Guide
How much does an obituary cost?
A newspaper obituary in the US usually costs from around $100 to several hundred dollars, and can exceed $1,000 in a large city paper, a longer notice or a multi-day run. Most papers charge by the line or column inch, with extra fees for photos. Online obituaries are often cheaper, and many funeral homes post one at no extra charge.
By the Lovingly Written team · Updated
Why prices vary so much
There's no national price. Each newspaper sets its own rates, and they change over time. Legacy.com, which partners with many US newspapers, notes that most papers charge by the line or the inch rather than by the word, and that small-town papers tend to charge less than big-city ones. The main factors are:
- The newspaper: large metro dailies cost more than community weeklies.
- Length: every extra line adds to the bill.
- Photo: usually a separate fee, sometimes a large one.
- Number of days: each additional day costs more; Sunday editions are often priced higher.
- Online add-ons: many papers bundle an online guestbook, sometimes for an extra fee.
Typical price ranges
| Option | What families commonly report |
|---|---|
| Short notice in a small local paper | Under $100 to around $200 |
| Standard obituary (100–200 words) in a mid-sized paper | A few hundred dollars |
| Long obituary with photo in a major metro paper | $500 to well over $1,000 |
| Funeral home website obituary | Often included in the funeral package |
| Online-only obituary on a memorial site | Free to a fixed fee (Legacy.com lists a fixed online price of $159 with unlimited text and photos) |
These are broad ranges. The only reliable figure is a quote from the paper you choose, so ask for a price before you submit.
How newspapers measure length
Because papers charge by the line or inch, the same text can cost different amounts in different papers. Legacy.com suggests a typical print line holds about 25 to 40 characters. Short, choppy lines and long lists of names use more lines than flowing sentences.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Print a short notice, publish the full story online. A brief announcement in print (name, dates, service details) with a line pointing to the full obituary online is a common approach.
- Choose the local paper rather than a large regional one, if that's where people will look.
- Skip the photo in print and include it online instead.
- Run it for one day, ideally the day most people in your area read the paper.
- Ask the funeral home. Many post an obituary on their website as part of their service, and they often know local newspaper rates and deadlines.
- Put the full life story in the funeral program, where length costs nothing extra.
Before you submit
Ask the paper for: the rate per line or inch, any minimum charge, the photo fee, the price per extra day, whether an online version is included, and the deadline for the day you want.
Help with the words
A clear, well-structured obituary is easier to shorten for print. Tell us about them and we'll help you write an obituary with a short print version and a fuller online version. See how to write an obituary and obituary examples.
Sources: Legacy.com, "How much does an obituary cost?" (help center and FAQ); Funeral.com, "How much do digital and newspaper obituaries cost? 2025–2026". Prices change; always confirm with the publication.