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Cremation cost in Illinois: prices from 104 funeral homes

Direct cremation in Illinois has a median price of $2,775 across the 100 funeral homes that price it, collected through September 2026. Burial costs are here too.

Direct cremation, median
$2,775

Direct cremation, median

Cremation with a memorial service, median
$3,975

Cremation with a memorial service, median

Funeral with viewing, then cremation, median
$7,540

Funeral with viewing, then cremation, median

What Illinois funeral homes charge

Direct cremation100 funeral homesMedian$2,775Most charge$1,532 to $3,990
Cremation with a memorial service (services, before urn)61 funeral homesMedian$3,975Most charge$3,075 to $4,900
Funeral with viewing, then cremation (services, before urn)32 funeral homesMedian$7,540Most charge$6,669 to $10,265
Immediate burial61 funeral homesMedian$3,570Most charge$2,575 to $6,820
Traditional funeral (services, before casket and cemetery)38 funeral homesMedian$7,258Most charge$5,417 to $8,720

“Most charge” is the middle 80% of prices: one home in ten charges less, one in ten charges more.

Each price is the funeral home’s own charge, and cremation prices include the crematory fee. Government fees, such as the permit and certified copies of the death certificate, are usually added on top.

The traditional funeral figure counts the funeral home’s services only: the casket, vault and cemetery come on top, so a burial usually costs well above it. A funeral with viewing before cremation includes a rental casket and the crematory fee, which is why it can show the higher figure.

Illinois has about 586 funeral home establishments (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Prices differ widely between them, so call two or three before choosing: every funeral home must give you its prices over the phone.

Direct cremation by area

Only Illinois funeral homes are counted, even where a metro area crosses a state line. An area needs prices from at least 8 funeral homes to be shown.

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN52 funeral homesMedian$2,460Most charge$1,547 to $3,767
Rest of Illinois48 funeral homesMedian$2,995Most charge$1,479 to $4,332

What to know in Illinois

Cremation rules in Illinois

  • Illinois does not allow a cremation within 24 hours of the time of death shown on the death certificate (410 ILCS 18/35).
  • The 24 hour wait can be shortened only if the medical examiner or coroner waives it in writing for an infectious or dangerous disease, or because of a religious requirement.
  • Before any cremation, the crematory must receive a cremation permit from the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurred, plus a cremation authorization form signed by the authorizing agent.
Read more
  • If the person who died left no written directions or designated agent, the right to decide on cremation passes in order: a person named in a written instrument, the executor following the will, the spouse, a majority of adult children, the parents, then the next of kin (755 ILCS 65/5).
  • The person with the right to control disposition is also liable for its reasonable costs under the same law.
  • The funeral director must file a completed death certificate and obtain a permit for disposition from the local registrar, because the initial report of death cannot serve as a permit to cremate (410 ILCS 535/21).
Sources (3)

Fees you will pay in Illinois

  • The Illinois Department of Public Health charges $19 for a full certified death certificate and $4 for each additional copy.
  • Ordering state copies online through VitalChek adds a $15 handling fee, plus $22 if you choose UPS shipping.
  • The Cook County Clerk, which keeps death records for Chicago and suburban Cook County, charges $17 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy of the same record.
Read more
  • Illinois law sets the coroner's or medical examiner's permit to cremate at $100, and the coroner may waive it if the family is indigent and unable to pay (55 ILCS 5/4-7001).
  • The Cook County Medical Examiner charges $150 for a cremation permit for deaths in Cook County.
  • The Champaign County and Madison County coroners each list the cremation permit at $100.
Sources (6)

Help paying for a cremation

  • The Illinois Department of Human Services pays up to $686 for a cremation or burial and up to $1,370 for a funeral when the person's resources and other payment sources fall short.
  • The IDHS benefit covers people who at death were receiving, or would have qualified for, programs such as TANF, AABD cash or medical, General Assistance, or certain All Kids and Family Assist coverage.
  • Under the IDHS program, people who are not legally responsible for the deceased may contribute toward the urn, casket, vault or extra items, up to $2,000 for the funeral and $2,000 for the burial.
Read more
  • To claim the IDHS benefit, the funeral home or cemetery files Form IL444-0029, or a person who is not legally responsible for the deceased and has already paid at least the amount claimed files Form IL444-0094, with the IDHS Funeral and Burial Unit, which answers questions at 217-785-4216.
  • IDHS expects the claim within 30 days of the death, asks for a written explanation of any delay after that, and denies a claim first submitted more than 180 days after the death.
  • For victims of violent crime, the Illinois Attorney General's Crime Victims Compensation Program pays up to $10,000 per victim for funeral, burial, cremation and headstone costs (740 ILCS 45/2).
  • The Cook County Medical Examiner holds a decedent for 30 days while the family arranges funding, and its Indigent Disposition Program can provide cremation if no funding is found.
  • County Veterans Assistance Commissions provide burial for honorably discharged indigent veterans and certain family members, reimbursed up to $900.
  • The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs reimburses up to $125 for transporting or installing a VA-provided headstone or marker in Illinois.
Sources (7)

Price lists and your rights

  • Illinois requires funeral licensees to clearly mark the price of any casket on display, or show each price in printed display aids when caskets are shown elsewhere (225 ILCS 41/15-75).
  • Before providing services, an Illinois funeral licensee must give you a written statement of services, signed by both sides, listing the price of the service chosen and of each extra item, and the payment terms.
  • That written statement must tell you that you may decline, and get credit for, any service or item you do not want that the law does not require.
Read more
  • Complaints about Illinois funeral directors go to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation by online form, by email to FPR.CIU@illinois.gov, or by phone at 312-814-6910 or 1-888-473-4858.
  • The Illinois Comptroller has licensed every crematory in the state since 2003, and takes complaints about crematories, cemeteries and prepaid funeral contracts on its hotline at 877-203-3401 or at PLACE@illinoiscomptroller.gov.
Sources (3)

Scattering ashes in Illinois

  • Illinois law allows ashes to be placed in a grave, crypt or niche, scattered in a designated scattering area, or placed in any manner on private property with the owner's consent (410 ILCS 18/40).
  • Once the crematory hands over the ashes, the person receiving them may carry them anywhere in Illinois without a permit.
  • Scattering on land owned, managed or leased by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources requires a Permit to Scatter Remains, submitted to the site superintendent two weeks before the scattering date.
Read more
  • On IDNR land, the spot must be out of sight of roads, trails, picnic areas and campgrounds, at least 200 feet from any lake or creek bed, and no urn, marker or flowers may be left behind.
  • When a person's faith requires scattering in water, Illinois law allows scattering in an Illinois river without an IDNR permit, for one person at a time, spread thinly and out of sight of public areas.
Sources (3)

Water cremation and composting

  • Illinois law defines cremation as reducing remains to bone fragments using heat and flame or alkaline hydrolysis, so water cremation is a lawful form of cremation (410 ILCS 18/5).
  • Because it counts as cremation, water cremation follows the same Crematory Regulation Act rules, including the 24 hour wait and the coroner's permit.
  • Human composting, called natural organic reduction, is not yet authorized by an Illinois statute.
  • House Bill 5425, the proposed Natural Organic Reduction Regulation Act, passed the Illinois House 64 to 36 on April 17, 2026, and was referred to the Senate Assignments committee on April 21, 2026.
Sources (2)

Checked against these sources in September 2026.

Illinois cremation questions

How long after death can a cremation happen in Illinois?

At least 24 hours after the time of death, and only after the county coroner or medical examiner has issued a cremation permit. The wait can be waived only for an infectious disease or a religious requirement.

Who decides on cremation in Illinois if there is no will?

Illinois law gives the decision first to anyone named in a written instrument, then the executor, then the spouse, then a majority of adult children, then the parents and other next of kin. That person is also responsible for the reasonable costs.

What extra fees come with a cremation in Chicago?

Besides the funeral home's own charges, a cremation in Chicago carries the Cook County Medical Examiner's $150 cremation permit, which the funeral director obtains, and the Cook County Clerk's death certificate fee of $17 for the first certified copy and $6 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Check whether your funeral home's quote lists these separately.

What does a death certificate cost in Illinois?

From the state, the first certified copy is $19 and extra copies are $4 each. In Cook County, the County Clerk charges $17 for the first copy and $6 for each extra copy of the same record.

How much is the cremation permit in Cook County?

The Cook County Medical Examiner charges $150. State law sets the permit at $100, which is what the Champaign and Madison county coroners list.

Is there state help with cremation costs for low-income families in Illinois?

Yes. IDHS pays up to $686 for a cremation when the person was on, or would have qualified for, certain public aid programs and other resources fall short. The coroner may also waive the $100 cremation permit fee for families who cannot pay.

How much does Illinois crime victim compensation pay toward a funeral?

Up to $10,000 per victim for funeral, burial, cremation and headstone costs. Call the Attorney General's Crime Victims Assistance Line at 800-228-3368 to apply.

Where do I report a crematory in Illinois?

Crematories are licensed by the Illinois Comptroller, which takes complaints at 877-203-3401 or PLACE@illinoiscomptroller.gov. Problems with a funeral director go to IDFPR.

Can you scatter ashes in an Illinois state park?

Yes, with an IDNR Permit to Scatter Remains requested from the site superintendent two weeks ahead. The spot must be out of sight of public areas and at least 200 feet from water, and nothing can be left behind.

Do I need a permit to take ashes home in Illinois?

No. Illinois law lets the person who receives the ashes from the crematory carry them anywhere in the state without a permit.

Is aquamation legal in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois law includes alkaline hydrolysis in its definition of cremation, so it is regulated under the same Crematory Regulation Act as flame cremation.

Can you choose human composting in Illinois?

Not yet. A bill to allow natural organic reduction, HB 5425, passed the House in April 2026 and was sent to the Senate Assignments committee, where it was last acted on.

Where these prices come from

Every funeral home must give an itemized General Price List to anyone who asks. Some post it on their website. We have the price lists of 104 Illinois funeral homes, where a business with several locations often uses one list for all of them, and computed each service’s price from its line items, the same way for every home.

Homes that post prices online may charge less than homes that do not, so treat these figures as a guide and ask for the price list of any home you are considering.

Run a funeral home here and something has changed? Email support@lovekept.co and we will update or remove your listing. Download these figures (CSV), free to reuse with credit to Lovekept.

By the Lovekept editorial team. Prices last updated September 2026.

See all 104 funeral homes

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