or the methodology.
Get a Free QuoteCremation Cost by State (2026)
The table shows the median direct cremation price in each of the 39 states where we read 10 or more price lists. Direct cremation is cremation with no viewing and no service.
The national median is $1,995. Individual states range from $1,190 to $3,020. Each row also shows the full price range and how many price lists it is based on.
For details on what direct cremation includes, see our direct cremation cost guide. You can also estimate your cost with our free calculator.
| State | Median direct cremation | Range | Price lists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,195 | $995 – $4,700 | 12 |
| Arizona | $1,240 | $745 – $2,800 | 29 |
| Arkansas | $1,910 | $770 – $4,455 | 17 |
| California | $1,895 | $675 – $4,320 | 87 |
| Colorado | $1,650 | $795 – $3,495 | 31 |
| Connecticut | $3,020 | $1,385 – $4,585 | 17 |
| Florida | $1,882 | $575 – $4,040 | 30 |
| Georgia | $2,525 | $695 – $5,237 | 39 |
| Idaho | $2,035 | $945 – $6,285 | 10 |
| Illinois | $2,195 | $1,500 – $3,475 | 19 |
| Indiana | $2,300 | $1,120 – $3,595 | 21 |
| Iowa | $2,664 | $1,149 – $3,995 | 17 |
| Kansas | $1,900 | $795 – $3,445 | 21 |
| Kentucky | $1,738 | $895 – $4,200 | 20 |
| Louisiana | $1,995 | $1,050 – $2,790 | 11 |
| Maine | $2,150 | $900 – $2,950 | 13 |
| Maryland | $2,680 | $995 – $4,515 | 15 |
| Massachusetts | $2,765 | $795 – $3,700 | 16 |
| Michigan | $2,250 | $885 – $3,135 | 29 |
| Minnesota | $2,500 | $1,200 – $3,395 | 19 |
| Mississippi | $2,435 | $845 – $3,125 | 14 |
| Missouri | $1,395 | $845 – $3,720 | 17 |
| Montana | $1,975 | $920 – $3,495 | 12 |
| Nevada | $1,190 | $630 – $2,975 | 13 |
| New Jersey | $2,400 | $783 – $4,125 | 15 |
| New York | $1,795 | $1,095 – $4,395 | 25 |
| North Carolina | $1,700 | $995 – $3,395 | 13 |
| Ohio | $1,850 | $799 – $4,705 | 31 |
| Oklahoma | $1,545 | $797 – $2,650 | 16 |
| Oregon | $1,295 | $790 – $3,450 | 27 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,462 | $783 – $3,970 | 22 |
| South Carolina | $1,332 | $845 – $4,590 | 22 |
| Tennessee | $2,348 | $970 – $3,695 | 26 |
| Texas | $2,015 | $925 – $4,365 | 40 |
| Utah | $1,660 | $695 – $2,545 | 10 |
| Vermont | $1,970 | $900 – $3,480 | 13 |
| Virginia | $2,185 | $695 – $4,440 | 24 |
| Washington | $1,445 | $589 – $3,500 | 25 |
| Wisconsin | $2,385 | $975 – $4,830 | 19 |
Median direct-cremation prices from real funeral home General Price Lists, 10 or more per state, collected in 2026. These are sample medians, not official state averages. We are still collecting price lists in the remaining states and will add them as our data grows.
Cheapest and Most Expensive States
The lowest median cremation prices are in Nevada ($1,190), Arizona ($1,240), and Oregon ($1,295). These states are in the West, where cremation providers tend to face lower operating costs.
The highest are in Connecticut ($3,020), Massachusetts ($2,765), and Maryland ($2,680). The Northeast tends to have higher prices across the board.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive state is about $1,830. Even within a single state, prices can vary widely. For example, California ranges from $675 to $4,320 across 87 price lists.
For a side-by-side comparison of cremation and burial in each state, see our cremation vs burial cost analysis.
Why Costs Vary by State
Cremation costs more in some states because of local labor, real estate, and demand.
Funeral homes in high-cost areas pay more for rent, staff, and equipment. Those costs get passed on in the price list. States with fewer cremation providers may also have less price competition.
Population density plays a role too. Urban areas tend to have more providers and lower prices. Rural areas may have only one or two funeral homes nearby, which limits options.
State regulations also differ. Some states require a waiting period before cremation. Others require a specific type of container. These rules can add small costs that show up in the price list.
The best way to compare is to request General Price Lists from two or three funeral homes in your area. The FTC Funeral Rule requires them to give you one.
How These Compare to Surveys
Our state figures are the starting price for a direct cremation with no service. They run below national survey figures like the NFDA's ($6,280), which measures a cremation with a full service and a viewing.
Both are real. They measure different service levels. Our numbers answer "what is the lowest price on the price list?" The NFDA answers "what does a full cremation service cost?"
For a detailed comparison of how these figures differ, see our cremation cost data page.
How We Got These Numbers
These figures come from Asurgo's own reading of more than 1,160 real funeral home price lists. They are not from a survey.
- Every funeral home must publish a General Price List. The FTC Funeral Rule requires it. Direct cremation is a required line item.
- We collected more than 1,160 of these lists. They come from funeral homes across all 50 states in 2026. Of these, 919 listed a direct cremation price.
- We read each one line by line. Every price was pulled from the source document and checked against it. No estimates. No secondhand data.
- We show a state only when we have 10 or more price lists. That threshold gives confidence in each state's median. We currently meet it for 39 states.
- We report the median. The median is the middle price when all prices are sorted. A few very high or low prices cannot skew it.
For national context, the NFDA publishes a median for a cremation with a viewing. That figure is higher because it includes a full service. Our numbers are the starting price for the no-service option.
According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), more than 60% of Americans now choose cremation. That share varies by state.
Cremation Cost by State FAQ
How much does cremation cost in my state?
It depends on the state. A direct cremation ranges from about $1,190 in Nevada to about $3,020 in Connecticut. The national median is $1,995. See the full 39-state table on this page for your state's median, price range, and sample size.
Which state has the cheapest cremation?
In our data, Nevada has the lowest median direct cremation cost at $1,190. Arizona ($1,240) and Oregon ($1,295) are the next lowest. These are median prices from 10 or more real funeral home price lists per state.
Why does cremation cost more in some states?
Cremation costs more in states with higher labor costs, higher real estate prices, and fewer cremation providers. States in the Northeast tend to have the highest prices. States in the West and Plains tend to have the lowest.
How do families pay for a cremation?
Most families pay from savings, a payable-on-death bank account, or life insurance. Final expense insurance is a small whole-life policy (usually $5,000 to $25,000) designed for these costs. Benefits go directly to your family, not the funeral home.
Planning Ahead
Many families want to cover the cost of a cremation so their children do not have to. Final expense insurance is a small whole-life policy, usually $5,000 to $25,000, built for these costs. Benefits go directly to your family.
Asurgo is an independent brokerage licensed in all 50 states. We compare plans from 25+ A-rated carriers to find the right fit.
Estimate only. Your final rate is set after a quick review with a licensed advisor. This is not a binding quote.
Nicholas Norminton, Licensed Insurance Specialist
Nicholas is a nationally licensed insurance specialist who has helped thousands of families plan for final expenses. This analysis is based on Asurgo's own dataset of 1,160 funeral home price lists.