Funeral Costs in Columbia, SC (2026)

Based on data from 15 funeral homes in Columbia, South Carolina. Average direct cremation: $2,173.

How much does a funeral cost in Columbia?

Direct Cremation $2,173 from $950

Basic Services Fee $2,265

Funeral Home Prices in Columbia, South Carolina

Itemized pricing from 15 funeral homes. Updated 2026.

Funeral Home	Direct Cremation	Traditional Burial	Basic Services Fee	Phone
A A Dicks Funeral Home 2548 Main St	$1,495	—	$1,425	803-254-4673
Bostick-Tompkins Funeral Home 2930 Colonial Drive	$1,195	—	$1,595	803-254-2000
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home-Irmo St. Andrew's Chapel 5400 Bush River Road	$2,690	—	$2,395	803-772-1231
Caughman-Harman Funeral Home-West Columbia Chapel 820 West Dunbar Road	$2,740	—	$3,995	803-755-3527
Dunbar Funeral and Cremations 4219 Hard Scrabble Road	$1,735	—	$1,310	803-788-6310
Dunbar Funerals & Cremations 3926 Devine St	$3,085	—	$4,495	803-771-7990
Greenlawn Memorial Park 845 Leesburg Road	$3,495	—	$3,300	803-776-1092
J. P. Holley Funeral Home 8132 Garners Ferry Rd	$1,650	—	$1,895	803-695-1666
Jones Funeral Home 1101 Charleston Hwy # 102	$2,290	—	$1,395	803-791-0853
Leevy's Funeral Home 1831 Taylor St	$1,495	—	$1,300	803-776-6922
Myers Mortuary & Cremation Services 2624 Alpine Road	$950	—	$1,400	803-735-1205
Palmer Memorial Chapel 1200 Fontaine Place	$2,145	—	$1,595	803-786-6300
Pearson's Funeral Home 4508 N Main St	$1,495	—	$1,995	803-754-0663
Shives Funeral Home & Crematory 5202 Colonial Drive	$2,645	—	$2,575	803-754-6290
Thompson Funeral Home West Columbia 200 State Street	$3,495	—	$3,300	803-791-0650

Understanding Funeral Costs in Columbia

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 $2,265 in Columbia

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 $2,173 in Columbia

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 Columbia, prices start as low as $950.

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.

Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule: Every funeral home in South Carolina must give you an itemized General Price List upon request — in person, over the phone, or by mail. You cannot be required to buy a package; you may select individual services. Always get prices in writing before agreeing to anything.

Frequently Asked Questions — Funeral Costs in Columbia

What is the average funeral cost in Columbia, South Carolina?

Funeral costs in Columbia, South Carolina vary by funeral home and service type. We have 15 funeral homes listed. Contact them directly for current pricing.

How much does direct cremation cost in Columbia?

Direct cremation in Columbia averages $2,173, with prices ranging from $950 to higher depending on the provider. Direct cremation is the most affordable option because it skips embalming, visitation, and a formal funeral service.

What is the difference between direct cremation and a traditional funeral?

Direct cremation is the simplest and least expensive option — the body is cremated shortly after death without embalming, viewing, or a funeral ceremony. A traditional funeral includes embalming, a viewing or visitation, a funeral service, and burial in a casket. In Columbia, South Carolina, traditional funerals typically cost significantly more than direct cremation.

What is included in the basic services fee?

The basic services fee (sometimes called the funeral home's non-declinable fee) covers the funeral director's services, overhead, and coordination. In Columbia, this fee averages $2,265. It is charged for every funeral regardless of which services you select.

How do Columbia funeral costs compare to South Carolina averages?

South Carolina's state average funeral cost provides a useful benchmark. Compare prices from multiple funeral homes in Columbia before making a decision.

About This Data

Funeral pricing data for Columbia, South Carolina is sourced from OfficialObituary.com's funeral home directory, which covers 15+ homes in Columbia 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 South Carolina funeral homes · API access for researchers

Need help writing an obituary?

OfficialObituary.com also offers a free obituary creation tool — create, publish, and share in minutes.

Create an Obituary →