Not everyone wants an elaborate funeral service or can afford one. Fortunately, there are ways to handle end-of-life and honor your loved one at an affordable cost.
How much does a cremation cost? It depends on the type of cremation you choose, the provider you work with, and your location. We’ll explain your options and show you cremation costs near you along with how to get free cremation by donating your body to medical science.
How Much Does a Cremation Cost?
The cheapest cremation option is called direct cremation. The deceased is transported to a licensed cremation facility. After any necessary waiting periods have passed, paperwork is completed, and permits are issued, the body is cremated in a basic container. Remains can be disposed of or returned to family members.
What makes direct cremation the cheapest option is what it omits: embalming, viewing, formal funeral services, an expensive casket, and cemetery costs. Nationally, the average price for a direct cremation is about $1,500 although you can often find services for about $800.
Cremation costs near you will vary depending on location. US Funerals Online published this price guide for different locations around Nevada.
| CITY | AVERAGE PRICE – DIRECT CREMATION |
| Boulder City | $1,464 |
| Carson City | $1,579 |
| Henderson | $1,441 |
| Las Vegas | $1,521 |
| Mesquite | $1,444 |
| North Las Vegas | $1,444 |
| Reno | $1,163 |
There are other services you may want to consider. For example, a cremation along with a memorial ceremony at a funeral home typically costs between $2,000 and $4,000 while a more traditional wake, viewing, and funeral service can cost between $4,400 and $6,000.
Cost-Saving Strategies for Cremation
If you are concerned about cremation costs near you, here are a few tips to help you keep costs under control.
Compare Pricing
Even within the same location, prices can vary significantly among funeral homes and cremation providers. You can visit or call providers and ask for their General Price List (GPL). This itemizes the services they provide and the costs. They are legally required to provide this to you under the Funeral Rule of the Federal Trade Commission.
Consider Cremation Societies and Independent Crematoriums
Cremation societies often offer the lowest prices; however, they may charge a fee to become a member, so you will want to factor that into your calculations.
Some funeral homes operate their own crematorium, which reduces transportation costs. You may also want to look into independent crematoriums, which do not have the same overhead costs as a full-service traditional funeral home and may offer more competitive rates.
Pre-Planning Options
You may want to plan ahead and pre-pay for cremation. This can lock in current prices and prevent future cost increases. It can also relieve the burden on family members of making arrangements during an emotional time, when overspending may occur.
Consider Whole Body Donation for Medical Science
You may want to consider donating your body to help advance medical science. When you donate your body, medical students, scientists, and researchers can study human anatomy and disease progression. Over the years, many significant medical breakthroughs have resulted from studying donated bodies.
If you are thinking about donating your body, look for a nonprofit provider near you. For example, United Tissue Network (UTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit program that places donor bodies with reputable medical research and educational facilities at no cost. UTN handles the arrangements and pays for everything—including free cremation after the research has been completed.
When you donate your body to medical science, you can take comfort in knowing that you are contributing to society and helping improve the quality of life for future generations. Here are just a few of the ways body donation helps advance medical science:
- Medical education: Medical students learn anatomy, physiology, and surgical techniques through hands-on experience with donated bodies. This practical learning is invaluable for understanding, which textbooks or digital models cannot provide.
- Surgical training: Surgeons and surgical residents practice complex procedures and develop new surgical techniques using donated bodies. This helps them refine their skills before performing procedures on living patients.
- Medical research: Researchers study specific diseases, conditions, and treatments, using donated bodies. This research can lead to advancements in understanding diseases and developing new medical treatments.
- Development of new medical devices: Engineers and medical professionals use donated bodies to test and refine medical devices, implants, and prosthetics.
- Forensic science: Forensic scientists study donated bodies to learn about decomposition, trauma analysis, and other aspects of forensic investigation.
When you donate your body to medical science, you are creating a lasting legacy. It is an altruistic act to help others. And you get free cremation. UTN will return the cremated remains to family members in a temporary container upon request or ethically dispose of them once research has been completed.
Would you like to learn more about whole body donation? Contact United Tissue Network at (877) 738-6111 or register online today.
