Cremation Cost in Overland Park, KS: 2026 Prices

Cremation cost in Overland Park, KS ranges more widely than most families expect — from around $850 for a no-frills direct cremation to well over $8,000 for a full-service arrangement with a memorial. If you're trying to figure out what's a fair price — whether you're making arrangements right now or planning ahead — this guide walks through exactly what Johnson County families pay, what drives the differences, and which line items are worth questioning.

What Cremation Actually Costs in Overland Park

Price in Johnson County is shaped by three things: the type of service you choose, whether the funeral home operates its own crematory or contracts out to a third party, and which add-ons you select. Before any of those decisions, Johnson County itself charges a $50 cremation permit fee — a line item almost no national pricing guide mentions, but one that every family in the area will see on their itemized statement.

Here's how the main service types compare based on current provider pricing in the Overland Park area:

Breaking Down the Cost Line by Line

Cremation pricing in Kansas is governed by the FTC Funeral Rule, which requires every funeral home to give you an itemized General Price List (GPL) — by phone if you ask, at no cost and with no obligation. That list is your best tool for comparison shopping. Here's what each line item typically covers:

Basic Services Fee

This is the funeral home's non-declinable overhead charge — staff time, facility use, coordination, and administrative work. In the Overland Park market, this typically runs $1,200 – $2,200 and is already included in the bundled package prices above.

Transportation of Remains

Picking up the deceased from the place of death — a hospital, home, or care facility — and transporting them to the funeral home. Local transportation within Johnson County generally runs $150 – $350. Transfers from outside the county cost more.

Crematory Fee

The actual fee for the cremation itself. If the funeral home operates its own crematory on-site, this is often bundled. If they outsource it, you may see it as a separate line. Expect $300 – $600 as a standalone charge.

Johnson County Cremation Permit

As noted above, Johnson County charges $50 for the cremation permit. This is separate from the state death certificate fee. Your funeral home will file for this permit on your behalf, but it will appear on your invoice.

Death Certificates

Kansas families typically need 6–10 certified copies for banks, insurance companies, government agencies, and estate administration. Each copy costs $20 through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Most funeral homes charge a small handling fee on top of the state fee — ask about this upfront.

Urn or Container

A basic cardboard alternative container (required by law for direct cremation) is included in most direct cremation packages. Urns range from $75 for a simple wood or metal urn to $1,500+ for premium or custom options. You are never required to buy an urn from the funeral home — you can supply your own or purchase one elsewhere.

What Drives Price Differences Between Overland Park Providers

Not all funeral homes price the same service the same way. Here's what actually explains the variance:

Own crematory vs. contracted crematory. Providers who own their cremation equipment typically charge less per cremation and have more schedule flexibility. Providers who outsource cremation to a third-party crematory add a markup.

Chain vs. independent. Large national chains (Dignity Memorial operates McGilley & Hoge Johnson County in downtown Overland Park) tend to have higher overhead costs built into their pricing. Locally-owned, independent providers often have more flexibility, especially for direct cremation.

Facility quality and location. A funeral home in a newer, larger facility on a major corridor (Metcalf, 135th Street) carries higher overhead than a smaller neighborhood provider. Both can provide excellent service — the difference is in the price, not necessarily the care.

Bundling. Some providers price cremation as a package; others itemize every component. An itemized provider may look more expensive at first glance but often comes in lower once you strip out services you don't need.

What Johnson County Families Are Actually Choosing

Direct cremation has grown significantly across the Kansas City metro, and Johnson County is no exception. Nationally, cremation now accounts for roughly 60% of all dispositions, and that number is trending higher. In Johnson County, direct cremation is increasingly common among families who:

• Want to keep costs manageable without compromising dignity
• Plan to hold a separate, personal memorial at a location meaningful to the family — a home, park, or place of worship — rather than a funeral home chapel
• Have a loved one who pre-planned and specified direct cremation

Choosing direct cremation doesn't mean forgoing a meaningful goodbye. Many Overland Park families hold a separate celebration of life at the Overland Park Arboretum, Shawnee Mission Park, or a family home after receiving the remains — with no time pressure and no funeral home involvement required for that part.

For a full KC metro cremation cost breakdown including Missouri-side pricing comparisons, see the complete guide at kcfuneralhomes.com.

How to Compare Providers Without Overpaying

A few practical steps that will save most families $500 – $1,500:

1. Request the GPL from at least three providers. By law, every funeral home must give it to you over the phone. Call three, ask for their direct cremation price and their basic services fee. You'll have real numbers to compare in under 20 minutes.

2. Separate what you need from what's offered. Funeral homes are businesses. The service packages they present first are rarely the least expensive option available. Ask specifically: "What is your least expensive direct cremation, and what does it include?"

3. Don't pay retail for urns. Funeral homes mark up urns significantly. You can purchase virtually identical urns from Amazon, Costco, or specialty retailers at a fraction of the funeral home price. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, a funeral home cannot refuse to use an urn you supply.

4. Know the Johnson County permit fee. The $50 cremation permit is a pass-through cost from the county — not a funeral home service fee. If a provider shows it at a higher amount, ask for clarification.

5. Use a comparison tool. You can compare cremation providers in Overland Park through our directory, which shows pricing tiers, services offered, and current ratings for providers in Johnson County.

Cremation cost in Overland Park varies enough that it pays to spend 30 minutes comparing providers before making a decision. The price difference between the least and most expensive direct cremation in Johnson County can exceed $600 for what is functionally the same service. Requesting itemized pricing, asking about the cremation permit, and knowing your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule are the three things that most reliably protect families from overpaying.

When you're ready to take the next step, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from trusted Johnson County providers, or use the free Kansas City cremation cost calculator to build a personalized estimate based on your specific needs. If you'd prefer to talk it through, call (913) 210-0597 — available 24 hours a day.