Arrangements completed online or by phone in minutes. Available 24/7 in Pittsburgh.
Cost should never be a mystery when planning end-of-life care. In Pittsburgh, the average traditional funeral can exceed $8,000, and even local average cremations hover around $1,950. We believe in total transparency. That's why our package is a simple, flat rate, covering all essentials from transport to the return of remains.
Planning a cremation in Pittsburgh means honoring a life tied to these hills and rivers—whether they watched the skyline from Mount Washington, walked the streets of Lawrenceville, or loved the energy of the South Side. As your funeral director, I’m here to guide you through this simply and with heart, serving families from Shadyside to Downtown and every neighborhood in between. You don’t have to carry this alone; we’ll handle the details with quiet respect, so you can focus on remembering.
Total transparency. No surprises on the final invoice.
Traditional funeral homes carry massive overhead for their real estate and fleets in Pittsburgh. To cover this, they charge a non-declinable "Basic Services Fee" often exceeding $2,500 before any actual services are rendered.
The Federal Trade Commission's Funeral Rule was created to protect grieving families from predatory pricing, yet many providers in Pennsylvania still hide their true costs. At Lantern, we believe transparency is the highest form of respect.
When we say our direct cremation package is $$1,295, that is the final price for our professional services. It includes the alternative container required by the crematory, the actual cremation process, sheltering, and a TSA-approved temporary urn. We will never hit you with hidden "processing fees," "administrative fees," or surprise transport upcharges within our primary service area.
The only outside costs you will ever see are state-mandated third-party cash advances—such as the exact fee the county charges for Death Certificates, or mandatory Medical Examiner permit fees. If your loved one had a pacemaker, it must be safely removed prior to cremation, which incurs a small fee. We outline every single one of these potential third-party costs instantly over the phone during your first call.
Want a gathering with family? See our memorial options.
Looking for the simplest option? See our direct cremation services.
Researching traditional funeral homes? Compare your options.
Prefer traditional burial? Learn why families are choosing cremation.
The average cost of a traditional funeral in Pittsburgh is around $1,950, but a direct cremation with Lantern Cremation is a flat-rate of $1,295.
No. Our $1,295 price is completely transparent and includes transportation, the cremation process, and the return of ashes in Pittsburgh.
You can arrange everything over the phone or online in minutes. We handle the transportation from any hospital or hospice in Pittsburgh.
Explore cremation costs options across the country.
Pennsylvania law requires a waiting period before cremation can take place. Additionally, a Medical Examiner permit is required. We handle securing all necessary state permits and observing waiting periods on your behalf, so you don't have to navigate the bureaucracy.
Yes. Our local transport partners cover all major areas surrounding Pittsburgh, including Downtown Pittsburgh, Mount Washington, South Side, Lawrenceville, Shadyside. If you are outside our primary service radius, a minor mileage fee may apply, which we disclose immediately upon your first call.
No. Our $$1,295 fee covers all our professional services, transport, sheltering, cremation, and the temporary urn. The only outside costs you may incur are county fees for certified death certificates, which we obtain for you at cost.