Funeral & cremation costs in Pennsylvania
Funeral and cremation prices in Pennsylvania run about 2% above the national median. Here's what each option typically costs — itemized, and with the charges you can legally decline flagged.
Direct cremation
$1,850 – $3,460
Typical $2,570. Cremation with no ceremony beforehand — the simplest, lowest-cost option. Ashes are returned to the family.
Cremation with a service
$5,315 – $9,895
Typical $7,385. A viewing and/or ceremony, followed by cremation.
Traditional burial
$9,230 – $17,170
Typical $12,815. Embalming, viewing, ceremony, casket, and a cemetery plot.
Green (natural) burial
$5,840 – $10,885
Typical $8,120. No embalming or vault; a biodegradable container in a natural or conservation cemetery.
Direct cremation in Pennsylvania, itemized
| Item | Decline? | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Basic services of the funeral director & staffNon-declinable — every funeral home charges a version of this. | Standard | $1,320 |
| Transfer of remains to the funeral home | Standard | $480 |
| Cremation feePaid to the crematory. | Standard | $420 |
| Alternative cremation container | Standard | $185 |
| Urn | Optional | $165 |
| Typical total | $2,570 |
These direct-cremation figures are anchored to real prices we've collected in Pennsylvania — not just modeled. See the verified providers below.
Up to $165 of a typical direct cremation is optional — items a funeral home must let you decline.
Real prices we've collected in Pennsylvania
Actual direct-cremation prices range $1,550–$3,595 (median $2,573) across 2 sources we've verified.
- Kreamer Funeral Home & CrematoryVerified from provider
Annville · collected 2026-07-06 · source
Immediate burial $4,045.
$3,595direct cremation - Boyko Funeral HomeVerified from provider
Allentown · collected 2026-07-06 · source
'Simple Cremation' package (under 350 lbs, incl. crematory fee).
$1,550direct cremation
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Figures are modeled from published price data and regional cost indexes, and anchored to real prices where we've collected them — informational, not quotes from a specific provider. How we estimate.
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Cremation with no ceremony beforehand — the simplest, lowest-cost option. Ashes are returned to the family.
Typical direct cremation in Pennsylvania
$1,850 – $3,460
Most families pay around $2,570.
Where the money goes
- Basic services of the funeral director & staffStandard
Non-declinable — every funeral home charges a version of this.
$1,320$955–$1,775 - Transfer of remains to the funeral homeStandard$480$345–$645
- Cremation feeStandard
Paid to the crematory.
$420$300–$565 - Alternative cremation containerStandard$185$130–$250
- UrnOptional$165$120–$225
About $165 of a typical direct cremation is optional — items a funeral home must let you decline. Knowing which is how families avoid overpaying. Get the questions to ask →
Modeled from published price data. How we estimate
Cremation costs by city in Pennsylvania
Common questions about funeral costs in Pennsylvania
- How much does cremation cost in Pennsylvania?
- In Pennsylvania, a direct cremation typically runs about $2,570 (roughly $1,850–$3,460), while a cremation with a service is closer to $7,385. Direct cremation — the cremation with no service beforehand — is the lowest-cost option. These figures reflect area averages; individual providers vary, so it pays to compare a couple of itemized quotes.
- How much does a funeral cost in Pennsylvania?
- A traditional burial in Pennsylvania typically totals around $12,815 (about $9,230–$17,170) once you include the casket, vault, cemetery plot, and services. A funeral with cremation usually costs considerably less, and you're free to decline the items you don't want.
- Is cremation cheaper than burial in Pennsylvania?
- Yes. In Pennsylvania, direct cremation (around $2,570) costs a small fraction of a traditional burial (around $12,815) — a difference of roughly $10,245. Cremation skips the casket, burial vault, and cemetery plot that make burial expensive.
- What is the cheapest cremation option in Pennsylvania?
- Direct cremation, at about $2,570 in Pennsylvania. It's just the cremation with the ashes returned to the family — no embalming, viewing, or service beforehand — and you can hold a memorial later, on your own terms and budget.
- Do funeral homes in Pennsylvania have to tell me their prices?
- Yes. Under the federal FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must give you an itemized price list (a General Price List) and quote prices over the phone. You're never required to guess, and you can decline any item or package you don't want.