Choosing between burial and cremation is often the first major decision a family makes. Neither is right for everyone. This comparison covers the practical differences so you can weigh them against your family’s beliefs and wishes.
Side by side
| Burial | Cremation | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Higher. The NFDA’s 2023 national median for a funeral with viewing and burial was ,300 (,995 with a vault), before cemetery charges. | Lower. The median with viewing and cremation was ,280, and direct cremation costs much less. |
| Cemetery costs | Plot, opening and closing, vault, marker | Optional: niche or urn plot, or none if kept at home or scattered |
| Timing | Service and burial usually within days | At least 48 hours after death in Florida; memorial can be any time later |
| Viewing | Common | Possible before cremation |
| Place to visit | A grave | A niche, urn grave, scattering garden, or none |
| Flexibility | Permanent location chosen at once | Remains can be divided (with consent), moved or kept |
| Veterans | National cemetery burial for eligible veterans | National cemetery inurnment with the same honors |
Reasons families choose cremation
- Lower cost, especially with direct cremation
- More time to plan a memorial when relatives live far away
- Wish to scatter remains somewhere meaningful
- Simplicity, or the person’s own stated wish
Reasons families choose burial
- Religious tradition. Some faiths require or strongly prefer burial; others accept cremation. Ask your clergy.
- A family plot or a wish to be buried near relatives
- A permanent grave that family can visit
- The person’s own stated wish
Things that are not either/or
- You can have a full funeral with viewing and then cremation.
- Cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery, giving a grave to visit.
- Green burial is an alternative for families who want burial without embalming or a vault. Green burial.
If there is no written wish
If the person did not leave instructions, the decision belongs to the legally authorized person under Florida law, starting with the surviving spouse (Fla. Stat. 497.005). Cremation is irreversible, so where family members disagree, take time to talk, and seek legal advice if needed.
Related: Cremation guide · Burial guide · Cost planner
Sources
- National Funeral Directors Association 2023 General Price List Study, via NFDA release
- Florida Statutes 872.03, 497.005
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change; confirm details with the agency or a licensed professional. Editorial standards