How much does a newspaper obituary cost?
A newspaper obituary usually costs between about $80 and $500, and more than $1,000 for a long notice in a big-city paper. Price depends on length, photos and the number of days it runs.
Facts checked at the sources on October 23, 2026.
What newspapers charge: real examples
Every paper sets its own rates, and they change. These are examples we read on the papers' own pages, or on Legacy.com, which places obituaries for many US newspapers. Treat them as a rough guide and ask the paper for a quote.
| Newspaper or market | Price | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Times | From $80 | 5 column lines, one print day, e-edition and online; $12 per extra line; photo $50 per day | Tampa Bay Times [2] |
| Anchorage Daily News | $250 | Up to 80 lines in print plus online; $12 per extra line; black-and-white photo $20 | Anchorage Daily News [3] |
| Los Angeles Times | From $205 | A five-line, one-column notice; typical obituaries $1,000 to $1,500 | ThePricer [4] |
| Everett, Wash. / Dover, Del. | $85 / $100 | Example 150-word obituary | Legacy.com [1] |
| Atlanta / Chicago | $375 / $485 | Example 150-word obituary | Legacy.com [1] |
| New York City | $780 | Example 150-word obituary ($1,930 for 430 words) | Legacy.com [1] |
Legacy.com puts the typical newspaper obituary at about $500, with a basic announcement anywhere from under $100 to $800 or more, and photo fees of roughly $15 to $45 in smaller markets and $100 to $250 in large cities.
What makes it cost more
- Length. Most papers charge per line or per column inch, so a 400-word obituary can cost several times a 100-word one.
- Photos. Usually a flat fee per photo, per day, and the photo takes up lines too.
- Days. Each extra day in print is charged again. Sunday often costs more.
- Emblems. A flag, cross or military insignia is billed for the space it uses.
- Online guestbook. Some papers add an online guestbook fee; the Tampa Bay Times adds $30 to paid obituaries of six lines or more.
Why papers ask for proof
Most papers verify a death before printing. The Anchorage Daily News, for example, asks for a funeral home, crematorium or coroner's contact, or a copy of the death certificate. Your funeral home can usually send the notice for you and confirm the death at the same time.
Source: [3]
How to keep the cost down
- Print a short notice: name, age, town, date, service, and one line about who they were. See short obituary examples.
- Put the full story online for free and end the print notice with its web address.
- Run it one day, not two. Pick the day closest to the service.
- Skip the photo in print and put photos online instead.
- Ask for a proof with the price before you approve it.
Helen Marie Doyle, 88, of Worcester, died October 7, 2026. A nurse for 40 years at St. Vincent Hospital. Survived by four children and 10 grandchildren. Funeral Mass Monday at 10 a.m., Our Lady of the Angels. Full obituary and photos at obituaryus.org.
The free alternative
An obituary online can be as long as you like, with photos, and costs nothing on ObituaryUS. There are no ads or flower sales on the page, and it stays up. Many families now combine the two: a short paid notice for readers of the local paper, and the full obituary online. Start with the short notice template and add the long version later.
Write it with us, free
Answer a few questions and ObituaryUS sets your words in a clean, printed-page layout you can share, print and keep. No fees, no ads on the page.
Questions families ask
Who pays for an obituary in the newspaper?
The family. Funeral homes often place the notice and add the cost to the funeral bill, so ask for it as a separate line.
Why are obituaries so expensive?
Newspapers sell obituaries as paid space, priced by length like an ad. Long notices in big papers add up quickly.
Are online obituaries free?
Many are. Funeral home websites usually post one free with their services, and ObituaryUS is free for anyone. Some newspapers include an online version with a paid print notice.
Is a death notice cheaper than an obituary?
Usually yes, because it is shorter. A death notice is a few lines of facts; a full obituary tells the life story.
Sources
- Understanding Obituary Costs (Legacy.com)
- Submit an obituary: rates and deadlines (Tampa Bay Times)
- Obituaries: placement packages and verification (Anchorage Daily News)
- How Much Does a Newspaper Obituary Cost? (ThePricer)