How to price death doula services
Common pricing models, how to work out your own rate, and how to explain it to families.
There is no standard rate for death doula work. Fees vary widely by region, training, experience, and the kind of support offered. This guide doesn't tell you what to charge. It helps you choose a pricing model and work out a rate from your own numbers.
Before you set prices, ask local doulas and your training community what is typical where you live. Local norms matter more than national averages.
Common pricing models
Packages
A set fee for a defined bundle of support.
- Examples: advance-planning package, vigil package, full-journey package
- Clear for families and predictable for you
- Define how many visits or hours are included and what happens beyond them
Hourly
Families pay for time used.
- Simple and fair for occasional or short-notice support
- Harder for families to budget, especially during a long vigil
- Decide whether travel time is billable
Retainer or on-call fee
A fee to reserve your availability, often for vigil coverage.
- Compensates you for keeping your schedule open
- State clearly whether it is refundable and what it covers
Sliding scale and pro bono
Lower fees for families who need them.
- Publish set tiers rather than negotiating each time
- Decide in advance how many reduced-fee clients you can take at once
- Pro bono work is generous, but plan for it so it stays sustainable
Working out your own rate
Step 1: Add up yearly costs
- Training and continuing education
- Insurance, licenses, and memberships
- Software, phone, and supplies
- Mileage and travel
- Taxes and self-employment costs
Step 2: Set an income goal
- What you need to earn from this work each year, after costs
Step 3: Estimate billable hours
- Count only hours you can bill, not admin, marketing, or travel
- Be realistic: client numbers rise and fall
Step 4: Calculate
- (Yearly costs + income goal) รท billable hours = a minimum hourly rate
- Use that number to check that your packages and sliding-scale tiers still cover your costs
Talking about fees with families
- Bring it up early. Mention fees in the first conversation so no one is surprised later.
- Put it in writing. List fees in your service agreement and on every invoice.
- Offer a clear sliding scale. Publish the tiers rather than negotiating case by case.
- Say what is not included. Mileage, overnight vigils, and extra hours are common sources of confusion.
Track fees, packages, and invoices in one place
Liminal Desk supports fee scales, packages, invoices with online payment, and mileage tracking, so you can see what your practice actually earns. The free plan supports one active client.