Funeral & cremation costs in Tennessee
Funeral and cremation prices in Tennessee run about 10% below the national median. Here's what each option typically costs — itemized, and with the charges you can legally decline flagged.
Direct cremation
$1,365 – $2,550
Typical $1,905. Cremation with no ceremony beforehand — the simplest, lowest-cost option. Ashes are returned to the family.
Cremation with a service
$4,685 – $8,735
Typical $6,515. A viewing and/or ceremony, followed by cremation.
Traditional burial
$8,130 – $15,135
Typical $11,295. Embalming, viewing, ceremony, casket, and a cemetery plot.
Green (natural) burial
$5,155 – $9,580
Typical $7,155. No embalming or vault; a biodegradable container in a natural or conservation cemetery.
Direct cremation in Tennessee, itemized
| Item | Decline? | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Basic services of the funeral director & staffNon-declinable — every funeral home charges a version of this. | Standard | $980 |
| Transfer of remains to the funeral home | Standard | $355 |
| Cremation feePaid to the crematory. | Standard | $315 |
| Alternative cremation container | Standard | $135 |
| Urn | Optional | $120 |
| Typical total | $1,905 |
These direct-cremation figures are anchored to real prices we've collected in Tennessee — not just modeled. See the verified providers below.
Up to $120 of a typical direct cremation is optional — items a funeral home must let you decline.
Real prices we've collected in Tennessee
Actual direct-cremation prices range $950–$2,850 (median $1,900) across 2 sources we've verified.
- Christian Funeral DirectorsVerified from provider
Memphis · collected 2026-07-06 · source
Package O; $1,375 with a memorial service.
$950direct cremation - Replogle-Lawrence Funeral HomeVerified from provider
Medina · collected 2026-07-06 · source
$2,850direct 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 Tennessee
$1,365 – $2,550
Most families pay around $1,905.
Where the money goes
- Basic services of the funeral director & staffStandard
Non-declinable — every funeral home charges a version of this.
$980$705–$1,315 - Transfer of remains to the funeral homeStandard$355$255–$475
- Cremation feeStandard
Paid to the crematory.
$315$225–$420 - Alternative cremation containerStandard$135$95–$180
- UrnOptional$120$85–$160
About $120 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 Tennessee
Common questions about funeral costs in Tennessee
- How much does cremation cost in Tennessee?
- In Tennessee, a direct cremation typically runs about $1,905 (roughly $1,365–$2,550), while a cremation with a service is closer to $6,515. 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 Tennessee?
- A traditional burial in Tennessee typically totals around $11,295 (about $8,130–$15,135) 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 Tennessee?
- Yes. In Tennessee, direct cremation (around $1,905) costs a small fraction of a traditional burial (around $11,295) — a difference of roughly $9,390. Cremation skips the casket, burial vault, and cemetery plot that make burial expensive.
- What is the cheapest cremation option in Tennessee?
- Direct cremation, at about $1,905 in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee 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.