The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,271 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2018). That’s just for the basics – the fees for the cremation or burial, funeral director, doctor and minister or celebrant. With additional extras and a send-off it can easily be over £6,000.
A burial is more expensive than a cremation. Funerals with a burial cost on average £4,798 in 2018 – compared to £3,744 for one with a cremation. These are the typical costs you will face if you go down the traditional route of visiting a high street funeral director to organise a funeral service.
The breakdown of funeral costs
If you choose to appoint a funeral director, there are three types of costs involved:
- Funeral directors fees: a professional fee for organising the funeral, transportation and taking care of the deceased
- Disbursements: these are unavoidable third party fees paid by the funeral director and added to their final bill. These include doctors’ fees for completing medical certificates, fees for a celebrant or minister and crematorium fees.
- Discretionary costs: these are additional (optional) extras such as a more expensive coffin, pallbearers, extra limousines, flowers, printing an order of service, etc.
Here is an example of the likely costs you need to take into account when planning a funeral with a cremation:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funeral director fee: this typically includes taking care of the paperwork, a coffin, a hearse, collection, care of the deceased and professional guidance | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Doctors fees: in order for a cremation to take place, you will need to get the relevant certification forms signed by two different doctors at a cost of £82 each (except for Scotland). | £164 |
| Clergy or officiate fees: Minister Or Non Religious Celebrant | £160 – £300 |
| Crematorium fee: the fees vary depending on which crematorium you choose and the time of the cremation, with weekday morning bookings being significantly cheaper. | £300 – £900 |
| TOTAL | £2,124 – £3,864 |
The average cost of a cremation is £3,744 in 2018 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2018).
Here is an example of the likely costs you need to take into account when planning a funeral with a burial:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funeral director fee: this typically includes taking care of the paperwork, a coffin, a hearse, collection, care of the deceased and professional guidance | £1,500 – £2,500 |
| Clergy or officiate fees: Minister Or Non Religious Celebrant | £160 – £300 |
| Cemetery fee: the lease of a burial plot, and the digging and filling of the grave. | £2,000 – £3,000 |
| TOTAL | £3,660 – £5,800 |
The average cost of a burial is £4,798 in 2018 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2018).
Typical additional extras are:
- A headstone, memorial or placque
- Death notice or Obituary
- Extra limousines for mourners
- Catering and venue hire
- Order of service sheets
- An Urn for the ashes
Along with the cost of a send-off and professional fees for administering the estate of the person who died, it’s easy to see how the average overall cost of dying in the UK is now a staggering £9,204 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2018).
For those looking to save money on the cost of funeral, there is the option of having a Direct Funeral or Simple Cremation. A smaller, intimate family-led simple funeral followed by a separate Celebration of Life service can often result in a cheaper, yet no less respectful and memorable way to mark the death of your loved one.
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