Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure.
Many funeral costs are easy to anticipate. Caskets, headstones, and burial plots all come with an established price tag. But many people don't expect the cost of publishing an obituary.
An obituary serves as an announcement of someone’s death, usually with biographical details. It's also common to list surviving relatives and practical information about the funeral or memorial service.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How Much You'll Pay for a Newspaper Obituary
- Lower-Cost Alternatives to a Traditional Obituary
- Explore Your Obituary Options
Obituaries used to run in papers for free, but that began to change in the 1990s when more readers started getting their news online. The industry took a big financial hit, leading to a need for new revenue streams. One of those streams was monetizing obituaries.
Still, many people use newspapers as their primary source for publishing obituaries. We often cling to traditions like this out of a sense of nostalgia — or by sheer force of habit. There are also plenty of folks who aren’t internet-savvy.
How Much You’ll Pay for a Newspaper Obituary
Whether you're writing an obituary for someone else(or for yourself), publishing it in a newspaper will cost money. You can think of it as an advertising fee.
There's no real standard for how much a newspaper obituary costs. Newspapers may charge per word, per line, or per column inch — or you may be able to buy a quarter or half-page. Most newspapers charge more to publish an accompanying photograph.
Even a brief obituary on a newspaper’s website will start around $200. And if you want to include a few paragraphs about the person’s life, the price will range from $400 to $650.
The cost varies depending on your location, but publishing a lengthy obituary could cost upwards of $1,000. These costs can quickly balloon, too.
Sunday papers tend to have the highest circulation, so ad space — including obituaries — is at a premium. Additionally, if you choose an extended obituary, you’ll incur fees every day it is run.
Let's take, for example, the New York Times. You can publish four lines of text in the printed paper and online starting at $263. The price goes up if you want the obit to be printed in a weekend edition or if you wish to use a photo. Of course, you’ll also pay extra for additional text, and there is a limit of 250 lines.
The best way to find out how much an obituary costs in your local newspaper is to call or email them directly. A representative can explain the prices for different types of obituaries.
However, it's worth noting that some newspapers have safeguards to prevent fraudulent obituaries. For instance, you may need to submit your obituary through the funeral home.
Paying for end-of-life expenses: If you need some help paying for an obituary and other end-of-life expenses, consider creating an online memorial to your loved one with fundraising. Cake's online memorial pagesmake it easy to set up a fundraiser and ask visitors for donations in lieu of flowers or sympathy gifts.
Do you know how you want to be remembered?
Let your loved ones know. Create a free Cake end-of-life planning profile and share your funeral, legacy, legal, and health choices instantly.
Lower-Cost Alternatives to a Traditional Obituary
Here are a few cheaper options for sharing a loved one’s obituary with the world:
Online-only newspaper obituaries
Many newspapers that print obituaries also post the obituaries online on their websites. They may charge an extra fee or include it in the base publishing cost.
That said, newspapers will often let you run the obituary online only, saving you money. On average, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100.
When an obituary runs online, there is usually no limit on how long it can be. This allows you to include more detail on the life of your loved one, and in many cases, you can attach a photo.
The best part about opting for an online obituary is that it can be seen indefinitely, whether it’s a repeat reader or a first-time viewer. Since a printed obituary costs money each day it runs, this is a great bonus.
Memorial websites
Another trend in digital death announcements isonline memorials. Think of this as a shared virtual space designed to commemorate someone.
A website can feature all the biographical information of a traditional, lengthy obituary. It may also include several images of the deceased throughout their life alongside memorable stories or funny anecdotes.
Not the most internet-savvy person around? Don’t worry about building a website from scratch or hiring someone. Several affordable services make creating a memorial website simple and low-stress. These sites typically include hosting and customization in their fees.
This allows you some control over the look of the site. For example, you can create a section for your favorite photos or let readers leave comments. And you can even pay for extras like background music.
Consider adding trusted family or friends as administrators to help run the memorial site. Many services charge a one-time fee as low as $99. You can also look into monthly or annual plans.
Memorializing a Facebook account
Some people find it painful to see lingering reminders of their loved ones online, so they’ll deactivate or delete a Facebook account. But instead of doing that, consider memorializing a Facebook account.
Memorializing someone’s Facebook account keeps it active indefinitely. This way, you won’t lose access to precious pictures or posts, but you will disable features like birthday notifications or “People You May Know” suggestions.
It’s painful to see reminders like these when you’re unprepared. Memorializing an account is a better way to let people know that someone has passed away, and it’s also completely free.
If you have a friend who passed away but their account is still active, reach out to their next of kin. Let them know about the memorialization option.
If you’re preparing to pass, start the process for your Facebook page by appointing a trusted legacy contact. They can finish transitioning your page to a memorial account after your death. And they’ll retain some administrative powers over your Facebook account.
Explore Your Obituary Options
A printed obituary is still an established practice. But even if you’re more comfortable with a conventional obituary, you should consider an online version.
While newspapers do offer a tactile aspect, they are temporary — and not everyone will have access. Adding an online obituary makes it easy to share information with loved ones far and wide. And it can be easier to customize, too.
Whatever you do, feel comfortable in your choice. You are honoring a loved one by memorializing them. That’s what matters most.
Sources:
- “Place an Obituary in the New York Times.” Legacy.com, October 10, 2023. https://www.legacy.com/obit-desk/place-obituary-in-the-new-york-times-new-york-ny/#:~:text=at%20our%20discretion.-,FAQ,the%20length%20of%20the%20obituary.
