How to Be Buried as a Tree

Co-authored by David I. Jacobson and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 25, 2022

If you’re an environmentally conscious person, you may have heard of tree pod burials, or natural burials. This eco-friendly alternative to a traditional burial not only saves you money, but it’s great for the environment as well. If you’d like to learn more about being buried as a tree, read through this article for everything you’ll need to know, including locations, cost, and legality.

Things You Should Know

With tree burials, a tree is planted alongside a buried pod full of your remains. Over time, the pod breaks down and provides nutrients for the tree to grow.
A tree pod usually costs between $400 and $500, not including any funeral services.
Tree burials are legal in the USA, and most states even allow you to have your burial take place on private property.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a tree pod burial?

A tree pod burial buries human remains in pods for a tree to grow out of. Rather than a casket, the human body goes into a biodegradable pod that will break down over time. The pod is buried in the ground, and a tree is planted on top of it. As the tree grows, the person’s remains will provide nutrients for the tree.^{[1]
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- In a tree pod burial, the human remains can be whole, or they can be cremated.

Section 2 of 5:

How much does a tree pod burial cost?

Tree burial pods range from $400 to $500. Depending on the company you go through and what you end up purchasing, you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars on the burial pod alone. Keep in mind that this cost doesn’t include any additional funeral services or the burial process itself.^{[2]
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- In general, a full funeral with a tree burial pod costs around $1,000 to $2,000.
- Biodegradable urns are usually cheaper; those typically range from $65 to $300.

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Where can I be buried as a tree?

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You can be buried as a tree on private property in most states. Home burials are legal in the majority of the United States, with the exception of Washington, California, and Indiana. In some states, you must work with a funeral director to have a home burial, but in others, you can simply request a home burial.^{[3]
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You can be buried as a tree in some cemeteries. While traditionally cemeteries only focused on funeral services with caskets and a headstone, more and more are opting for natural or biodegradable options. If you have a cemetery nearby, reach out to the director and ask if they do any natural burial services.^{[4]
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Companies that Provide Tree Pod Burials

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The Living Urn The Living Urn sells biodegradable urns that you can purchase with or without a tree. Shaped like a large pot, the urns get buried directly into the ground, and you can either plant your own local tree or continue growing the one that came with your urn.
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Capsula Mundi Capsula Mundi is one of the most popular tree pod burial companies. Currently, they offer biodegradable urns that you can bury cremated remains in and then plant a tree on top of. They hope to get their egg-shaped biodegradable pods that hold whole human remains on the market soon.

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Are tree pod burials legal?

Yes, tree pod burials are legal in the United States. However, it’s worth looking into your local zoning laws to figure out the specifics of a home burial. Laws tend to vary from state to state, and a funeral director can give you the specifics on your local laws.^{[5]
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