Florida Funeral & Cremation Costs

Florida Funeral & Cremation Costs: State Overview

Florida has the highest percentage of residents over 65 of any US state (21.3%), creating a large pre-need funeral planning market. This has attracted numerous funeral providers and cremation societies, keeping prices competitive. Direct cremation is available from $625 in Orlando and Tampa.

Florida Funeral Regulations

Florida does not require embalming. The Florida Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services regulates the industry. Florida has strong pre-need contract laws — funds paid in advance for funeral services must be held in trust or insurance policies. The state's high water table means some cemeteries require above-ground mausoleum entombment, which increases burial costs by $2,000-5,000 compared to in-ground burial.

Veterans Benefits in Florida

Florida has 9 national cemeteries — the most of any state: Florida National (Bushnell), Jacksonville, St. Augustine, South Florida (Lake Worth), Sarasota, Bay Pines (St. Petersburg), Tallahassee, Cape Canaveral, and Barrancas (Pensacola). Most have available space for casketed and cremated remains.