How much does a funeral cost?

The average cost of a funeral in the UK is £4,271*. On average, the cost for a burial is £4,798, whilst the average cost for a cremation is £3,744. The cost of a funeral will depend on the location, type of service, transport, type of coffin, funeral director fees, and any extras such as flowers and catering for the wake.

Whilst the final cost of a funeral will completely depend on the arrangements you choose to make, the overall quality of service which is provided can vary significantly. Dignity’s funeral services start from £1,695 in Scotland and £1,995 throughout the rest of the UK, and we promise to provide unequalled support, reassurance and attention to detail when arranging a funeral for your loved one.

Breakdown of funeral costs:

Funeral director fees

The majority of funerals in the UK are arranged by a funeral director. The funeral director fees cover most aspects of the funeral arrangements, though this can vary depending on which funeral director or package you choose. Typically, these fees will cover:

Overseeing your chosen arrangements before, during and after the funeral service
Being present on the day to supervise the occasion and direct all in attendance
Personal, face to face contact to discuss your individual requirements and take instructions either at the funeral premises or your home
Bringing your loved one into care at the soonest available time
Modern climate controlled mortuary facilities for the deceased to rest in
Caring for and preparing the deceased for the funeral service
Providing chapel of rest facilities so you can visit your loved one prior to the funeral
Co-ordination of all the required documentation and ‘external payments’ that are necessary for the funeral to legally proceed
A coffin or casket
Providing sufficient pallbearers to carry the coffin or casket
Provision of a hearse and necessary personnel (limousines may not be included in some services)
Co-ordination of additional extras such as funeral wreaths, music and funeral service stationery

Third party funeral costs

Third party costs, or external payments, are additional charges which we will manage for you and attach to your single invoice. These payments can vary widely depending on where you live and whether you choose a cremation or burial service for your loved one.

At Dignity, we will prepare, collect and distribute all the required documentation and coordinate external payments for you that are necessary for the funeral to legally proceed.

Some of the more common third party costs are listed below:

Burial costs

Minister or Officiant fee: The person conducting the funeral service
The exclusive right of burial (EROB): This is the physical space itself, often known as the burial plot
The interment: This fee is for the preparation of the burial plot or grave
Fee to add or remove headstone: If a burial plot has a headstone then it will have been removed to allow for the funeral to take place. It also covers the cost of placing the headstone back on the grave
Maintenance and monument fees: Councils often charge maintenance fees, covering tasks such as grass cutting and insurance for the burial plot
Church fees: The cost of holding the funeral service in a place of worship
Memorial masonry: The cost of creating, installing, repairing and engraving a memorial

Discover more about the cost of a burial funeral.

Cremation costs

Cremation fees at a local crematorium: The cost of cremating a loved one at a local crematorium
Minister or Officiant fee: For the person conducting the funeral service
Cremation documents fees: Forms for applying for a cremation
Interment of ashes: The cost of keeping the ashes in a permanent place, usually a burial plot
Scattering of ashes: Disposal by strewing of ashes in the Garden of Remembrance
Memorial masonry: The cost of creating, installing, repairing and engraving a memorial
Doctor’s fees: These charges are for the cremation certificates

Discover more about the cost of a cremation funeral.

Optional funeral costs

Whilst funeral costs have risen considerably over the years, ‘optional costs’, which cover special requests and added extras, have remained at around £2,000 since 2008.

As in previous years, the stand out optional cost in 2018 was that of a memorial which costs an average of £824. Below are the average optional costs for a funeral in the UK:

Memorial: £824
Catering: £362
Limo hire: £264
Flowers: £171
Venue hire: £210
Death notice: £73
Order sheets/service cards: £82

Help with funeral costs

Public Health Funeral
If you cannot afford a funeral, your local council or hospital can arrange a Public Health funeral if:

There isn’t enough money in the estate to pay for it
There are no relatives or friends available to arrange the funeral

Funeral Payment Scheme
If you’re getting certain benefits, you can also apply for Funeral Payment from the government to help you pay for the funeral. It doesn’t cover all of the funeral costs and you will typically have to pay the government back from any money you receive from the person’s estate, such as their savings.

You have three months from the date of the funeral to make a claim. Visit GOV.UK for more information and how to apply for this benefit. If you live in Northern Ireland, visit NIDirect.

*Source: Some of the data in this article is based on the annual SunLife Cost of Dying report 2018

Funeral Services