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Cremation Services in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Tina Fine Tina Fine New York, United States Last Updated: August 2025 NAICS OD4415

Revenue

$2.4bn

2025

$2.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

15,889

Businesses

10,851

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Cremation Services in the US industry analysis

Many factors impact consumers' choice of cremation services over traditional burial. The relative cost of conventional burial, especially in population centers with diminished cemetery space, has prompted consumers to consider lower-cost cremation. Increased mobility among Americans has reduced the practicality and appeal of permanent burial plots. The declining significance of religious traditions for some groups has changed attitudes about cremation. Interest in burial options for dogs and cats has shifted as pets have become more central to household life. While the tragic deaths during the pandemic led to above-average industry-wide revenue growth in 2020, revenue growth has changed direction. A few years of negative growth have been seen, while profit has trended upwards. Compared to the high in 2020, industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.1% to $2.4 billion through 2025, while falling at a CAGR of only 1.9% when accounting for the 2020 spike. Revenue is expected to change direction and increase by 0.6% in 2025 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Cremation service revenue is influenced by age and cultural norms. The demand for cremation services has increased due to cost advantages, an aging population and shifting cultural attitudes.
  • Proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could raise costs for metal components in urns and rental caskets, pressuring providers to pass expenses to clients. Cremation, often a budget alternative, may see increased demand as families offset burial cost spikes.
  • Demographic and cultural factors can outweigh population density in determining crematorium locations. Areas with a high proportion of elderly populations or cultures that oppose cremation will likely have fewer cremation facilities.
  • Rising technology costs could spur industry consolidation. Larger funeral homes may expand their cremation services to offset lost revenue from the shift to low-cost options, likely through acquisitions a result of the high upfront capital required.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.4bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Green and eco-friendly alternatives expand as consumers reject resource-intensive burial

  • Environmental concerns are starting to impact burial options and individuals' burial choices. Data from the Funeral and Memorial Information Council survey indicates that nearly 64.0% of adults under 40 express interest in green burial alternatives or environmentally conscious cremation options.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Cremation Services in the US
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Consolidation, spurred by the benefits of economies of scale and scope, impact competition

  • The cremation rate continues to climb, driven by cost-conscious consumers, changing traditions and the rapid adoption of technology to organize and major companies and private equity investors are responding. Industry leaders like Service Corporation International (SCI, North America's largest end-of-life services corporation) reported having over 2000 funeral home locations and cemeteries and have been very active in mergers and acquisitions in the cremation sector. They also operate in Europe and Singapore. In 2024, SCI allocated $181.0 million to purchase 26 funeral establishments and six cemetery properties. Several of these newly acquired locations offer direct cremation alongside stand-alone crematory service. SCI owns most of the Neptune Society, the nation’s largest direct cremation provider, with more than 60 locations and planned continued expansion.

Biggest companies in the Cremation Services in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue
2025
Profit
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Cremation Services in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Cremation Services in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Human cremation services at funeral homes, Resale of merchandise and Pet cremation services. Human cremation services at funeral homes is the largest segment of the Cremation Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Full-service funeral homes lead in cremation service provision

  • Cremation services involve the incineration of human remains and often include preparatory services such as embalming and open-casket memorials, as well as products like urns. Most human cremations occur in facilities affiliated with a funeral home.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry offers cremation services for humans and pets at funeral homes and standalone crematoria. It also retails various funeral-related products, such as caskets, urns, memorabilia and virtual and digital services.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Cremation Services industry in the United States include Human cremations at funeral homes, Resale of merchandise, Pet cremation services and Human cremations at stand-alone facilities.

Companies

Companies covered in the Cremation Services industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Cremation Services industry in the United States include columbarium, cremation urns, traditional funeral service, direct cremation and retort.

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 812210 - Cremation Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Cremation service revenue is influenced by age and cultural norms. The demand for cremation services has increased due to cost advantages, an aging population and shifting cu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Proposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum could raise costs for metal components in urns and rental caskets, pressuring providers to pass expenses to clients. Cremation...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Demographic and cultural factors can outweigh population density in determining crematorium locations. Areas with a high proportion of elderly populations or cultures that op...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Rising technology costs could spur industry consolidation. Larger funeral homes may expand their cremation services to offset lost revenue from the shift to low-cost options,...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Cremation Services in the US industry.

Analyst insights

The increasing trend for cremation sets the stage for dominance. With Service Corporation International the only company expected to control a significant share of industry r...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Revenue in cremation services is dictated by the number of deaths and changing preferences. Catastrophic events like the pandemic sharply increase the death rate, influencing...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Price is a key factor influencing demand. Consumers are turning to cremation more often because traditional funeral services, especially caskets, come with high costs.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
  • Income Statement (2018-2023)
  • Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Cremation Services industry in the United States in 2025?

The market size of the Cremation Services industry in the United States is $2.4bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Cremation Services industry in the United States in 2025?

There are 10,851 businesses in the Cremation Services industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Cremation Services industry in the United States?

The Cremation Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Cremation Services industry in the United States?

The Cremation Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Cremation Services industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Cremation Services industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Cremation Services industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Cremation Services industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Cremation Services industry in the United States include?

Human cremations at funeral homes and Resale of merchandise are part of the Cremation Services industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Cremation Services industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Cremation Services industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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