Funeral Type Finder: Compare Types of Funeral Services

A funeral is held with the body present, usually in a casket or, after cremation, an urn. A memorial service is held without the body present, either after burial or cremation has already taken place or when the body is not available. Because there is no body to schedule around, memorial services are more flexible in timing and location and can be held weeks or even months later.

Costs vary widely by service type. National-average estimates run roughly $7,000–$15,000 for a traditional burial, $4,000–$9,000 for cremation with a service, $3,000–$8,000 for green burial, and $1,000–$3,500 for direct cremation, the most affordable option. By federal law, every funeral home must give you an itemized General Price List so you can compare.

No. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, embalming is not required by law in most situations, and a funeral home may not tell you it is mandatory when it is not. A viewing is a personal choice, not a legal requirement. If you choose direct cremation, direct burial, or a closed-casket service, you can usually decline both embalming and a public viewing, which lowers the cost considerably.

A celebration of life is a less formal, highly personalized gathering that focuses on honoring how someone lived rather than mourning their death. It often includes shared stories, photos, favorite music, and food, and may be held at a meaningful location instead of a funeral home. A memorial service follows a more conventional ceremony format; both are held without the body present, so the line between them is about tone and structure rather than logistics.

Green or natural burial minimizes environmental impact by skipping embalming (or using non-toxic fluids), using a biodegradable casket or shroud, and burying in ground that does not require a concrete vault. Many green burials take place in natural burial grounds or conservation cemeteries certified by the Green Burial Council. The approach uses fewer manufactured resources than a traditional burial.

Not always. In most states families may arrange a direct burial or cremation, or hold a home funeral, with limited or no involvement from a funeral home, though the rules differ by state and a few states require a licensed funeral director for certain steps. Funeral homes handle complex permits, transportation, and paperwork that can be overwhelming while grieving, which is why many families still use one. Check your own state's funeral laws before deciding.

Weigh the deceased's stated wishes, your religious or cultural traditions, your budget, the need for a viewing to support closure, how soon you need to gather, any environmental priorities, and how personalized you want the event to be. The finder above turns those preferences into a short, ranked shortlist so you can start comparing realistic options instead of researching from scratch.