How Do You Choose a Funeral Home? A Complete Guide

The short answer: Choosing a funeral home means comparing prices (FTC law requires itemized price lists), checking online reviews and state licensing, understanding what is and isn't legally required, and selecting a provider whose approach aligns with your family's values and needs.

Why This Decision Matters

Funeral homes charge $7,000–$15,000+ for full-service arrangements. Most families choose a funeral home in crisis, under time pressure, without research—which is how overpriced, inadequate, or high-pressure services get selected. Making this decision in advance, or knowing what to look for when the time comes, saves thousands of dollars and significant stress.

Your Legal Rights Under the FTC Funeral Rule

The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule requires every funeral home to:

• Provide an itemized General Price List (GPL) when you call or visit—by phone if requested
• Give you a written itemized statement before you sign any contract
• NOT require you to purchase packaged services—you can buy only what you want
• NOT charge a "handling fee" for caskets purchased elsewhere
• Disclose all cash advance charges (death certificates, obituary placement, etc.) accurately

Always ask for the General Price List first. If a funeral home refuses to provide it, walk away.

Key Questions to Ask Every Funeral Home

1. Can you send me your General Price List by email or fax?
2. What is your basic service fee? (The non-declining fee added to everything)
3. Do you require families to purchase from your casket inventory, or can we bring our own?
4. What are your embalming policies? (Embalming is rarely legally required—ask)
5. Are you licensed and in good standing with the state funeral board?
6. Do you have experience with [specific religious tradition, green burial, home funeral support]?
7. What is your policy on direct cremation pricing?
8. Is this an independently owned funeral home or part of a corporate chain?

Types of Funeral Homes

Independent family-owned: Often more flexible, personal, and sometimes less expensive. Direct relationship with owners. May have deep community roots.

Corporate chains (SCI/Dignity Memorial, Loewen/Park Lawn, InvoCare): Standardized service, widespread locations, often higher prices. More likely to use upselling pressure.

Direct disposition providers: Companies like Neptune Society, Cremation Society, or local direct cremation providers offer lower-cost, streamlined services—often $700–$2,500 for direct cremation vs. $4,000–$8,000 at full-service funeral homes.

Green/natural burial providers: Specialize in eco-friendly options—shroud burial, biodegradable caskets, home funeral support.

How to Compare Prices

Because funeral homes are required to provide itemized price lists, you can compare apples to apples:

• Basic service fee (always charged)
• Embalming (optional—ask if required)
• Body preparation (dressing, casketing)
• Use of facilities for visitation/viewing
• Use of facilities for funeral service
• Hearse or transfer vehicle
• Casket or urn (often the biggest markup—30–50% above wholesale)
• Outer burial container (vault or grave liner—cemetery requirement, not legal)

Online casket retailers (Costco, Walmart, Overnight Caskets) sell caskets at a fraction of funeral home prices; funeral homes cannot refuse or charge extra for outside caskets under the FTC Rule.

Red Flags When Choosing a Funeral Home

• Refuses to provide itemized price list
• Claims embalming is "legally required" (almost never true)
• Refuses to accept caskets purchased elsewhere
• Pressure to upgrade caskets "as a sign of respect"
• Unclear or bundled pricing
• No online reviews or multiple negative reviews about predatory practices
• State licensing board complaints (searchable online in most states)

Pre-Planning vs. At-Need Selection

Pre-planning (making funeral arrangements before death) offers time to research and compare without grief pressure. Be cautious with pre-paid funeral plans—ensure funds are held in trust and transferable if you move or change providers. A revocable trust or insurance policy is often more flexible than a pre-paid funeral contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I compare funeral home prices?

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home must provide an itemized General Price List by phone or in person—request this from multiple providers, compare line by line, and note that you can decline any non-required service.

Is embalming legally required?

In most cases no—embalming is rarely required by law; it's required by some funeral homes' policies (which is optional) or if the body will be transported across state lines or delayed burial. Refrigeration is a legal alternative.

Can I use a casket not purchased from the funeral home?

Yes—under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes cannot refuse caskets purchased elsewhere or charge a handling fee for them. Costco, Walmart, and specialty retailers sell caskets at much lower prices.

What is a General Price List?

A General Price List (GPL) is an itemized price list that every funeral home is required by the FTC to provide when asked, in person or by phone—it lists every available service and product with its individual price.

What is direct cremation and how much does it cost?

Direct cremation is the least expensive option—the body is cremated without a formal service; costs typically range from $700–$2,500 compared to $4,000–$8,000 for full funeral home services. Families can hold their own memorial separately.

Renidy connects grieving families with compassionate death doulas and AI-powered funeral planning tools. Try our free AI funeral planner or find a death doula near you.