Funeral Costs in Des Moines, IA (2026)
Based on data from 15 funeral homes in Des Moines, Iowa. Average direct cremation: $1,867.
How much does a funeral cost in Des Moines?
Funeral Home Prices in Des Moines, Iowa
Itemized pricing from 15 funeral homes. Updated 2026.
More Funeral Homes in Des Moines
Understanding Funeral Costs in Des Moines
Below is a plain-English breakdown of every line item you'll see on a funeral home's General Price List (GPL) — required by the FTC Funeral Rule to be provided on request.
Basic Services Fee — avg $1,933 in Des Moines
The funeral home's non-declinable charge, required for every funeral regardless of services chosen. Covers the funeral director's expertise, 24/7 availability, coordination with cemeteries and crematories, and facility overhead. You cannot opt out of this fee.
Direct Cremation — avg $1,867 in Des Moines
The most affordable option. The body is cremated shortly after death with no embalming, no viewing, and no formal service. The ashes are returned to the family in a basic container. Families often hold a separate memorial service later at a location of their choice. In Des Moines, prices start as low as $895.
Traditional Burial
The most comprehensive option — includes embalming, viewing or visitation, a formal funeral service, and burial in a casket. Does not include the cemetery plot, grave opening/closing fees, or the headstone, which are billed separately by the cemetery.
Embalming — typically $500–$900
The preservation of remains to slow decomposition. Required for open-casket viewings and for remains transported across state lines. Not required by law if you choose direct cremation or immediate burial without viewing. Funeral homes cannot require embalming without a valid reason.
Viewing / Visitation — typically $400–$600
Use of the funeral home's facilities and staff for an open-casket viewing before the service. Separate from the funeral ceremony fee. Families can choose a viewing without a formal service, or skip it entirely with a memorial-only service.
Transfer / Removal — typically $300–$500
The fee to transport the deceased from the place of death (hospital, home, nursing facility) to the funeral home. Usually covers a local radius; additional mileage fees apply for transfers outside the area.
Funeral Ceremony — typically $400–$600
Use of the funeral home's chapel or ceremony room for the service itself, plus staff coordination. You can hold the service at a church, cemetery, or other venue to avoid this fee.
What's NOT included in funeral home prices
Cemetery plot or mausoleum niche, grave opening and closing fees, death certificates (typically $10–$25 each; you'll need 5–10 copies), clergy or officiant honorarium, flowers, obituary placement, and the headstone or grave marker — all are billed separately.
Frequently Asked Questions — Funeral Costs in Des Moines
What is the average funeral cost in Des Moines, Iowa?
How much does direct cremation cost in Des Moines?
What is the difference between direct cremation and a traditional funeral?
What is included in the basic services fee?
How do Des Moines funeral costs compare to Iowa averages?
About This Data
Funeral pricing data for Des Moines, Iowa is sourced from OfficialObituary.com's funeral home directory, which covers 15+ homes in Des Moines and 10,000+ funeral homes nationwide. Prices are collected from individual funeral home websites and updated periodically. Always contact funeral homes directly to confirm current pricing before making arrangements.
Data source: OfficialObituary.com funeral home directory · View all Iowa funeral homes · API access for researchers
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