Maryland is an expensive place to live. But what does it cost to die there? Baltimore is perhaps the state’s most famous city, with its historic ports and beloved baseball team. Being adjacent to Washington, DC, means many of Maryland’s residents are federal employees. Is it just as expensive to die in Maryland as it is to live?
Guide to Cremation in Maryland
The cost of a direct cremation in Maryland ranges from $875 to $4,270. Therefore, the average price of a direct cremation in Maryland is just above $2,200. You might ask if the services are that different to command thousands of dollars more or less in price. And the answer is complicated, but let’s delve into it.
Why Do Cremation Costs Vary?
Cremation costs vary due to the amenities a facility offers. For instance, cremation-only services may operate out of a storefront.
- They keep overhead costs low by not having a gathering room for memorial or funeral services.
- Buying urns in bulk at wholesale prices allows them to offer urns to the public at a reduced charge.
- Cremation-only services often contract with a local crematory for body storage and cremation. They may not automatically conduct cremations in-house.
On the other hand, funeral homes that offer cremation services may start with a higher overhead due to their more extensive facilities.
- They offer memorial chapels and gathering rooms to provide a full-service funeral for your loved one.
- Because funeral homes also offer burial, they often maintain a casket showroom to show selections. They also may have a broader group of urns from which to choose.
- Larger funeral homes may have more employees, which raises costs to consumers.
Additional charges may stem from the specific location of the funeral home or cremation services. Building rents and prices are higher in some areas, so that cost is passed to consumers.
Pro Tip: For a direct cremation, forgo the large funeral home with all its associated overhead. Instead, opt for a cremation-only service. The staff will care for your loved one, just the same as those bigger facilities do, and you can save $1,000 or more.
What Is Included In Direct Cremation?
Direct cremation in Maryland is a service providing for the basic needs of the deceased. Most companies include associated fees, giving you an idea of standard services.
- Transportation of the Deceased: This service includes picking up your loved one from the place of death and transferring them to the business’s facility.
- Storage and Refrigeration: Most states require refrigeration of bodies within 24 hours of death. This storage is a regular included service.
- Device removal: Pacemaker removal is necessary before cremation and should not cost an additional fee.
- Necessary Paperwork: The cremation service works with you and the appropriate county offices to file a death certificate and cremation authorization paperwork.
- Alternative Container: A heavy-cardboard container is used to cremate the body.
- Cremation Process: The actual cremation is also included.
- Temporary Urn: Cremation services use temporary urns to return your loved one’s ashes. This temporary container generally means the ashes are placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag and then in a corrugated cardboard box.
- Return of Cremated Remains: Depending on the service, you can pick up the cremated remains approximately 10-14 days after death.
Is An Urn Included In Cremation Costs in Maryland?
Sometimes a cremation service will include a lower-cost urn in their direct cremation package. For example, Maryland Cremation Services offers the choice of one of four urns in its basic cremation package. For $895, you choose an urn and receive one certified copy of the death certificate and the regular services I outlined above.
Pro Tip: You always have the option to purchase an urn from the provider or to buy your urn separately. Many hobby stores sell beautiful containers ideally suited to become urns for cremated remains.
Once I had a family bring in ten tiny jeweled boxes they’d purchased from a home goods store. I smiled as I separated their mother and grandmother’s ashes into these little gems. So look for containers in unexpected places to substitute for traditional urns.
The online provider Titan offers a small but beautiful selection for those who prefer traditional urns. This red urn is just one of their affordable choices.
Cremation Vs. Burial Costs in Maryland
The average cost of cremation in Maryland is about $2,200. So what does it cost to bury someone in Maryland? To compare apples to apples, let’s look at the cost of immediate burial with a graveside service.
There is no funeral service or visitation, so the body is not embalmed either. Instead, after completing all paperwork and formalities, the deceased is taken to the cemetery for burial. Family and friends may gather for a graveside service.
The average cost of immediate burial in Maryland is about $3,400. In addition, you will need to purchase a casket, burial vault, and cemetery plot. Final costs include the opening and closing of the grave and a headstone. So, while initially, it seems as though the prices for direct cremation and immediate burial in Maryland are similar, they aren’t. Depending on the additional selections, you will still pay close to $10,000.
Conclusion
The cost of cremation in Maryland largely depends on your chosen service provider. However, all providers take excellent care of your loved one. In my experience, people serve in the funeral industry because they feel called to assist others during difficult times.
- Cremation-only service providers offer lower-cost options for direct cremation in Maryland.
- Purchase an urn to memorialize your loved one from the cremation service, online, or a local hobby or home goods store.
Maryland funeral homes and cremation service providers are professionals who care for your loved ones. So take comfort, whether you pay $895 or $4,000.
