Cremation Costs in Florida 2024

This guide will help you understand cremation costs in Florida.  We have included a price comparison for cremation services across major cities, along with practical tips for saving money and essential information for arranging a cremation service in Florida.

As more families turn to direct cremation in Florida as a more affordable and flexible alternative, it’s important to explore the various options available. Deciding on the right cremation service for your needs is a crucial step in planning.

Direct cremation cost comparison for 10 of the top cities in Florida

To help provide a better idea of how cremation costs can vary considerably, we have put together the following table of cremation costs in the major cities in Florida. It gives a breakdown of the average direct cremation cost, as well as a low-cost direct cremation and a number to call for immediate help. As can be seen below, a direct cremation can be arranged for under $1,000 in all the cities listed.

Read on to learn more about cremation service costs in Florida and how you can save thousands by arranging a direct cremation at a fraction of the cost of a traditional funeral service.

Firstly, we will discuss the average funeral and cremation costs before discussing some other considerations about cost and laws when arranging a cremation service.

What is the average cost of a Cremation Funeral in Florida today?

A traditional funeral service can be a significant financial strain for many families who are not able to pay out thousands of dollars at short notice, especially when the loss is unexpected and/ or no funeral or cremation plan is in place.

When you consider that the average traditional funeral costs around $7,600 in Florida, it is easy to see how this could be too large an expense for many families. Furthermore, this price does not include cemetery fees. With cemetery fees on top of that, you’re looking at around $9,000 for a traditional funeral service.

In comparison to this, a direct cremation can be arranged for under $1,100 in most cities in Florida and for as little as $795 in some areas. This undoubtedly explains why direct cremation has grown substantially in popularity in recent years.

This is especially true when you consider that many families are living paycheck to paycheck, have suffered financially during the pandemic, and are faced with rising living costs.

What is the average cost of cremation in Florida today?

A cremation with memorial service will still cost upwards of $4,000 in most parts of Florida, with an average cost of around $5,700. However, as mentioned above, you can pay significantly less than this if you opt for a direct cremation service.

Opting for cremation also allows you to forgo some of the more costly end-of-life purchases, such as an expensive casket, embalming, a grave liner, and a cemetery plot – saving you a lot on the full cost of a funeral with burial.

What is the least expensive cremation service available?

As established above, direct cremation is the least expensive cremation option in Florida. Direct cremation is when cremation is carried out without a service or ceremony. It is a simple, dignified cremation of the deceased with minimal fuss and at a minimal cost.

The cremated remains are returned to the next of kin after everything has been taken care of.  A family can choose to hold a memorial service if they wish when they are ready, and this can even be conducted at home for a much lesser cost.  

A direct cremation service can even be arranged without the need to visit a funeral home.  It can be arranged online or over the phone, and the cremated remains can be mailed directly back to the next of kin. 

This can be an easier (and less costly) solution for families arranging a disposition from out of Florida state.

Are there any extra fees added to a low-cost cremation service package?

The funeral provider’s General Price List will list the service charge for a direct cremation. This should include the basic services of the funeral director, collection and transfer of the deceased, completing the legal paperwork, and conducting the cremation.  It usually includes a simple cardboard cremation container and a temporary urn.

The funeral director will also pay the local county third-party fees, such as permit charges.  These are third-party fees that are added to the direct cremation service fee.

The funeral home will also generally obtain the death certificate if they handle your disposition arrangements. If you need to obtain a death certificate or further copies, you will need to contact the Department of Vital Statistics county office.

Certified copies of death certificates can be ordered online, by mail, by phone, or in person. The first certified copy costs $5.00, and each additional copy costs $4.00.

In Florida, anyone may order a Florida Death Certificate “Without a cause of death,” but a Death Certificate “With Cause of Death” is confidential by Florida Law and may only be issued to the deceased family or those acting on behalf of the family or the deceased’s estate. You will need to provide an ID to request a copy.

Other possible additional charges would be:

• Residential collection
• Removal of a pace-maker
• Overweight surcharge (above 250 pounds)
• Family arrangement consultation
• Mailing of cremated remains

What Florida funeral legislation governs the cremation process & arrangements?

Each state has its own legislation governing funeral practice, and a crematory must abide by certain practice standards when disposing of human remains by cremation.

In Florida, a cremation can only be performed once a ‘Cremation Authorization Form’ has been signed by the legal next of kin and the coroner has issued the cremation permit.

A mandatory waiting period is 48 hours after death before a cremation can proceed. That being said, it usually takes about 3 days to make all the necessary arrangements and complete the paperwork, but an expedited service can be arranged if required.

A casket is NOT required by law for a cremation. All that is required is a suitable rigid container. A cremation container is usually a reinforced cardboard or plywood box. Some funeral homes offer rental caskets if you wish to hold a funeral service before the cremation.

What about a “no-cost” cremation in Florida?

To discuss arranging an anatomical whole-body donation with a free cremation in Florida, call Craig at (833) 402-9077.

A “no-cost” cremation is possible if you wish to donate your body to science. This is where your whole body can be donated as an ‘anatomical gift.’ Donating your body to science in Florida can offer you the chance to have a ‘no cost’ cremation. After your anatomical donation is complete, the medical establishment will perform a cremation without any charge and then return the cremated remains to your family.

Please note that not all whole-body donations are accepted at the time of death. This can depend on the needs of local medical schools, transportation services, and the health of the deceased.

If a donation cannot proceed, it can help to have an alternative plan for a simple, affordable cremation. 

For more information, check out this Guide to Arranging a No Cost Cremation in Florida.

Is there any help with cremation costs in Florida? The deceased had no life insurance, and I can’t afford a funeral.

The responsibility to pay the funeral bill falls to the immediate next of kin if the deceased had no pre-paid funeral plan or life insurance.  This can be incredibly stressful if you lose a family member and become responsible for the funeral arrangements without any resources.

Unfortunately, more families are finding themselves in a situation where they are unable to afford a funeral for their loved one who has passed. Public or state assistance for funeral costs is very limited, with the state only taking care of any indigent deaths by means of a pauper burial or cremation.

Social Security offers a $255 death benefit payment (if qualifying), and the funeral director will usually assist you with claiming this.

For some further guidance, read our article ‘What do I do if I Can’t Afford a Funeral’?

If you cannot afford a funeral, the best option is to arrange a direct cremation. As the table above shows, you can arrange a direct cremation for under $1,000 in many cities in Florida.

How can I set up a Simple Cremation Plan?

There are two main options for setting up a simple cremation plan. Your first option is to enter a pre-need contract with a funeral home. However, the pre-need direct cremation price will usually be slightly higher than the immediate need due to the funeral home having to account for inflation.

Your second option is to set aside funds to cover funeral arrangements. This can be done by setting up a payable-on-death bank account where the beneficiary can withdraw the funds upon death. You can then set up a simple cremation plan with a funeral home.

So your plan is in place for when you pass, and your beneficiary can then use the funds you set aside to pay for the arrangements. This is preplanning without prepaying, so your funds remain in your care but are assigned ready for when the time comes. 

You must share your plan, intentions, and P.O.D. account information with your next of kin. So they know what to do when the time comes.

Learn more by reading our article on Setting up a Payable on Death account to pre-plan funeral costs.

What if I spend time in Florida but am from another state?

If you do regularly travel for work, pleasure, sport, visiting family, or snow-birding, you may wish to consider our great value Travel Protection Plan. This plan costs just $450 for an individual for lifetime protection against the costly expense of returning a body home if a death occurs 75 miles (or further) from your residence. It also provides global coverage. Domestic funeral shipping can cost from $3,000, and International repatriation can start at around $6,900.

The plan costs just $450 for an individual or $875 for a couple and covers all costs for cremation at the place of death or returning the deceased home from Florida. It is also worldwide. 

Additionally, you can arrange a direct cremation online or by telephone and then arrange to have the cremated remains shipped home.

* Average direct cremation prices data gathered from Funeralocity 2024.  Low-cost direct cremation prices obtained from DFS Memorials providers in Florida