Planning a funeral is one of the most emotionally and financially challenging tasks a family can face. As a crucial part of estate planning, understanding the costs involved is essential to honouring your loved one’s final wishes without creating a financial burden.
The cost of a funeral in Canada can range from under $2,000 for a simple, direct cremation to well over $15,000 for a traditional burial with extensive services. This wide range makes it critical for families to understand the factors that influence price and know their options.
This guide will break down the average funeral cost in Canada, explore provincial differences, and provide actionable strategies to ease the financial burden when the time comes.
How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Canada?
The single largest factor determining funeral cost is the choice between cremation and burial. A full body burial requires expenses like a casket, a cemetery plot and grave opening/closing fees. As a result, burial often doubles the costs over cremation. Cremation only requires a basic container and an urn.
Cremation costs – $2,000 to $5,000+
Cremation is chosen by over 70% of Canadians due to its lower cost and flexibility. The cremation process itself averages just $500 to $1,000, but additional typical fees bring cremation services to around $2,000 to $5,000, sometimes higher with extras.
Direct cremation
This is the most affordable option, starting just under $2,000. It includes transporting and sheltering the body, the cremation process itself in a basic container, and returning the ashes to the family in a simple urn. The funeral home does not conduct a formal viewing or ceremony.
- Professional & Staff Services: $600 – $1,200. Includes initial planning, securing permits, and death registration.
- Transportation: $250 – $500 (To bring the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home).
- Basic Cremation Container: $100 – $400. A simple cardboard or plywood container is required for the cremation process.
- Cremation Fee: $500 – $800. The fee charged by the crematorium.
- Coroner’s Fee/Permit: $75 – $100. A provincially mandated fee.
- Basic Urn: $50 – $250. A simple container for the cremated remains.
Cremation with a memorial service
This option includes the cremation process plus a formal service, which can take place before or after the cremation. Additional costs can include:
- Embalming: $500 – $800. Required for a public viewing.
- Use of Facilities for Viewing/Service: $400 – $1,500.
- Upgraded Urn: $250 – $2,000+. Urns made of bronze, marble, or custom designs are more expensive.
- Cemetery Niche or Interment: $500 – $3,500 (For placing the urn in a columbarium or burying it).
Burial costs – $8,000 to $15,000+
Traditional burial involves more services and products, resulting in higher average costs ranging from $8,000 to $15,000. Here is a line-by-line breakdown of common charges:
Professional Service Fees – $2,000 to $5,000
This is the basic, non-declinable fee that covers the funeral home’s overhead, planning with the family, securing all necessary documents, and coordinating with the cemetery and clergy.
Embalming & Body Preparation – $500 to $900
While not legally required in most cases, it is standard practice to preserve and restore the appearance of the deceased during a public viewing.
Casket – $1,500 to $10,000+
This is often the most expensive single item. Caskets vary widely in price based on material:
- Cloth-Covered or Pressboard: $900 – $2,500
- Steel: $2,000 – $5,000
- Wood Veneer or Solid Wood (Pine, Oak, Cherry): $3,000 – $8,000
- Bronze or Copper: $8,000 – $20,000+
You have the right to purchase a casket from a third-party retailer, which can offer significant savings.
Cemetery Cost – $2,500 to $10,000+
These fees are paid to the cemetery, not the funeral home, and are highly dependent on location.
- Cemetery Plot: $1,500 – $8,000+. A plot in a rural area may be under $2,000, while a single plot in a major urban centre like Toronto or Vancouver can exceed $10,000.
- Opening and Closing Fee: $700 – $2,000. This is the labour cost for digging and filling the grave.
- Burial Vault or Grave Liner: $800 – $2,500. Most cemeteries require this concrete box to prevent the ground from sinking over time.
Headstone or Monument – $500 to 5,000+
These costs depend on size, material (granite vs. bronze), and intricacy of the inscription.
Additional Discretionary Costs
- Flowers: $300 – 1,000+
- Obituary Notices: 100−100 – 100−800 (depending on the publication)
- Reception/Catering: $500 – $3,000+
- Funeral Vehicle (Hearse) & Limousines: $400 -$1,000
Even burials with just a viewing and a graveside service often exceed $7,000. Preselecting caskets, reducing service times, and having smaller ceremonies can lower burial costs.
Source: How much does a funeral cost? – sunlife.ca
How Much Does the Average Funeral Cost by Province in Canada?
Funeral expenses can vary significantly depending on your location in Canada. Below is a detailed breakdown, providing estimates of what you might pay for a funeral based on the province you reside in (data source: Canadian Funerals Online)
Ontario
The most populous province in Canada, Ontario, sees average funeral costs ranging from $7,000 on the low end to $15,000 or more for a high-end burial service. Cremations in Ontario generally run between $4,000 – $6,000.
According to the Ontario Funeral Service Association (OFSA), factors like the service details, casket selections and cemetery fees push costs above the baseline professional fees. OFSA states that €œthe cost of a funeral in Ontario can be less than $10,000 if funeral services are tailored to meet an individual family’s needs, values and budget.
British Columbia
Similar to Ontario, British Columbia has average funeral costs of $7,000 to $12,000. The BC Funeral Association notes cremation expenses between $4,000 – $7,000, depending on the specific services included. They emphasize that many options exist to personalize final arrangements based on culture, faith and budget.
Alberta
Alberta families can expect to spend $5,000 to $10,000 or more for a traditional funeral service and burial, depending on selections. The Alberta Funeral Service Association (AFSA) states that average costs have risen moderately in the province, with cremations lowering the expenses. Basic cremation fees through AFSA members begin at $2,000 to $5,000.
Quebec
Quebec has the lowest funeral costs in Canada, averaging $4,000 to $10,000. The Quebec Funeral Directors Association highlights the wide variance based on family choices, with direct cremations starting under $2,000. They note that prearranging and prepaying for services locks in set prices.
Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, the average cost of a funeral is around $7,000, according to the Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia. Costs can range from $5,000 on the low end to $12,000 for elaborate burials. Cremations tend to fall between $3,000 – $5,000.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick sees typical funeral expenses ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Cremation services in the province average $3,500 to $5,500. Costs vary between major cities and rural areas.
Prince Edward Island
On PEI, the costs for a traditional funeral and burial typically range from $6,000 to $12,000. Cremations can often be arranged for $3,000 to $5,000. The island’s small population and lack of major cities keep prices relatively low.
Newfoundland and Labrador
In Newfoundland and Labrador, average funeral and burial costs run from $5,000 to $10,000. Direct cremation starts under $2,000, while full cremation services average $3,500 to $5,000.
Manitoba
Manitoba families can expect to spend around $5,000 to $10,000 for a traditional funeral and burial, depending on the services and casket selected. Cremations in Manitoba tend to cost between $3,000 to $6,000.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan sees average funeral costs ranging from $7,000 to $11,000 for an elaborate burial. Cremation services in the province range from $4,000 to $7,000, depending on the specific details.
How To Reduce Funeral Costs in Canada
Fortunately, a meaningful farewell does not have to be expensive. Here are ways to manage costs without sacrificing dignity.
- Choose direct cremation: This is the single most effective way to reduce costs, cutting them by 50-75% compared to a burial. You can then plan a separate, personal memorial at a later date.
- Compare prices: You are not obligated to use the first funeral home you contact. Call at least three providers to get a price list. They are required by law to provide it.
- Supply your own casket or urn: You have the right to purchase a casket or urn from a third-party vendor (e.g., online retailers like Costco) without penalty. This can save you thousands.
- Decline embalming: Embalming is not legally required unless there will be a public viewing or if transportation regulations require it. Declining it can save 500−500-500−800.
- Hold a home funeral or graveside service: Skip the expensive funeral home ceremony. A simple service at the cemetery or a memorial at home can be more intimate and affordable.
- Use an existing cemetery plot: If your family already owns a plot, using it will eliminate one of the largest expenses of a burial.
- Opt for a Simple Headstone: A flat grave marker is significantly cheaper than an upright monument.
- Consider body donation: Donating a body to a medical school for research is a noble act. These programs often cover the cost of cremation once the scientific study is complete.
- Host a potluck reception: Instead of a catered event, ask friends and family to bring a dish for a reception at home.
- Limit “add-on” services: Be mindful of optional extras like expensive floral arrangements, limousine services, and professionally printed programs.
An Optimal Option: Prepaying and Prefunding Funerals
To ease the financial obligations on loved ones, many choose to prepay some or all funeral expenses by working with a funeral home to set up a prearranged plan. You may choose to preselect desired services along with casket, urn, and cemetery options. Full prepayment works best for elaborate, highly personalized plans. This locks in a set pricing that families will pay in the future, even if rates rise due to inflation.
Funeral homes place funds in trust or purchase insurance products that grow in value to cover future costs. Compare policies and trusts carefully, as they can vary widely in value. Prefunding also makes Medicaid eligibility easier since funds are exempt from asset calculations in most cases.
Preplanning Your Funeral for Peace of Mind
While no one likes to think about their death, preplanning and prepaying for your funeral is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family. It saves them the stress of difficult decisions during an emotional time.
Besides various options to reduce the funeral cost mentioned above, one option to cover the costs is to purchase a life insurance policy. The death benefit payout can provide funds to cover end-of-life expenses and services. There are a few types of life insurance for funeral planning:
- Whole Life Insurance – This type of permanent life insurance provides lifetime coverage as long as premiums are paid. The death benefit can be used to pay for funeral costs. It also builds cash value that can sometimes be borrowed against if funds are needed while living. Whole life tends to be more expensive than term insurance.
- Final Expense Insurance – Also called funeral insurance, this is permanent life insurance designed specifically to cover end-of-life costs like funerals. The death benefit is typically $10,000 – $25,000. It requires little or no medical underwriting, so it is available even for those with health conditions. Premiums are fixed and never rise.
- Term Life Insurance – Term life provides temporary coverage for a set period, like 10 or 20 years. It pays out a death benefit if you pass away during the term. Term life is affordable, and the proceeds could be used to pay funeral expenses if needed. It may require a medical exam.
The Canadian government also supports funerals. Read this article Government Funeral Assistance in Canada, which provides details on the benefits and how to receive support.
Summary
Planning a funeral generally costs Canadian families between $5,000 $15,000 or more, depending on the specifics. Cremations can lower expenses to $3,000-$6,000 on average. Location, details chosen, and personalization greatly swing pricing. Knowing provincial averages and key factors affecting costs allows families to tailor services to their needs and budget. Prefunding and prepaying also ease the financial burden of final farewells.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the absolute cheapest funeral option?
The least expensive funeral option is direct cremation with no formal viewing, ceremony or service. The cremated remains are simply placed in an inexpensive urn or container for families to retrieve. This often costs as little as $2,000-$2,500. Direct cremations include transportation, storage, body preparation and cremation.
Does a funeral have to cost $10,000?
No, Canadian funerals do not have to cost $10,000 or more. The average cost is $6,000-$12,000, but many options exist to lower expenses below $5,000. Direct cremation with no service starts under $2,000. Choosing brief viewing and ceremony times, small guest lists, simple caskets, and existing grave sites reduce costs significantly.
What should you not spend money on for a funeral?
Expenses to minimize include elaborate floral displays, lengthy obituaries, luxury limousines, custom programs and overpriced caskets. Focus spending on simple, dignified ceremonies capturing the person's spirit. Don't feel pressured to create elaborate rituals without personal meaning.
How can I arrange an affordable funeral on a tight budget?
If funds are very limited, opt for direct cremation and hold a small remembrance gathering at home. Cater potlucks or homemade dishes friends prepare. Select the most economical casket and urn. Use an existing family cemetery plot and low-cost, flat grave marker. Invite donations to a charity in lieu of flowers as well. Prioritize celebrating memories over expensive displays.
What expenses should I expect if choosing cremation?
With cremation, typical costs include basic professional fees, body transfer and refrigeration, permit for cremation, cremation fee itself, basic container or casket, temporary urn, permanent urn selection, retrieval of ashes and final disposition like interment, scattering or home retrieval. Extra services like viewing or ceremonies raise costs.
