In the U.S. alone, 59% of cremations happened in 2023, with projections putting that figure at 63.8% by 2027, while traditional burial keeps slipping to 36.97% in 2023. At the same time, consumer preferences are fragmenting fast, from 55% of Americans 40 to 69 who preplan to 20% pet inclusion and 35% who want more celebratory services. This post gathers the Funeral Home Industry statistics behind those shifts, including what families ask for, what it costs, and how planning choices change by age, location, and culture.
Key Takeaways
- 55% of Americans aged 40-69 preplanned.
- 27% have prefunded funeral arrangements.
- Women more likely to preplan 61% vs 49% men.
- Average funeral cost $7,848 without vault in 2023.
- Median funeral cost $8,300 including vault.
- Cremation with service average $6,970.
- U.S. cremation rate reached 59% in 2023.
- Projected U.S. cremation rate 63.8% by 2027.
- Traditional burials declined to 36.97% in 2023.
- U.S. funeral homes total 19,000 establishments.
- 35,000 licensed funeral directors in U.S.
- Average staff per home 8.5 employees.
- The U.S. funeral home industry revenue reached $20.5 billion in 2023.
- Global funeral services market size was valued at $102.61 billion in 2022.
- U.S. funeral homes generated average revenue of $1.2 million per establishment in 2022.
Most Americans now research, personalize, and increasingly choose cremation and eco friendly options when planning funerals.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Demographics and Preferences28 stats
01
55% of Americans aged 40-69 preplanned.
02
27% have prefunded funeral arrangements.
03
Women more likely to preplan 61% vs 49% men.
04
Baby boomers 71% prefer cremation.
05
Millennials 52% open to green burial.
06
41% want personalized services.
07
33% prefer home funerals.
08
African Americans 75% prefer burial.
09
Hispanics 63% burial preference.
10
Rural consumers 55% burial rate.
11
62% want eco-friendly options.
12
48% of families view remains post-cremation.
13
70% importance on personalization.
14
25% use online planning tools.
15
LGBTQ+ community 65% cremation preference.
16
Veterans 45% choose military honors.
17
Low-income families 40% choose direct cremation.
18
58% want video tributes.
19
35% prefer celebratory events over somber.
20
50% research online before contacting.
21
Elderly 75+ 30% prefunded.
22
Urban millennials 70% cremation.
23
42% value transparency in pricing.
24
Pet inclusion in services 20%.
25
55% want family participation.
26
Non-religious 80% cremation.
27
UK consumers 60% want simple services.
28
Australia 65% eco-conscious.
Interpretation
Consumer Demographics and Preferences Interpretation
It seems Americans are meticulously planning their final exits with the diverse enthusiasm of a focus group for the afterlife, splitting almost evenly between those who want to be roasted, planted, or turned into a personalized celebration featuring their pet and a video tribute.
02 · Category
Cost and Pricing27 stats
01
Average funeral cost $7,848without vault in 2023.
02
Median funeral cost $8,300including vault.
03
Cremation with service average $6,970.
04
Direct cremation average $2,462.
05
Casket average price $2,500.
06
Urn average cost $300.
07
Embalming fee $800average.
08
Graveside service $1,200average.
09
Pre-need discounts average 10-15%.
10
Inflation on funeral costs 4.5% YoY 2023.
11
Cash advance items 15% of total bill.
12
Memorial video tribute $350average.
13
Transportation fee $350.
14
Cemetery plot average $1,500.
15
Grave liner $1,100.
16
Obituary publication $200average.
17
Reception/meal $1,000for 50 people.
18
Hairdresser services $100.
19
Death certificate fees $20each, average 10 needed.
20
Green burial average $3,500less than traditional.
21
Aquamation $2,000-$5,000.
22
Human composting $5,500.
23
Pet cremation $100-$300.
24
Online obituary $50/month.
25
Limousine service $200/hour.
26
Organist/musician $300.
27
Flowers average $250.
Interpretation
Cost and Pricing Interpretation
The American funeral industry appears to have meticulously priced every last moment of our final passage, ensuring that grieving families can quantify their farewells in a detailed invoice that averages nearly $8,000, where even the simple act of lying down for eternity requires a $1,100 liner.
03 · Category
Cremation and Burial Trends25 stats
01
U.S. cremation rate reached 59% in 2023.
02
Projected U.S. cremation rate 63.8% by 2027.
03
Traditional burials declined to 36.97% in 2023.
04
Green burials accounted for 2.5% of dispositions in 2022.
05
Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation) used in 5 states, 0.1% share.
06
U.S. states with highest cremation: Nevada 83.1%, Oregon 79.2%.
07
Lowest cremation state: Mississippi 20.3% in 2023.
08
Catholic cremation acceptance rose to 60% of dioceses.
09
Human composting legal in 4 states, 0.2% usage.
10
Scattering ashes popular with 54% of cremated remains.
11
Full-body donation to science 1.5% of dispositions.
12
Direct cremation share 50.2% of cremations in 2023.
13
Memorial services without body 42% preference.
14
Burial at sea less than 0.5% of dispositions.
15
Embalming rates dropped to 38% in 2023.
16
Vault usage 29% for burials.
17
Weekend funerals 22% of total services.
18
Hispanic community burial preference 70%.
19
Baby boomer cremation preference 71%.
20
Gen Z burial preference only 15%.
21
Rural areas cremation rate 45%, urban 65%.
22
International cremation leader: Japan 99.97%.
23
UK cremation rate 78% in 2022.
24
Canada cremation 74.9% in 2022.
25
Australia cremation 70% in 2023.
Interpretation
Cremation and Burial Trends Interpretation
The American way of death is increasingly going up in smoke, opting for a swift and secular send-off over the slow, satin-lined decay of our ancestors, with our final frontier now shifting from the family plot to the fireplace mantle or the windswept hillside.
More related reading
04 · Category
Employment and Operations28 stats
01
U.S. funeral homes total 19,000 establishments.
02
35,000 licensed funeral directors in U.S.
03
Average staff per home 8.5 employees.
04
Embalmer employment 5,200 nationwide.
05
Turnover rate 12% in funeral homes.
06
Average salary funeral director $60,000.
07
24/7 on-call requirement for 85% staff.
08
Apprenticeship programs in 40 states.
09
Female funeral directors 25% of workforce.
10
Facilities renovated 15% in last 5 years.
11
Digital tools adopted by 70% homes.
12
Average calls per home 142/year.
13
Pre-need sales staff 20% of employees.
14
OSHA violations average 2 per 100 homes.
15
Continuing education 20 hours/year required.
16
Multi-location ownership 60% of homes.
17
Vehicle fleet average 4 per home.
18
Energy costs 8% of operating expenses.
19
Marketing spend 4% of revenue.
20
CRM software use 55%.
21
Home-based operations 5%.
22
Peak season Oct-Dec 35% of calls.
23
Insurance claims processing 10 days average.
24
Vendor partnerships 90% of homes.
25
Sustainability training 40% staff.
26
Telehealth grief counseling 15% adoption.
27
UK funeral directors 5,000 licensed.
28
Australia 4,200 funeral celebrants.
Interpretation
Employment and Operations Interpretation
While 35,000 American funeral directors are increasingly adopting apps and digital condolences, they still answer an average of 142 calls a year with a 12% turnover rate, proving that comforting the bereaved remains a hands-on, 24/7 profession where someone still has to pick up the phone at midnight.
05 · Category
Market Size and Revenue30 stats
01
The U.S. funeral home industry revenue reached $20.5 billion in 2023.
02
Global funeral services market size was valued at $102.61 billion in 2022.
03
U.S. funeral homes generated average revenue of $1.2 million per establishment in 2022.
04
Funeral industry market grew at a CAGR of 2.1% from 2018-2023 in the U.S.
05
North American funeral market projected to reach $28.4 billion by 2028.
06
U.S. death care industry revenue hit $18.4 billion in 2021.
07
European funeral market valued at €25 billion in 2022.
08
Asia-Pacific funeral services market expected to grow to $45 billion by 2030.
09
Independent funeral homes account for 75% of U.S. market revenue.
10
Corporate-owned funeral homes generated 40% of industry revenue in 2023.
11
U.S. pre-need funeral sales reached $12 billion in 2022.
12
Funeral home profit margins averaged 15.2% in 2023.
13
Online funeral planning market subset grew 25% YoY to $500 million.
14
U.S. pet funeral services market at $1.2 billion in 2023.
15
Funeral merchandise sales contributed 22% to total revenue in 2022.
16
At-need funeral revenue dominated with 65% market share in U.S.
17
Funeral home industry EBITDA margin was 18.4% in 2023.
18
U.S. cremation services revenue segment at $10.3 billion in 2023.
19
Traditional burial revenue declined 5% YoY to $8.2 billion.
20
Funeral home chain SCI revenue $4.1 billion in 2023.
21
UK funeral market revenue £2.1 billion in 2022.
22
Australia funeral industry revenue AUD 2.5 billion in 2023.
23
Canada funeral services market $2.8 billion CAD in 2022.
24
Pre-funded funeral trusts held $25 billion in assets in U.S. 2023.
25
Funeral home insurance revenue segment $1.5 billion annually.
26
Digital memorial services market $300 million in 2023.
27
U.S. funeral homes average 150 calls per year per location.
28
Industry revenue per capita $62in U.S. 2023.
29
Funeral services export revenue $200 million globally.
30
Veteran funeral benefits contributed $100 million in reimbursements.
Interpretation
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
Despite the inescapable certainty of their clientele, this is an industry that has proven remarkably adept at staying alive, with revenue streams as diversified as the ways we choose to say goodbye.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Funeral Home Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/funeral-home-industry-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Funeral Home Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/funeral-home-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Funeral Home Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/funeral-home-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
47 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level