There are a number of reasons you may choose to cremate a loved one’s remains instead of burying them. Perhaps a loved one specified that this was their desire. Maybe a family is cremating a loved one’s remains because there is reason to believe it’s better for the environment. Additionally, some might opt for cremation over burial because it can be more affordable.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Average Cost of Cremation in Virginia
- Popular Crematories in Virginia
- Charities, Nonprofits or Government Programs That Help With Cremation Costs in Virginia
That said, the cost of cremation can vary from state to state. Perhaps you’re cremating a loved one’s remains in Virginia, and are thus asking “How much is cremation in Virginia?”
Keep reading if so. The following guide will explain what you can expect to pay. It will also list a number of charities that help with funeral costs and programs you can take advantage of to help cover the expenses.
Average Cost of Cremation in Virginia
Just as the cost of cremation can vary depending on which state you’re in, it can also vary from one funeral home or crematory to another. The costs here are not necessarily representative of all prices funeral homes and crematories may charge. However, this should give you a general sense of how affordable a cremation in Virginia may be:
Traditional cremation
The average cost of a cremation in Virginia can range between $1,200 and $4,000. Various factors will influence how much you should expect to pay.
One such factor is whether you choose a traditional cremation or opt for a direct cremation. A traditional cremation involves arranging a ceremony or viewing of some kind, similar to the way you would if you were arranging a traditional funeral and burial.
This type of cremation will usually cost slightly more than $2,000. How much it costs can depend partially on the length of the service and the size of the space in which it takes place.
Direct cremation
A direct cremation involves skipping the service or viewing and cremating a body shortly after a deceased person passes away. This option is more affordable than a traditional cremation, often costing between $1,195 and $1,570.
Popular Crematories in Virginia
It’s wise to research your options when planning a cremation. You want to find a funeral home or crematory that offers affordable services, has a positive reputation, and is reasonably close to your home.
That said, along with telling you how much cremation costs in Virginia, this guide can also provide you with some ideas for crematories you may choose to work with. Examples include:
Cremation Society of Virginia
The goal of the Cremation Society of Virginia is to provide Virginians with access to affordable cremation services without sacrificing quality and compassion. This is an option you may consider if you’re looking for a way to save money when planning a cremation.
This may also be a particularly convenient option. The Cremation Society of Virginia has locations in Charlottesville, Richmond, and Chantilly, ensuring that regardless of where you live in the state, there’s a good chance one of their crematories will be reasonably close to you.
The Cremation Society of Virginia also allows customers to prearrange cremations. A prepaid cremation is often affordable because it gives you the opportunity to lock in today’s prices before inflation causes them to rise.
Direct Cremation Services of Virginia
This is another popular cremation services provider with locations in Chantilly and Stephens City. Although Direct Cremation Services of Virginia’s primary focus is on affordable direct cremations, don’t let the company’s name mislead you: they also offer packages that allow you arrange traditional funeral services before cremating a loved one’s remains if that is what you would prefer.
Virginia Cremation Services
Virginia Cremation Services technically only has two locations. However, those two locations are conveniently situated in areas that allow this major crematory to serve a fairly large segment of the state. Specifically, Virginia Cremation Services serves Virginians in the counties of Rappahannock, Prince William, Fauquier, Stafford, Culpeper, Madison, Orange, Louisa, Caroline, Spotsylvania, and Greene.
This represents a significant area. Because Virginia Cremation Services has earned a positive reputation among its customers over the years, you may want to consult with the owners or managers of your nearest location to discuss their pricing.
The Cremation Society of Northern Virginia
The primary appeal of The Cremation Society of Northern Virginia is the society’s low costs. They specifically avoid spending money on some of the amenities that traditional funeral homes may offer (such as limousines) in an effort to minimize how much their customers have to pay on cremations.
This means you might not be able to include certain traditional funeral elements in a loved one’s service if you work with The Cremation Society of Northern Virginia. However, that may not necessarily be a problem, as not everyone wants a traditional funeral. Additionally, you could work with a separate funeral services provider to arrange for aspects of a service that The Cremation Society of Northern Virginia might not offer.
Charities, Nonprofits or Government Programs That Help With Cremation Costs in Virginia
Whether you opt for cremation or burial, either manner of putting a loved one to rest can theoretically be quite expensive depending on the circumstances. You might not be prepared to cover the full costs of cremating a loved one in Virginia on your own.
You also might not have to. There are various charities, organizations, and government programs that offer assistance to those who wish to cremate their loved ones’ but will struggle with the expense of doing so. In Virginia, your options include:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Virginia, like many other states, offers programs designed to help impoverished families with children recover from difficult financial situations. These programs offer participants debit cards with spending limits that they can use for a range of purchases.
In some instances, it’s permissible to use a TANF debit card to cover at least some of the costs of a funeral, burial, or cremation. Check the official guide to learn more about whether you qualify and how you can apply to the program if so.
County services
The services available to you if you can’t fully afford the cost of a cremation in Virginia can depend at least in part on which county you reside in. Virginia’s Department of Social Services website maintains a list of county departments through which you can learn about programs that may help you pay for a cremation. Check with the department in your county for more information about your options.
FEMA
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death, you may be eligible for financial assistance through FEMA when planning a cremation. This is an option when the federal government decides that certain causes of death qualify as the result of people living within disaster zones.
For example, FEMA has been offering financial help to Virginians who’ve lost loved ones to COVID-19 during the pandemic. Although there’s no guarantee the nature of your loved one’s death will make you eligible for FEMA assistance, this is nevertheless an option worth looking into if you are having trouble paying for their cremation.
The VA
The VA will also sometimes provide financial help to those planning funerals of lost loved ones. Naturally, your loved one will have to have been a member of the armed forces for you to take advantage of these services. Additionally, when and how they died can impact your eligibility. Still, as is the case with FEMA assistance, if you have any reason at all to suspect that you may be able to get financial support from the VA when organizing a cremation, you should at least investigate this potential resource more thoroughly.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance
The Funeral Consumers Alliance is an organization that doesn’t necessarily cover funeral and cremation expenses directly. However, it does help connect families with funeral service providers who may offer services they can afford. Strongly consider enlisting this organization’s help if you think you can pay for a cremation in theory, but you’re having trouble finding a crematory or funeral home whose service prices are within your budget.
Religious institutions
It’s not uncommon for churches and other religious establishments to help members pay for funerals, burials, and cremations. If you and your family are active members of a religious group in your area, reach out to the group to learn if this is an option.
Once again, no one can promise that your religious institution will offer this type of help, as the funds immediately available to a religious establishment vary on a case-by-case basis, but you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that your spiritual community is in a position to help you during this difficult time.
The Cost of Cremation in Virginia: Many Factors to Consider
Remember, although cremation is often a more affordable option than burial, so many factors can influence the cost of putting a loved one to rest that it’s impossible to determine exactly how much you will pay. What’s most important to remember is that help may be available through a number of avenues if you want to cremate a loved one in Virginia but don’t know how you will afford to.
If you're a Virginia resident and ready to start preparing your own end-of-life planning documents, Cake has Advance Care Planning forms you can download. To help ease your planning, we have all the documents you need in one place.