How much does a funeral cost in Florida?

A traditional funeral in Florida with casket, service, and burial typically runs $9,000–$14,000 depending on the county and cemetery. Direct cremation runs $800–$2,500. A casket-and-flowers package like our Essential Tribute ($2,699) or Signature Tribute ($2,999) lets you keep the ceremony and funeral-home services separate and cut the funeral home's casket markup — often a $2,000–$4,000 savings per service.

Can I bring my own casket to a Florida funeral home?

Yes. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, every funeral home in the United States, including every Florida funeral home, must accept a casket purchased from any source and cannot charge a handling fee for doing so. Simply tell the funeral director your casket is coming directly from Everlasting Funeral Advisors — we deliver to the funeral home of your choice.

How fast can a casket be delivered in Florida?

Our Florida caskets ship with local delivery to the Tampa Bay, Southwest Florida, Central Florida, and surrounding retirement-community regions — typically within 48–72 hours of order confirmation. Rush delivery is available if the service is scheduled sooner.

How to Plan a Funeral in Florida: A Step-by-Step Guide

A practical, step-by-step guide for Florida families — permits, timing, costs, and what to actually do first, with notes on The Villages, Naples, Tampa Bay, and other common retirement communities.

The first 24 hours

If the death occurred at home, call hospice or 911 so the death can be pronounced by medical personnel. If it occurred at a hospital or assisted-living facility, staff will begin the process for you. You do not have to use the first funeral home that is offered — Florida families legally have free choice. The attending physician completes the medical certification, and the funeral director you select files the death certificate with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics (part of the Florida Department of Health).

Choosing between burial and cremation

A traditional burial in Florida typically runs $7,000–$12,000 at a conventional funeral home when you include the casket, service, and cemetery plot. Direct cremation runs $800–$2,500 depending on county. Florida is one of the top states for cremation nationally — the rate is now above 75%. If your family prefers a casketed service without paying the funeral home's casket markup, a direct-to-family package like our Essential ($2,699) or Signature ($2,999) Tribute delivers the casket and five fresh floral arrangements straight to the Florida funeral home or chapel of your choice.

Permits and paperwork in Florida

A burial-transit permit (for burial) or a cremation authorization (for cremation) must be issued before final disposition. Both are routinely handled by your funeral director. Certified death certificates in Florida cost $5 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, obtained through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or your local county health department. Order 8–10 copies up front — banks, Social Security, retirement plans, the DMV, and life insurers each require their own original. Florida does not require embalming for same-day services; it is only required if burial or cremation will not occur within 24 hours and the body isn't refrigerated.

Timing + regional service

Most Florida funerals happen within 5–10 days of death. In retiree-heavy communities like The Villages, Sun City Center, Spring Hill, Palm Harbor, and Naples, families often schedule faster to accommodate out-of-state relatives. We ship caskets and flowers same-week with local delivery across the Tampa Bay region (Tampa, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Sun City Center, New Port Richey, Spring Hill, Palm Harbor), Southwest Florida (Naples, Venice, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Punta Gorda), and Central Florida (The Villages and surrounding communities).