How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
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How Much Does a Funeral Cost?
The cost of a funeral can cause additional stress at what is already a difficult time. If you’re worried about cost, we’re here to guide you through the different options and suggest any financial support you might be eligible for.
Key Considerations
- Dealing with grief and managing the costs and arrangements of a funeral is never easy. Enlisting the help of a family member or close friend can take a lot of the pressure off when planning the funeral and budgeting.
- As a first step, it’s important to know your budget first before deciding on the details of a funeral. Make sure that the funeral you choose is one you can afford, as arranging a funeral can be a stressful time, and adding financial issues to this can cause more distress.
- Many of the things that make funerals a unique and fitting tribute do not cost money. See our guide on personalising a funeral.
Average Funeral Costs
The average total cost of a funerals in 2025 is £4,943*, including funeral director fees and third-party costs (also known as disbursements). Funeral costs do vary depending on the type and location of a funeral.
Visit our services page to find our range of funeral service packages, suited to different budgets.
Funeral Costs Breakdown
There are numerous costs associated with a funeral, many of which are optional or can be tailored to suit your budget. Our Funeral Director fees include essential products and services, but do not include third-party charges. You can also choose to add additional products and services to your existing funeral choice. You can see all our additional products and services here.
Essential Products & Services
- Arrangements, administration and paperwork
- Collecting and caring for the deceased
- Conducting the funeral service
- Liaising with third parties (for example the crematorium, church, minister, officiant)
Third Party Payments (Disbursements)
- Burial fees
- Cremation fees
- Medical referee’s certificate for cremations
- Minister or officiant fees to conduct the funeral service
Additional Products & Services
- Funeral vehicles and transportation
- Coffins and caskets
- Stationery
- Floral displays
- Memorials
- Keepsakes and urns
- Orders of service
- Visiting your loved one
- Grave markers
Our Services & Costs
For a full list of all our services and their costs, click the button below.
Children's Funeral Services Costs
We don't charge for funeral services for children aged 16 or under. However if you require additional services such as flowers this would be a additional cost.
Help with Funeral Costs
If there are insufficient funds to pay for the funeral, several options are available for financial support, including funeral payments from the Social Fund, Bereavement Support Payment, Bereavement Allowance, and Widowed Parent's Allowance. If you're unsure about your options, you can visit this government webpage for more information.
Low Cost Funerals
Unattended funerals are the most cost effective funeral type as there is no ceremony or service, providing a simple and affordable. Unattended funerals are a popular choice if a wake or celebration of life at home is preferred over a more formal or religious service.
Direct Cremation
Direct Cremation Plus
How to Pay For a Funeral
- Check whether your loved one had a pre-paid funeral plan, funeral insurance, or whether they had put aside any specific funds for their funeral. If not, you may be able to check what finances they have, and use some of that money to cover the funeral costs.
- Unless your loved one's money is in a joint account – where the surviving joint owner becomes the sole owner – any funds held in their name will be frozen after their passing.
- You can get in touch with their bank or building society to learn whether they are willing to release funds to the executor or administrator of the will to help pay for the funeral. Many high street banks and most building societies will often agree to this and will arrange to pay for the funeral services directly.
Help with Funeral Costs
We understand how difficult it can be if you find there are insufficient funds to pay for the funeral. However, there are several different options for financial support, including:
- Funeral payment from the Social Fund
- Bereavement payment
- Bereavement allowance
- Widowed parent's allowance
You can find out more about the various types of financial support available and the eligibility criteria here.
What is a Public Health Funeral?
If no one can afford to cover the costs of the funeral, the local council or hospital can arrange a public health funeral. This is typically a cremation where anyone can attend the funeral service, although the local authority will determine the time and date. Extras such as flowers, cars, or notices in the local newspaper are not provided; however, a short service is available.
If you’re receiving certain benefits, you can also apply for a Funeral Payment from the government to help you pay for the funeral.
Every local authority in the UK has a statutory duty to make arrangements for a public health funeral when:
- A person has died in circumstances where the family is unable to be traced, or
- No funeral arrangements have been made for that person
What is a Funeral Expenses Payment?
Funeral Expenses Payment (also called a Funeral Payment) is a government scheme set up for people on a low income who are receiving certain benefits, to help them pay for a funeral. You have three months from the date of the funeral to make a claim. It's important to remember that the Funeral Expenses Payment is a short term loan and you will be expected pay the government back from any money you receive from the person’s estate, such as their savings.
If you’re currently receiving one of the following benefits, you may be eligible for a Funeral Payment:
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- The disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
A Funeral Expenses Payment won’t cover the whole funeral bill, but it can help to pay for:
- The cost of moving your loved one within mainland UK if they are being moved more than 50 miles
- Travel to arrange or attend the funeral
- Death certificates or other documents
- Cremation fees
You could also get up to £700 for any other funeral expenses, such as funeral director’s fees, flowers or the coffin.
*Source: SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025 & Over50Choices Funeral Costs Guide 2025
