Publication Costs
Understanding Obituary Costs in the United States
This obituary cost calculator estimates what you will pay to publish a death notice in U.S. newspapers and online. Publishing an obituary can be a surprising expense: most American newspapers charge by length, so a standard 200-word notice can run from around $100 in a small community paper to well over $1,000 in a major metro daily. Online listings on funeral home websites and platforms such as Legacy.com are usually far cheaper, and some are included for free.
Knowing the price range before you submit helps you make an informed choice rather than reacting to a quote during an already difficult week. The calculator below converts your word count into typeset lines, applies typical local or metro per-line rates, adds a photo surcharge if you want one, and layers an optional online tier on top so you can see newspaper, online, and total estimates side by side.
Local Paper
$100-$400
Standard obituary
Metro Paper
$300-$1,000+
Major publication
Online Only
$0-$350
Varies by features
Estimate Your Costs
Enter obituary details below
Standard: 150-300 words | Extended: 500-1000+ words
How to use this tool
How the Obituary Cost Calculator Works
The estimator follows the same per-line logic most U.S. newspapers use to price a death notice. Enter your details and the result updates below the inputs in four steps:
What you enter
- Word count: a typical notice is 150–300 words; longer tributes cost more per line.
- Photo: adding a portrait typically adds $25–$200 depending on the paper.
- Newspaper type: local, major metro, or both — metro rates run several times higher per line.
- Online tier: free funeral home listing, standard, or premium with extra features.
How the math works
- Your words are divided by roughly six to estimate the number of printed lines.
- Lines are multiplied by a low and high per-line rate to produce a range.
- Any photo surcharge and your selected online tier are added on top.
- The total is a national-average range, so confirm exact pricing with each publication.
Cost drivers
Why Obituary Prices Vary So Much
The single biggest driver is the publication’s circulation. A small weekly serving a few thousand readers may charge only a few dollars per line, while a major metropolitan daily can charge ten to twenty dollars per line because its audience is far larger. Length compounds this: because pricing is per line or per word, a 500-word feature obituary costs roughly twice as much to run as a 250-word notice in the same paper.
Add-ons stack on top. A photo, bold or larger headline text, weekend placement, a logo or emblem, and running the notice on multiple days each carry their own fee. Where the obituary is written matters too: many funeral homes will draft it for you, but that service is typically billed separately. The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule gives you the right to see an itemized price list and to decline any item you do not want, including a paid newspaper notice, so it is worth asking exactly what a quoted obituary fee covers.
Benchmarks
U.S. Obituary Cost Benchmarks by Channel
Typical national-average ranges by where you publish. Actual rates are set by each newspaper or platform and vary by region, length, and add-ons.
| Publication channel | Typical cost range | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Local / community paper | $100 – $400 | Standard 150–300 word notice, one edition |
| Major metro daily | $300 – $1,000+ | Same length at a higher per-line rate |
| Online (free / basic) | $0 – $100 | Funeral home or platform listing, guestbook |
| Online (premium) | $100 – $350 | Extended features, photos, video, longer hosting |
| Funeral home writing fee | $100 – $300 | Optional drafting; avoided by writing it yourself |
* Ranges are general U.S. averages for budgeting, not quotes. The newspaper writing-fee row aligns with the optional obituary line item in our funeral cost data.
Save money
Ways to Save on Obituary Costs
Keep It Brief
Focus on essential information; every word costs money
Write It Yourself
Save $100-$300 in funeral home writing fees
Skip Weekend Editions
Weekday publication is often cheaper
Use Free Online Options
Many funeral homes offer free basic listings
Choose One Publication
Rather than multiple newspapers
Share Digitally
Email and social media are free alternatives
Questions answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Obituary costs vary widely. Online-only obituaries are often free or under $100. Newspaper obituaries cost $100-$1,500+ depending on length, location, and publication. Major metropolitan papers charge more than local papers. Photos add $25-$200 extra.
Most newspapers charge by the word, line, or column inch. Rates range from $2-$20 per line or $50-$300+ per inch. Photos typically cost extra. Weekend editions often cost more. Some papers offer package deals that include a set word count.
Consider publishing in: the hometown newspaper, any cities where the person lived or worked, college town newspapers, and religious/community publications. Each publication charges separately, so costs can add up quickly.
Online obituaries (on sites like Legacy.com, funeral home websites) offer advantages: unlimited length, photos, videos, guestbook features, and permanent accessibility. Many funeral homes include basic online obituaries in their packages. Extended features may cost extra.
Yes, and it can save money. Funeral homes often charge for writing obituaries ($100-$300). Writing it yourself is more personal and ensures accuracy. Most newspapers accept submissions directly, though some require it to come through a funeral home.
Standard obituaries are 150-300 words (basic facts and brief life summary). Feature obituaries can be 500-1,000+ words. For newspapers, shorter is cheaper because most papers charge by the line, word, or column inch. Online platforms usually allow unlimited length, so balance the detail you want against the per-line newspaper cost.
No. An obituary is a paid death notice and a courtesy to the community, not a legal document. The legally required record is the death certificate, which the funeral director or attending physician files with the state or county vital records office. The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule lets you buy only the goods and services you want, so you are never obligated to purchase a newspaper obituary as part of a funeral package.
This obituary cost calculator converts your word count into an estimated number of typeset lines (about 6 words per line) and applies typical U.S. per-line newspaper rates plus a photo surcharge if selected. Local papers use a lower per-line rate than major metro papers, and a separate online tier is added on top. The result is a national-average range, not a live quote from any specific newspaper.
Trust & accuracy
Data sources & methodology
Newspaper figures are national-average per-line ranges (local versus major-metro rates with a typical photo surcharge); online tiers reflect common funeral home and platform listing fees. The optional funeral home writing fee aligns with the obituary line item in our funeral cost dataset. These are budgeting ranges, not live quotes — confirm exact pricing with each publication. The Funeral Rule guidance comes directly from the FTC.
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Estimates Only
All calculations are estimates only. Actual costs, timelines, and requirements may vary significantly by location, provider, and individual circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional — such as a local funeral home, licensed attorney, or financial advisor — for information specific to your situation.