Funeral costs in Iowa
We don’t yet hold real price lists from Iowa funeral homes, so the cost figures below are our nationwide numbers, not local ones. What is specific to Iowa: two real facts about your rights, and how many funeral homes the state has.
What’s specific to Iowa
Who can handle your funeral
Iowa is one of nine states that legally requires a licensed funeral director to make cremation arrangements — a family cannot arrange a cremation directly with a crematory.
Source: Iowa Code § 331.805; Iowa Admin. Code 481-900.10(2), cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.
Naming someone to decide for you
Iowa lets a person name an agent to make all disposition arrangements, but the designation must be attached to a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney to take effect.
Source: Iowa Code § 144C.5, cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.
Funeral homes in Iowa
335 funeral home establishments, per the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns — more options can mean more room to compare prices.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2022), accessed 2026-08-03.
The national picture
These are our full nationwide figures, not numbers specific to Iowa — we’d rather say that plainly than dress up a national average as a local one.
| Scenario | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cremation only | $1,037 – $2,420 | $1,920 |
| Traditional funeral with burial | $4,208 – $7,224 | $5,616 |
Want a figure built around your own choices? Use the full calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Iowa require me to use a funeral home?
Iowa is one of nine states that legally requires a licensed funeral director to make cremation arrangements — a family cannot arrange a cremation directly with a crematory. (Iowa Code § 331.805; Iowa Admin. Code 481-900.10(2), as cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.)
Can I name someone in Iowa to handle my funeral arrangements?
Iowa lets a person name an agent to make all disposition arrangements, but the designation must be attached to a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney to take effect. (Iowa Code § 144C.5, as cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.)
How many funeral homes are there in Iowa?
The U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 335 funeral home establishments in Iowa in its most recent survey.
How much does a funeral cost in Iowa?
We don't yet hold real price lists from Iowa funeral homes, so we can't give a local figure. Nationwide, across 35 price lists we've collected, a direct cremation has a median of $1,920 and a traditional funeral with burial has a median of $5,616. Treat these as national numbers, not a Iowa quote.
Do funeral homes in Iowa have to give me a written price list?
Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home in the United States, including Iowa, to give you an itemized General Price List and to quote prices over the phone. It's illegal for them to refuse, and you don't have to give a deposit or make any arrangement first.