What is the Cheapest Way to Be Buried?

When facing funeral arrangements with limited funds, many families ask: what is the cheapest way to be buried? Whether you’re pre-planning on a tight budget, dealing with unexpected death without life insurance, or simply believe elaborate funerals are unnecessary, understanding the most affordable burial options helps you make informed decisions without compromising dignity or respect.

The good news is that meaningful, dignified burial can cost far less than the $7,000-$12,000 average that funeral homes often quote. With knowledge of your legal rights, creative alternatives, and willingness to skip unnecessary services, burial costs can be reduced to $2,000-$4,000 or even less in some circumstances.

The Short Answer: What is the cheapest way to be buried? Direct burial without viewing or services costs $2,000-$4,000. Green/natural burial reduces this to $1,500-$3,500. Home burial on your own property (where legal) can cost as little as $500-$2,000 with family involvement and minimal professional services.

Rows of old graves with headstones and lush plants growing against lawn in graveyard. Cheapest way to be buried.

Direct Burial: The Most Affordable Traditional Option

Direct burial represents the least expensive conventional funeral home service, eliminating costly extras while maintaining traditional burial:

What Direct Burial Includes

Essential Services Only:

Basic services fee (legally required by funeral homes): $1,200-$2,000
Transportation from place of death to funeral home: $150-$300
Transportation to cemetery: $150-$300
Minimal body preparation (washing, dressing): Included in basic fee
Simple casket or burial container: $300-$1,500
Coordination with cemetery: Included in basic fee

What Direct Burial Excludes:

No embalming (saves $500-$1,000)
No viewing or visitation (saves $200-$500 facility fee)
No funeral service at funeral home (saves $300-$600)
No elaborate casket (saves $1,500-$9,000)
No limousines or flower cars (saves $300-$800)

Total Direct Burial at Funeral Home: $2,000-$4,400

Add cemetery costs:

Cemetery plot: $500-$2,500 (rural/public cemeteries cheapest)
Opening and closing: $800-$2,000
Burial vault (if required): $700-$1,200

Complete Direct Burial Total: $4,000-$10,100

However, you can reduce even these costs significantly with strategic choices. How much does it cost to be buried provides full cost breakdowns showing where savings opportunities exist.

Cost-Cutting Strategies for Direct Burial

Purchase Casket from Third-Party Vendors

The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule protects your right to buy caskets elsewhere:

Costco Caskets: $800-$2,500 (delivered)

Solid wood and metal options
Free shipping to funeral home
No membership required for casket purchase

Walmart.com: $600-$2,000

Wide selection delivered nationwide
Often same manufacturers as funeral home caskets

Amazon: $800-$3,000

Customer reviews help selection
Prime shipping available

Specialty Online Retailers: $500-$2,500

Companies like Overnight Caskets, Titan Casket
Excellent selection and service

Savings vs. Funeral Home Caskets: $1,000-$5,000

Funeral homes CANNOT refuse third-party caskets or charge handling fees (this violates federal law).

Choose Inexpensive Casket Materials

If buying from funeral home, select budget options:

Particle Board/Veneer Casket: $500-$900

Suitable for immediate burial
Adequate structural integrity

Basic Steel Casket: $700-$1,200

20-gauge steel (thinner, less expensive)
Simple interior and finish

Cardboard/Fiberboard Casket: $50-$300

Surprisingly sturdy
Acceptable at most cemeteries
Can be decorated by family

Simple Pine Box: $300-$800

Classic, dignified option
No metal fasteners needed
Can often be built by family

Can you be buried without a casket explores shroud burial as an even cheaper alternative where allowed.

Select Budget-Friendly Cemetery

Cemetery choice dramatically affects cost:

Public/Municipal Cemeteries: $500-$1,500 per plot

Maintained by local government
Often least expensive option
Basic but dignified

Religious Cemeteries: $800-$2,000

Church/synagogue/mosque cemeteries
Often offer discounts to congregation members

Rural Cemeteries: $500-$1,500

Small-town or country cemeteries
Lower land costs mean lower plot prices
May have fewer amenities

Cemetery Districts: $1,000-$2,500

Public cemetery systems
Vary by location but generally affordable

Avoid Premium Cemetery Locations:

Skip hilltop locations (premium pricing)
Choose sections away from roads/features (cheaper)
Select newer cemetery sections (lower prices)

Negotiate Opening/Closing Fees: Some cemeteries negotiate these charges, particularly for:

Multiple burials (family plots)
Off-peak days (weekdays vs. weekends)
Winter months (slower season)

Potential savings: $200-$500

Skip the Burial Vault (If Possible)

Many cemeteries require burial vaults, but some don’t:

Cemeteries Without Vault Requirements:

Some rural/historic cemeteries
Many natural burial grounds
Certain religious cemeteries

Vault Savings: $700-$3,000

Ask explicitly whether vaults are required—it’s cemetery policy, not law in most places.

Use Simplest Grave Marker

Immediate Options:

Temporary metal marker: $0-$50 (some cemeteries provide free)
Simple wooden cross: $20-$100 (DIY possible)
Natural fieldstone: $0-$50 (collect from own property)

Permanent Budget Markers:

Small flat granite marker: $300-$800
Bronze plaque on granite base: $500-$1,200
Simple upright stone: $800-$1,500

Delay Headstone Installation: How long to wait before placing a headstone on a grave typically recommends 6-12 months anyway. Use this time to save money and shop around.

Immediate Savings: $1,000-$5,000 (can place marker later when finances allow)

Green/Natural Burial: Environmentally Friendly and Affordable

Natural burial grounds offer dignified, affordable burial with environmental benefits:

What Natural Burial Includes

Streamlined Costs:

Minimal funeral director services: $500-$1,500 (or family handles)
Shroud or biodegradable container: $100-$1,500
Natural burial plot: $1,000-$4,000 (often includes opening/closing)
Simple natural marker: $0-$500

Total Green Burial: $1,600-$7,500

Typically less expensive than conventional burial because:

No embalming required (save $500-$1,000)
No vault required (save $700-$3,000)
No expensive casket needed (save $1,500-$9,000)
Plot often includes opening/closing (save $1,000-$2,000)

Natural Burial Options

Shroud Burial: Body wrapped in cloth and buried:

Cotton/linen shroud: $100-$400
Wool shroud: $200-$600
With carrying board: $300-$800

Shrouds are traditional, dignified, and fully biodegradable.

Biodegradable Caskets:

Cardboard: $50-$200
Wicker/willow: $500-$1,500
Pine (no metal fasteners): $400-$1,000
Bamboo: $800-$2,000
Seagrass/banana leaf: $400-$1,000

These provide casket-like structure while remaining earth-friendly and affordable.

Finding Natural Burial Grounds

Green Burial Council Directory: Lists certified natural burial grounds nationwide. Search by location at greenburialcouncil.org.

Types of Natural Burial Sites:

Conservation burial grounds (protect natural land)
Hybrid cemeteries (natural sections in conventional cemeteries)
Natural burial preserves (wilderness settings)
Some religious cemeteries accommodating natural burial

Natural burial availability varies by region but is expanding rapidly nationwide. Rules for visiting cemeteries at natural burial grounds often feel more relaxed than traditional cemeteries.

Home Burial: The Ultimate Budget Option (Where Legal)

In rural areas where legal, home burial dramatically reduces costs:

Legal Considerations

Home burial is legal in most states but regulations vary:

Generally Permitted: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Kentucky, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and others in rural/agricultural areas

Restricted or Prohibited: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island, and some others

Key Requirements Where Legal:

Minimum property size (often 1-5 acres)
Distance from water sources (50-300 feet)
Distance from property lines (10-50 feet)
Proper permits and documentation
Soil conditions suitable for burial

Can you be buried on your own property provides state-by-state details and complete legal requirements.

Home Burial Costs

Minimal Professional Services:

Death certificate filing: $50-$150
Burial permit: $0-$50
Transportation (if needed): $0-$300

Body Preparation:

Dry ice for cooling: $50-$100
Shroud or simple casket: $100-$1,000
DIY body preparation: $0 (family handles)

Burial:

Grave excavation (rent backhoe): $100-$300
Or hire excavation service: $200-$500
Or dig manually: $0 (extremely difficult)

Marker:

Natural stone: $0-$100
Simple wooden cross: $20-$100
Engraved stone: $200-$800

Total Home Burial: $520-$3,300

This assumes maximum family involvement. Some families accomplish home burial for under $500 with complete DIY approach.

Family Involvement Requirements

Home burial requires significant family participation:

Body Care:

Washing and dressing the body
Keeping body cool (refrigeration, dry ice, or cool room)
Transporting body to burial site

Legal Navigation:

Obtaining death certificates
Filing burial permits
Understanding and meeting regulations

Physical Labor:

Grave excavation (how deep are graves applies—typically 3-6 feet)
Lowering body into grave
Filling grave

Emotional Strength:

Comfort with handling deceased
Managing logistics during grief

Many families find home burial meaningful and therapeutic, while others prefer professional services despite higher cost.

Veterans Benefits: Free or Low-Cost Burial

Military service provides valuable burial benefits that dramatically reduce or eliminate costs:

VA National Cemetery Burial

Completely Free Services:

Cemetery plot (in any VA national cemetery with space)
Grave opening and closing
Perpetual care of gravesite
Government headstone or marker
Burial flag
Presidential Memorial Certificate

Family Pays Only:

Funeral home services (if used): $1,500-$3,000
Casket or urn: $300-$3,000
Transportation to cemetery: $200-$500

Total Cost with VA Cemetery: $2,000-$6,500 (Compared to $7,000-$12,000 for civilian burial)

Eligibility:

Veterans with honorable discharge
Active duty service members
Certain reservists and National Guard members
Spouses and dependent children (in same plot)

State Veterans Cemeteries

Many states operate veterans cemeteries with similar benefits:

Often closer to home than federal VA cemeteries
Typically offer same free services
May have slightly different eligibility requirements

Private Cemetery Burial with VA Benefits

Veterans buried in private cemeteries receive:

Free government headstone/marker: (saves $1,000-$3,000)
Burial allowance: $300-$796
Plot allowance: Up to $796 (if not service-connected death)

Even in private cemeteries, veterans benefits save $1,300-$4,600.

Applying for Benefits: Contact VA at 1-800-827-1000 or va.gov/burials-memorials for assistance.

County/State Assistance for Indigent Burial

When families truly cannot afford burial, government assistance exists:

County Indigent Burial Programs

Every county provides basic burial for residents without means:

What’s Provided:

Direct burial or cremation
Simple casket or container
County cemetery plot or cremation
Basic grave marker with name and dates

What’s NOT Provided:

Viewing or services
Family choice in arrangements
Premium burial options
Private cemetery burial

Cost to Family: $0

While minimal, indigent burial ensures dignity and proper disposition.

Eligibility:

Documentation of inability to pay
Proof of deceased’s county residency
No family able to pay
Assets insufficient to cover costs

Application Process: Contact county social services or public administrator’s office immediately after death.

State-Specific Programs

Some states offer enhanced burial assistance:

Medicaid Funeral Benefits: A few states’ Medicaid programs include modest funeral benefits ($500-$2,000) for qualifying recipients.

Social Services Programs: State departments of social services sometimes provide emergency funeral assistance on case-by-case basis.

Timing is Critical: Apply before making any arrangements. Once you’ve contracted with funeral homes, you may be obligated to pay even if assistance might have been available.

Crowdfunding and Community Support

Modern technology provides new avenues for funeral funding:

Online Fundraising Platforms

GoFundMe:

Most popular funeral fundraising platform
Average funeral campaign raises $5,000-$7,000
No platform fees (donors cover processing fees optionally)
Easy to share via social media

Memorial Giving Sites:

Specific funeral fundraising platforms
Some integrate directly with funeral homes
May offer additional support services

Success Strategies:

Post early (gives more time for donations)
Share story and photos
Provide specific cost breakdown
Update regularly with thank-yous
Share across all social networks

Many families successfully raise $3,000-$10,000 through crowdfunding, significantly easing financial burden.

Religious Community Support

Church/Synagogue/Mosque Benevolence Funds: Many religious congregations maintain funds specifically for helping members with funeral costs:

Typical assistance: $500-$3,000
Some cover complete funeral costs for active members
Often requires membership and participation

Religious Organizations:

Knights of Columbus
Masonic lodges
Other fraternal organizations
Often provide funeral benefits or assistance to members

Community Organizations

Local Service Organizations:

Lions Club, Rotary, Kiwanis
May assist community members in need

Cultural/Ethnic Organizations:

Organizations supporting specific communities
Traditional burial assistance programs

Labor Unions:

Many unions provide funeral benefits to members
Sometimes extend to retirees

Employer Benefits: Check if deceased had:

Employer-provided life insurance
Union death benefits
Pension survivor benefits
Final paycheck, unused vacation, or other funds

DIY Approaches to Reduce Costs

For families willing to handle certain aspects themselves:

Build Your Own Casket

Legal and Acceptable: No law requires purchasing caskets from funeral homes. You can build your own or have someone build one.

Materials Cost:

Simple pine box: $100-$300 in lumber
Plans available free online
Weekend project for woodworking skills

Considerations:

Must be sturdy enough to support body weight
Needs carrying handles
Should be sized appropriately (most adults need 24″ wide x 80″ long)
Some cemeteries may have size requirements

This option works particularly well for natural burial grounds that welcome simple wooden caskets.

Family-Led Memorial Service

Hold Service After Burial:

Eliminates funeral home facility fees ($300-$600)
Can be held at home, park, church
Weeks or months later (allows planning)

DIY Elements:

Family member officiates (save $200-$400)
Recorded music instead of live musicians (save $200-$500)
Homemade or supermarket flowers (save $200-$500)
Homemade programs and materials (save $100-$300)

Total DIY Service Savings: $1,000-$2,300

Cremation with Later Burial

While this article focuses on burial, consider:

Immediate Cremation: $1,000-$3,000 Then bury cremated remains when finances allow:

Urn burial plot: $500-$2,000
Small opening/closing fee: $200-$500
Simple marker: $200-$1,000

Total: $1,900-$6,500

This “installment plan” approach spreads costs over time. Cremation vs burial cost comparison shows detailed cost differences.

Timing Considerations to Reduce Costs

Off-Peak Burial Times

Some cemeteries charge less for:

Weekday burials (vs. weekend premiums)
Morning times (vs. afternoon)
Winter months in northern states

Potential Savings: $300-$1,000

Delayed Headstone Installation

How long does it take to get a headstone after death can be 6-12 months anyway. Use this time to:

Save money gradually
Shop multiple monument companies
Consider simpler options

What to put on grave before headstone provides temporary marker ideas during this period.

Common Questions About Cheapest Burial Options

Is the cheapest option disrespectful?

Absolutely not. Simple burial with dignity has been practiced throughout human history. Expensive funerals are a relatively modern expectation, not a measure of love or respect.

Can funeral homes refuse service if you choose the cheapest options?

No. The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide itemized pricing and allow you to select only services you want (except basic services fee).

What if family members want something more elaborate?

Have honest conversations about budget limitations. Those wanting upgrades can contribute financially. Don’t create debt out of guilt.

How do you find the cheapest funeral home?

Call 3-5 funeral homes requesting “direct burial” pricing. Compare basic services fees and transparency. The cheapest isn’t always best—consider reputation and service quality too.

Can you bury someone in your backyard in the city?

Almost never. Urban zoning prohibits home burial. Rural areas with appropriate property size and zoning permit it in most states.

What happens to graves after 100 years with minimal markers?

What happens to graves after 100 years shows that even simple graves remain legally protected, though maintenance may decline without family involvement. Graves with basic markers receive same legal protections as elaborate ones.

Do you need a funeral director at all?

In most states, no. Families can handle death care themselves where home burial is legal. However, many families find funeral director guidance valuable even for simple arrangements.

Strategic Planning for Affordable Burial

Pre-Planning Advantages

Planning ahead provides:

Time to research options thoroughly
Ability to compare prices without emotional pressure
Opportunity to save gradually
Locking in current prices (funeral costs rise 3-5% annually)

Document Your Wishes: Put preferences in writing so family knows you want simple, affordable burial. This prevents guilt-driven overspending.

Burial Insurance

Small policies specifically for final expenses:

Coverage: $5,000-$15,000
Premiums: $30-$100/month (age-dependent)
Guaranteed approval options exist
Provides peace of mind without burdening family

Compare Costs: Calculate whether burial insurance costs less than saving independently.

The Bottom Line

What is the cheapest way to be buried depends on your location and willingness to involve family, but these options provide true budget burial:

1. Home Burial (where legal): $500-$3,000 2. Green/Natural Burial: $1,500-$3,500
3. Direct Burial (budget choices): $2,000-$4,000 4. Veterans Cemetery: $2,000-$4,000 (plot free) 5. Direct Burial (standard): $4,000-$6,000

All these options provide dignified burial at fraction of “average” funeral costs. Which type of headstone lasts the longest matters less than honoring your loved one within your means.

The cheapest option isn’t about cutting corners on dignity—it’s about eliminating unnecessary expenses that funeral industry sometimes presents as mandatory. Simple burial with love and respect costs far less than elaborate arrangements driven by marketing or guilt.

Focus on meaningful memorial rather than expensive burial. Gathering loved ones, sharing memories, and celebrating life matters infinitely more than how much money was spent on caskets and services. Budget burial allows you to honor your loved one without creating financial hardship for survivors.