How much does a funeral cost?

Funeral costs have risen significantly over the past 20 years, but what is the cost today?

We’ve examined the SunLife cost of dying report to breakdown how much a funeral costs. We'll also give you tips on how to reduce the price of a funeral bill and how you can protect your loved ones.

How much does a funeral cost in the UK?

The cost of a just a basic funeral in the UK is now £4,285^[1]. This is a 3.5% increase from 2023, meaning funeral costs are now at a record high.

The overall cost of dying has also increased, now costing £9,797. The overall cost of dying includes funeral costs, professional fees (such as an administrator for the estate) and send-off costs (optional extras).

While these averages help to give an idea of how much a funeral could cost, it’s important to know that the cost of a funeral can vary depending on a variety of factors. For example, the type of funeral, whether a funeral service is held, plus personal touches (such as flowers).

Did you know the cost of a funeral can vary significantly depending on where you live in the UK? Some regions have higher funeral fees than others. For example, in London the average funeral price is £5,449 while in Wales it’s £4,094.

What funeral costs are there?

The cost of a funeral is made up of:

Funeral director fees

Funeral director fees are the cost of using a funeral director.

Essentially a funeral director ensures that the planning and arranging of a funeral runs smoothly. They can provide support and offer advice on the funeral service and any extras.

Services carried out by a funeral director can include:

• Collection of the body
• Care of the body at the funeral home
• Preparing the body for the funeral
• Allowing for family to view the body in the chapel of rest
• Providing a coffin and pall bearers
• Providing a hearse
• Completing paperwork

Funeral director fees are typically the most expensive part of planning a funeral.

Third party fees

Third party fees refer to costs from third-party services. For example:

• Minister/celebrant fees (the person who will lead the ceremony)
• Doctors’ fees (for cremation certificates)
• Cremation fees (the cost of using the crematorium)
• Burial fees (the cost of purchasing or leasing a burial plot)
• Church fees (for holding the ceremony, if opting for a religious service)

Optional extras

Optional extras are things that people choose to add a personal touch to the funeral, such as:

• Flowers
• Music
• Venue hire
• Order of service sheets
• Funeral notice / death notice
• Catering for the wake
• Additional limo hire
• Viewing of the body

The average cost of optional extras is estimated to be £2,861. People spend the most on a memorial (£1,038), catering (£527), limo hire (£431) and venue hire (£351).

How much does it cost for a cremation funeral?

The current cost of a cremation funeral in the UK is £3,980, having risen 4.9% from £3,795 in 2023.

The cost of a cremation funeral could be reduced by opting for a direct cremation. This is where a cremation happens but without a funeral service.

This type of funeral grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as a funeral service wasn’t always possible. But they have been increasing in popularity as a means to save money on funeral costs.

Many choose to hold their own personal gathering instead of a funeral service to celebrate the life of the person who’s died.

This way, you can ensure it fits within your budget (for example, holding it at home and having family members/friends giving readings).

The average cost of a direct cremation is £1,597, around a £2,000 saving compared to a standard cremation with a funeral service.

How much does it cost for a burial funeral?

A burial funeral is the most expensive type of funeral, costing £5,894 (on average).

This includes burial costs, such as the purchase or lease of a burial plot and the opening of the plot.

A direct burial funeral isn’t as widely known as a direct cremation but it’s an option that could help you to save money on a burial funeral. With this option, a burial is held with no service or ceremony.

While a service isn’t included in the funeral, you could choose to arrange a low-cost celebration of life gathering with friends and family.

On average a direct burial costs £1,527 (not including third-party fees), making it significantly cheaper than a standard burial funeral.

How to reduce the cost of a funeral

Funerals can be expensive and it can be hard to find the money to cover the cost, especially unexpectedly.

Here are some ways to save money on a funeral:

• Consider a direct burial or cremation with a low-cost a wake instead of a funeral service.
• Carefully choose what extras you’d like, could you cut back on flowers and limousines to save money?
• Rather than spending money on a venue hire (such as a pub or restaurant) for the wake, you could have the wake at home.
• Instead of hiring caterers, you could make food yourself or ask family and friends to bring a dish to the wake.
• Consider using text, email or social media to invite guests, rather than paying to print and post physical invites.
• Shop around when looking for a funeral director, get quotes from various places to find an affordable option.
• Ask your funeral director for help, they can advise on areas where you could cut costs or provide lower cost alternatives.

Can I get help paying for a funeral?

It’s possible to get help from the government to help with funeral costs, but you’ll need to meet a specific criteria:

• Funeral expenses payment – The funeral expenses payment is a payment from the government that helps to cover burial or cremation fees, travel to get to the funeral, the cost of moving the body, death certificates and other documents. It could also provide up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees. It's available if the person who’s arranging the funeral receives certain government benefits (such as universal credit, income support, housing benefit or child tax credit)
• Public health funeral - These are funerals provided by local authorities for people who have died with no next of kin or if relatives or friends are unable or unwilling to make funeral arrangements. It will be a basic funeral with no personal touches. Family/friends will need to provide a written statement to say they can’t be responsible for planning and covering the funeral.

The Bereavement Advice Centre have more information, plus help and support, for those who are arranging a funeral but are worried about costs. 

Could life insurance pay for my funeral?

Yes, life insurance could help your loved ones pay for your funeral. In fact, covering funeral costs is one of the main reasons people buy life insurance.

Life insurance could provide your loved ones with a lump sum payment after your death, helping to ease financial strain.

With funeral costs predicted to rise to £5,185 by 2029, it's essential to have the right protection in place to protect your family from this significant cost.

Popular life insurance options to cover funeral costs are:

• Level term life insurance - if you die during the term of your policy, loved ones can use the pay out to cover funeral costs.
• Whole of life insurance - cover lasts for life and a pay out is guaranteed, so it could help to cover funeral costs regardless of when you die.
• Over 50s life insurance - cover lasts for life and a pay out is guaranteed after a 12 or 24 month waiting period has passed. It's a very popular option for those over 50 to protect their loved ones from funeral costs.
• Funeral plan - an alternative form of life insurance that allows you to plan and pay for your funeral in advance so it's taken care of when the time comes.

Not all of the options mentioned above are available through Confused.com, but we can compare quotes from leading UK insurers to find you a suitable option.

^{[1] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/sunlife-cost-of-dying-report-2025.pdf}

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