Funeral Homes and Prices

You won’t believe the difference in prices between funeral homes – for the same things!

Important! If you aren’t planning to use the funeral home for a viewing or service, you can choose based on price, not location. If you are only gathering at the religious institution and/or the cemetery – no one will be going to the funeral home. You can save thousand by heading out of your immediate area.

Planning a Funeral?

Figure out what you want using our decision tree, then check and compare prices on this list of PA Funeral Homes!

You can sort this list by any column.

1) Click on the blank box between column A and row 3 to select the entire sheet.
     
2) On the top menu line, click “data”, then “sort range”
3) Choose the letter of the column you want to sort by and click “sort”

Don’t see a funeral home listed? Let us know!
Don’t see prices for a specific funeral home? That’s because we don’t have their General Price List. Call or email them and ask them to send it to you, then send it to us so we can include the information and help more people.

Planning Simple Direct Cremation?

All funeral homes are required by law to offer a package called “Direct Cremation.” This is the simplest of arrangements with no embalming, and no viewing or service held at a funeral home. The body disposition is taken care of and you are then free to have a memorial service wherever and whenever you want (without involving – or paying – a funeral director).

Pennsylvania Funeral Homes sorted by price of Direct Cremation
How to Shop for Direct Cremation and Least Expensive Providers

Planning Simple Immediate Burial?

The simplest and least expensive burial option is Immediate Burial. If you skip viewing and service at funeral home and just have a graveside service. You can save a lot by not using a local funeral home. But, it is what it sounds like; the funeral director arranges for burial at a time convenient for them. However, many funeral directors are willing to negotiate a reasonable extra charge to have a graveside service and/or for family to be present for the burial.
Pennsylvania Funeral Homes sorted by price of Immediate Burial

Other helpful information for funeral planning:

Ten Tips for Saving Funeral Dollars
Simple and Cheap, My Father Said
How to Read a Funeral Home Price List
If you buy a casket at a store or online, funeral homes cannot charge you a handling or other fee.

Pre-Paying

Thinking about pre-paying? We don’t recommend it except in certain circumstances such as spending down for Medicaid. See what the Funeral Consumers Alliance has to say about it here and the NJ Department of Consumer Affairs brief.

Can’t Afford the Funeral?

We do not offer any financial assistance, but in addition to the many tips on how to save money, here are some ideas and other sources.

What to Do When You Can’t Afford a Funeral
Veteran’s Benefits
Crime Victims
Infant Deaths
Department of Human Services Benefits – The PA Department of Human Services will pay up to $750 towards burial and cremation services on behalf of eligible people, those who:

    • received Supplemental Security Income or SSI.
    • were receiving cash benefits from the Department of Human Services.
    • were found eligible for cash assistance prior to death.
    • were residents of nursing homes who received SSI or nursing home care payments prior to Jan. 1, 1973, continuously to the present.

Eligibility for assistance with burial costs is determined by the local county assistance offices (CAOs). Payment is made only to funeral directors who are registered as providers with DHS.

Car Accidents – Some funeral expense may be covered by auto insurance as long as one hasn’t purchased the absolute minimum required PIP coverage. Since it is only a few dollars more each month, most insurers encourage drivers to buy PIP insurance that will pay up to $1,000 for funeral expenses. One may also purchase optional, additional PIP coverage that will pay up to $5,000 or $10,000.

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