Funeral costs in New Jersey
We don’t yet hold real price lists from New Jersey funeral homes, so the cost figures below are our nationwide numbers, not local ones. What is specific to New Jersey: two real facts about your rights, and how many funeral homes the state has.
What’s specific to New Jersey
Who can handle your funeral
New Jersey is one of nine states that legally requires a licensed funeral director to file the death certificate, transport the body, and attend burials and cremations.
Source: N.J. Stat. § 26:6, cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.
Naming someone to decide for you
New Jersey lets a person appoint a designated agent to direct disposition of their remains, using a form provided by the state cemetery board.
Source: N.J.S.A. 45:27-22, cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.
Funeral homes in New Jersey
452 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 New Jersey — 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 New Jersey require me to use a funeral home?
New Jersey is one of nine states that legally requires a licensed funeral director to file the death certificate, transport the body, and attend burials and cremations. (N.J. Stat. § 26:6, as cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.)
Can I name someone in New Jersey to handle my funeral arrangements?
New Jersey lets a person appoint a designated agent to direct disposition of their remains, using a form provided by the state cemetery board. (N.J.S.A. 45:27-22, as cited by Funeral Consumers Alliance.)
How many funeral homes are there in New Jersey?
The U.S. Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 452 funeral home establishments in New Jersey in its most recent survey.
How much does a funeral cost in New Jersey?
We don't yet hold real price lists from New Jersey 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 New Jersey quote.
Do funeral homes in New Jersey have to give me a written price list?
Yes. The FTC Funeral Rule requires every funeral home in the United States, including New Jersey, 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.