The Real Cost of Direct Cremation in Orange County | 2025

Lead Authors: Troy Centazzo, Lukas Roscoe, Yasi Dye, and Sam Reyes-Godby of Opal Cremation, and Marissa Bergen, Healthcare Industry Writer

Key Takeaways

• As the cremation rate rises in California, more people are evaluating their options for direct – or simple – cremation services, often online
• Direct cremation prices listed in providers’ price lists and advertised online as “all inclusive” often exclude key fees, which will raise the total costs of direct cremation services 
• Inconsistent price lists, known as GPLs, make comparison shopping nearly impossible for the consumer
• Opal Cremation studied the true cost of direct cremation in Orange County by adding in additional fees to create a standard service package, as well as explained the many other fees that a purchaser may incur  
• While the average listed direct cremation service price in Orange County is $1,723, Opal estimates the adjusted real cost to equal $1,938, more than $200 higher, and that’s not including the additional hidden surcharges consumers may pay
• Opal encourages more transparency and simplicity when it comes to direct cremation pricing in Orange County, and is leading the way with its all inclusive service package

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Why we Conducted This Study
• What the Law Requires—and What Providers Do
• What Families Actually Pay
• Why This Matters
• Prior Research on Cremation Pricing  
• What Makes Opal’s Study Unique
• Conclusion
• FAQ
• Opal Resources: What You Can Do Next
• Appendix A: Study Methodology Notes

Introduction

If you’re searching for direct cremation services in Orange County, you’ve probably noticed a wide range of prices. But what do those “all-inclusive” prices actually include? And what hidden charges might appear after a loved one passes?

Opal Cremation conducted an in-depth study of almost 90%¹ of the licensed funeral establishments in Orange County to find out. Our team located and downloaded 56 General Price Lists (GPLs) online—the document required by law to disclose service costs, including for direct cremation services —to understand what families are really paying for services.

But this study isn’t about whether funeral homes accurately post their GPLs online. It’s about what those GPLs fail to make clear. Even when families access them, GPLs vary dramatically in format, terminology, and what’s included. Most families aren’t just comparing apples to oranges—they’re comparing apples to algebra problems.

Hidden fees, inconsistent line items, absent information, and unclear language make it nearly impossible for the public to determine the full cost of direct cremation. That’s why we created this study—and a downloadable worksheet—to help families see what they’ll really pay.

This publication is a preliminary release of the Opal Real Cost of Direct Cremation in Orange County. The findings, analyses, and methodology described represent an initial summary of the larger report, which is scheduled for formal release in August. 

Additional or updated data, provider responses, and policy implications may be added in the final version. We also intend to release our research on direct cremation pricing in Los Angeles County in August.

We invite feedback, questions, and media inquiries as we complete the full report.

Resources for Readers

Sign up to receive the full report and our upcoming Real Cost of Direct Cremation in Los Angeles County | 2025 here.

Why We Conducted This Study

This research project could not be more timely, considering the factors involved and dynamics of the funeral industry. We conducted this pricing study for the following reasons: 

• As the cremation rate in California rises, more people are evaluating their options for direct cremation service providers and seeking this information online
  
• Federal and state law requires that funeral service providers include the price for direct cremation services in their general price lists, or GPLs
  
• While federal and state law requires that specific services be included in their price for direct cremation, there is no standard list of what a direct cremation package should include, including ones that are advertised as “all-inclusive.” Service packages vary widely across providers in Orange County and other markets
• In Opal Cremation’s experience, families often believe that a provider’s listed – or advertised – price for an all-inclusive direct cremation package is what they will pay for these services, only to find out they are charged unexpected additional surcharges and required fees
  
• Our past reviews have found that listed and advertised prices for direct cremation were often $225 to $400 less than what families actually paid after required items like death certificates, permits, and unexpected surcharges were added
  
• We know of no other primary research into the price of direct cremation that has accounted for likely or potential additional charges that a consumer will incur
  
• California families who have recently experienced the death of a loved one should understand the true total cost of a basic, no-frills cremation — and how to spot the fees that aren’t disclosed up front 

What the Law Requires—and What Cremation Providers in Orange County Do

Relevant Laws and Regulations

Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, all funeral homes are required to provide families with a General Price List (GPL) that includes the cost of “direct cremation.” However, the law does not require a standard format or ensure that all related costs and methods of calculating them are clearly disclosed.

Logo copyright held by the FTC

California regulations specifically prohibit false or misleading advertising by funeral establishments and licensed professionals in the state, though what constitutes false and misleading is still not entirely clear based on the regulations and years of case law.   

The General Price List in Practice

Even when families receive a GPL:

• The language is inconsistent and filled with industry jargon
• Required charges are often buried in fine print or excluded entirely
• Pricing structures and calculation methodologies vary so widely that no two GPLs are alike

Providers may list a low service price or advertise a low base price online, but that number often excludes charges that a customer will definitely incur- plus significant surcharges based on various complicated factors. This lack of clarity makes it nearly impossible to compare providers fairly, and it frequently results in unexpected charges—at a time when families are most vulnerable.

Our research found two main categories of fees and surcharges associated with direct cremation that need to be addressed separately. They include:

• fees related to services that virtually all families will need to purchase as part of a direct cremation package (“essential services”), and
  
• potential additional fees and surcharges associated with core services included in every direct cremation service in the GPL

Essential Services and Fee

Fees and charges for items that will be added to almost every direct cremation bill in Orange County include:

• Death certificate fees
• Disposition permit costs
• California state fees
• Return of the urn and cremated remains 

Some providers include these items in their direct cremation services, while others do not. However, they are not required to be included in the price for a direct cremation service on the GPL. 

Additional Surcharges Associated with Required Direct Cremation Services

Common additional surcharges not required to be included on the GPL and often charged as hidden fees include:

• Transportation fees, including out-of-area charges for traveling outside their primary service area
• Overweight charges 
• Pacemaker removal
• Administrative fees

Ask funeral homes for a breakdown of fees in advance and inquire about possible hidden fees to avoid sticker shock.

Related Reading

• Learn more about direct cremation
• Understand how long direct cremation takes to complete in Los Angeles and Orange County

What Families Actually Pay

This section compares essential and core services and what families actually pay for them. 

Fees for Essential Services

We first addressed the issue of the added costs of essential services and their fees. Our research team reviewed General Price Lists (GPLs) from 56 licensed funeral establishments in Orange County. For each provider, we calculated two numbers:

• Listed Price: The base price listed under “Direct Cremation” on the GPL, as required by law. These are often advertised as “all-inclusive” packages online
• Actual Total Estimated Cost: The estimated real price families are likely to pay, based on common legal and service-related charges that are often omitted or obscured in the GPL

To standardize our calculations, we created a model direct cremation service package that includes the core services required for direct cremation services. Funeral homes are legally required to include these prices in their GPL. 

The other column includes other essential services/fees that almost all consumers will incur when they purchase direct cremation services in Orange County. However, these prices are not required to be listed on the GPL, and are often tacked on as additional surcharges and fees. 

Our model direct cremation service package is below:

Common Hidden Fees Identified

Additional hidden fees that may be included in your final invoice, known as a Statement of Goods and Services in funeral industry language, are as follows. 

What We Found

We divided total fees based on averages and the providers who actually charged these fees, and found the following results. 

That’s a $215 gap on average between what’s quoted and what families actually pay, but even a modest direct cremation service could cost $400 more than expected.

Common Charges That Are Not Included in Cremation Price

Even when a funeral provider advertises a low-cost “direct cremation” package, families are often surprised by additional costs that aren’t disclosed upfront.

What’s Often Missing from Direct Cremation Service Pricing?

Below are the most common charges that are not included in direct cremation service packages uncovered in our Orange County study, shown as a percent of providers that do not include them in their direct cremation package:

While adding these items to a provider’s direct cremation package can be viewed as a benefit and promoted to consumers, the counter incentive to that for cremation providers is to not include the items. The direct cremation price people research will be lower and more attractive to price conscious consumers who view all direct cremation packages as including the same services and items.

Additional Surcharges Associated with Core Services: Removal and Transportation

Under the FTC Funeral Rule, the base price for direct cremation must include the following core services:

• Removal of the body from the place of death
• Transportation to the crematory

However, exceptions and surcharges are frequently added based on distance or weight—yet rarely disclosed clearly. They could potentially cost families an additional $400 or more, depending on:

• The location of the deceased
• Travel distance from the provider’s facility or crematory
• The weight of the deceased
• The number of personnel required for removal

These charges are inconsistently presented and calculated in GPLs—some are detailed while others are vague. Some are completely omitted.

We’ll review each of them to explain when they are charged and how they are calculated by cremation service providers. 

Transportation: Distance-Based Surcharges

Among the 56 GPLs reviewed, additional transportation surcharges are incurred if the deceased is located farther than a maximum distance defined by the provider. What qualifies as “outside the service area” is also inconsistently defined. It may be:

• Beyond the crematory location
• Outside Orange County
• Outside a vague “local area” or “service region”
• Or not defined at all

Cremation service providers calculate these fees in various ways, as follows:

• Per-mile charges ranging from $2.00 to $6.95 per mile
• Tiered flat fees (e.g., $150 for 26–50 miles, $300 for 51–100 miles)
• Undefined surcharges, with vague terms like “additional fee may apply”
• No stated policy at all — In our studies, we found 19 GPLs didn’t mention distance charges, so it’s unclear whether they are charged or not

Transportation: Additional Personnel Fees 

Extra charges may also apply when more than one staff member is required to remove the deceased, typically due to:

• A residential or small facility pickup (e.g., private home, board & care)
• Body weight exceeding 250–300 pounds

Fee structures include:

• Weight surcharges (e.g., $3.00 per pound over 250 lbs.)
• Fixed fees (e.g., $200 for an extra person)
• Discretionary quotes, often listed vaguely as “ask for pricing.”

A partial summary of common fees and surcharges is shown below. For figures in the right hand column in parentheses, the first number is the number of businesses that include the fee and next to it is the percent of all 56 funeral homes we studied. 

For our full pricing data, see the Resources section at the bottom of the article. 

Summary of Common Hidden Fees Identified

No Mention of Surcharges at All

Some GPLs do not mention these fees, leaving families unaware until after the service has begun. We used conservative estimates and gave providers the benefit of the doubt when GPL language was unclear. However, if a specific fee or calculation was not included in a GPL, we couldn’t be sure if a particular service fee may be charged.  

Below are the most common charges we uncovered in our Orange County study, including results on companies that did not mention them in the GPL.

Even if families have the GPLs of the direct cremation service providers they are evaluating, the lack of complete, transparent, and easy-to-understand pricing and fee information makes it highly challenging for anyone to compare the direct cremation prices of providers in Orange County without a detailed analysis of each cremation package.

Understanding this issue is an essential first step for consumers. We recommend downloading the “Opal Cost Comparison Worksheet” to more accurately estimate the real cost of direct cremation services. Access the pricing worksheet here.

Why This Matters

When families are grieving, they deserve clarity—not confusion. But our study shows that many funeral providers in Orange County:

• Omit required legal or government fees from cremation service packages
• Make apples-to-apples price comparisons nearly impossible
• Charge extra for basic services like delivering the remains to the family
• Charge contingent fees and surcharges that are vaguely defined and calculated
• Don’t include a mention of how certain fees may be included and calculated at all

This lack of transparency is more than a minor inconvenience—it creates emotional stress, financial strain, and a deep sense of mistrust during a vulnerable time.

This study shows that compliance with the law isn’t enough. Transparency means more than just handing over a GPL—it means clearly explaining what families will actually pay.

“Preying on consumers when they are dealing with the loss of a loved one is outrageous, and it’s illegal.”

—Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, commenting on cases where funeral providers charged more than their posted prices

Related Reading

• Understand the differences between direct cremation and funerals in Los Angeles
• Overview of the options for memorial services
• What happens after cremation: who to notify when a loved one passes

Prior Research on Cremation Pricing

Over the past several years, released reports have attempted to research and publish what funeral homes charge for direct cremation (and other) services—and they have collected direct pricing information from a substantial number of funeral homes and cremation providers.

However, they nearly all share the same limitation: they rely on the “base price” for direct cremation listed in a provider’s General Price List (GPL) without accounting for common hidden or variable charges. Most of these surveys acknowledge the challenging issue of additional and hidden fees.

Here’s a summary of several of the most cited studies, available pricing data, and example surveys:

Logo copyright held by NFDA

NFDA Member 2023 General Price List Study

• Source: National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
• Methodology: Mail and online survey to members of funeral home pricing nationwide
• Finding: The median price of direct cremation (with container) is $1,705 in the Pacific district, which includes California
• Limitation: Price includes only base direct cremation cost. Does not account for required government fees, death certificates, potential distance or weight surcharges, or urn return
• Mention of cost issues: The urn is “usually” extra and additional fees may apply
• Link: NFDA 2023 Price Study Summary (press release)

Logo copyright held by FCAME

Maryland Direct Cremation and Immediate Burial Study (2023)

• Agency: Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland and Environs (FCAME)  
• Methodology: Survey of direct cremation pricing (with container provided by purchaser) and immediate burial pricing
• Finding: Found wide price variation and incomplete pricing disclosures for cremation services
• Limitation: Relied on GPLs but didn’t itemize likely hidden costs or calculate estimated total out-of-pocket cost
• Mention of pricing issues: Discussed inconsistent inclusion of fees. Direct cremation typically includes return of remains in a simple, temporary container either by mail or by having the family pick them up; transportation includes “reasonable distance”

• Link: Maryland Cremation Report (2015)

Price Survey of North Carolina Funeral Homes (2023)

• Organization: Funeral Consumers Alliance North Carolina (FCANC)
• Finding: Analyzed base prices on GPLs from licensed providers across the state
• Mention of pricing issues: Found prices of cremation service “confusing” due to conflicting methodologies
• Link: North Carolina Cremation Cost Study (PDF)

Private Comparison Sites: Funeralocity & Parting.com

Websites like Funeralocity and Parting.com aim to help families compare the prices of funeral homes, including for direct cremation⁶. These companies have compiled GPLs from funeral establishments nationwide and present a comprehensive online pricing directory. 

These sites include base direct cremation pricing that does not necessarily include permits, death certificates, or return of ashes—meaning the prices shown may underrepresent what families actually pay.

What Makes Opal’s Study Unique

We aimed to build on this extensive body of pricing data and research. Unlike prior studies, Opal’s research analyzed the full economic picture and uncertainty of direct cremation prices—not just what’s printed in a GPL. Our methodology stands apart by including:

• Every fee and cost a family will or may have to pay
• Standardized cost categories across providers through a model direct cremation service
• Every price, surcharge, and omission in our study comes directly from current, verified GPLs
• All 56 licensed funeral establishments in Orange County for which GPLs were publicly available

This makes Opal’s study the most complete and consumer-relevant cremation pricing analysis published for a single California county. We also believe this approach sets a new benchmark for transparency and usefulness in the funeral industry – and to the families who need assistance. 

We are providing this data freely to consumers so they can better evaluate the actual costs of the cremation services they are purchasing.

How Opal’s Study Goes Further

• Options for Memorial Services After Direct Cremation: Scattering Ashes

Conclusion

Our study shows that families in Orange County are routinely quoted cremation prices that are at a minimum $200–$400 lower than what they actually end up paying. And this average difference doesn’t include contingent surcharges that may add hundreds of dollars more to the cost – the real cost.

These hidden charges—ranging from government filing fees to the cost of returning the urn—aren’t always disclosed in price lists, websites, or advertising. Some are buried in the fine print. Others don’t appear at all.

When additional variable and often vague transportation, removal, and cremation surcharges are added, the final cost of a direct cremation service could be many hundreds of dollars more than the “all-inclusive” listed price. As a result, grieving families are left confused, overcharged, and often misled.

Importantly, we made the decision as a research team to not list individual providers with pricing data in our research report. Our goal of this study is not to point fingers at specific cremation service providers located in Orange County, but to assist consumers to better understand that unexpected fees and surcharges may be waiting for them when purchasing direct cremation services. 

We aim to point out a major industry-wide problem beyond any specific funeral home or provider: unexpected fees, surcharges, and misleading pricing that make it virtually impossible for a family member who is not an experienced funeral professional to avoid sticker shock. 

At Opal Cremation, we believe there’s a better way.

We built this company around a promise of simplicity, honesty, and clarity. That’s why our pricing is fully inclusive—and why we’re releasing this data publicly.

We hope this research will:

• Help families compare cremation providers more effectively
• Encourage funeral homes to improve clarity in their cremation prices
• Set a higher bar for transparency in the industry
• Convince industry leaders that a new approach to cremation service pricing and the GPL may be needed

Need help now? Opal Cremation’s Care Team offers free consultations to evaluate the advertised prices of direct cremation services and determine the real cost you will likely pay.  

Call us at 888-714-8481 or send us a message, and we’ll get back to you immediately.

Send us a Message

FAQ

What is the average cost of direct cremation in Orange County?

The average advertised cost is $1,723, but families typically end up paying around $1,938 after common hidden fees, including state-mandated documentation and costs for returning the ashes, are added.

Why do cremation providers advertise one price but charge more later?

Many providers list only the base cremation fee and omit required extras like:

• Death certificates
• Disposition permits
• California’s DCA cremation fee
• Shipping or mail-back of the urn

These hidden charges often appear only after services are rendered.

Is the funeral home required to give me a full price list?

Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every provider must give you a General Price List (GPL) upon request, either in person, by email, or by mail. 

Can I shop around for direct cremation while someone is in hospice or near end-of-life?

Absolutely. Planning in advance can reduce stress and ensure you don’t overpay. You can request pricing, documentation, and clarity ahead of time from any licensed funeral establishment.

How can I compare cremation providers fairly?

Use a standardized comparison worksheet, like Opal’s free downloadable tool, to ensure you’re evaluating apples-to-apples pricing. Ask what is included and what is not included in any quoted price.

Opal Resources: What You Can Do Next

Downloadable Resources

Opal’s Cost Comparison Worksheet. We’ve developed a downloadable Cremation Cost Comparison Worksheet to help families determine the real total cost when comparing service providers.

• Ask the right questions
• Identify all likely fees
• Avoid last-minute surprises.
• Ensure your quote includes all required fees.

Download here.

Access Detailed Fee and Surcharge Data from the Study: Coming Soon

Additional Resources and Reading

What Is Direct Cremation?

How Long Does Cremation Take?

Burial vs. Cremation in Los Angeles: Costs & Options

Funeral vs Memorial Services in Southern California | 2025

Legal, Regulatory, and Industry Source

This study included the following federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, as well as several investigations and articles in mainstream publications.

Federal Trade Commission. Complying with the Funeral Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 453.

California Department of Consumer Affairs. Funeral and Cemetery Bureau Laws and Regulations, including:

• California Business & Professions Code §7685(b)(3): Online price disclosure requirements
• California Business & Professions Code §7693: Prohibits false or misleading advertising by funeral establishments (“False or misleading advertising as a funeral establishment, funeral director, or embalmer constitutes a ground for disciplinary action”)
• California Health and Safety Code §§10295, 10390, 10391: Requirements for disposition permits and death certificates

Funeral Consumers Alliance & Consumer Federation of America. (2021). Online Funeral Pricing Study: California. 

California Attorney General. (2019). Lawsuit Against Neptune Society for Mishandling Prepaid Cremation Funds. 

Federal Trade Commission. (2022). FTC Takes Action Against Legacy Cremation Services for Deceptive Advertising. 

KTLA 5 News. (2022). Southern California Cremation Providers Found Adding Undisclosed Fees.

Appendix A: Study Methodology Notes

This study, conducted by Opal Cremation between April and July 2025, evaluated actual direct cremation pricing in Orange County using standardized criteria.

Research Objectives

• Compare listed and “advertised” prices for direct cremation services with adjusted total prices that reflect what most families actually pay in Orange County
• Identify and analyze opaque and hidden fees and surcharges often incurred by customers
• Provide adjusted pricing for direct cremation services by standardizing a model service package
• Provide a consumer-facing worksheet for real-time price evaluation.
• Create real market pricing for cremation

Market / Region Covered

• All licensed funeral establishments located in Orange County, California
• Included cremation-only providers and full-service funeral homes that advertise or offer direct cremation

Data Sources

• General Price Lists (GPLs) obtained via:
  • Public downloads from websites
  • Opal did not contact providers whose GPLs were not provided online

Number of Cremation Providers

• 56 GPLs were collected and analyzed
• Represented approximately 90% of known providers in the county
• GPLs were not available online for eight licensed funeral establishments located in Orange County 

Data Points Extracted

Each GPL was reviewed using a standardized audit form to collect:

• Direct cremation base price (as required by the FTC Funeral Rule)
• Whether the following were included:
  • Death certificate fees
  • Disposition permit
  • California DCA cremation fee
  • Mail-back or in-person return of the urn
  • Crematory fee
  • Long-distance or overweight transport fees
  • Contingent cremation process fees
  • Administrative or credit card fees, and
  • Additional fees and surcharges

Price Adjustment Methodology

To calculate adjusted prices, we included the following services in our model direct cremation package:

• Basic service fee
• Transportation of loved one
• Removal of deceased
• Cremation
• Urn (temporary)
• Return of cremated remains / urn
• Certified Death Certificate (1 copy)
• Disposition Permit (1 permit)
• California Department of Consumer Affairs fee (DCA fee)(1 fee)

Handling Missing or Vague Information

When providers omitted or failed to clarify specific costs:

• Default public pricing was applied (e.g., $24 per death certificate in OC)
• California’s standard DCA cremation fee of $11.50 was added if not itemized
• If a fee was explicitly included or waived, it was marked accordingly

Many providers do not explain these extra charges on their websites, so families should always ask for the GPL and use Opal’s cost worksheet to verify what’s truly included.