How much does a funeral cost?

The average cost of the attended funeral tracked by the insurer SunLife is £4,285 (SunLife, 2025).* An attended funeral is one where mourners are present.

Less expensive attended options are available and direct, or unattended, cremations are now readily offered (average price £1,597 according to SunLife).

*This includes a burial/cremation, funeral director fees, a mid-range coffin, one limousine to and from cemetery/crematorium, and doctors’ and officiant fees. (As of September 2024, doctors’ fees of £164 only exist in Northern Ireland).

We recommend that you contact more than one funeral director to obtain a quote for their services and information about their payment terms.

It can be difficult to compare package prices on a like-for-like basis between companies, however funeral directors are required to display a ‘Standardised price list’ for a set of services, and this can be a good place to start with comparisons.

Different people and organisations will have different interpretations of ‘reasonable’. Often, these are costs such as funeral director fees, coffin, burial or cremation fees, and a faith leader or celebrant. They don’t normally include additional options such as floral tributes, order of service booklets or specialist vehicles.

Funeral packages are normally put together by funeral directors to reflect the most requested service combinations. Package prices normally include guidance and support from a staff member, assisting with required paperwork for a funeral, care & preparation of the body of the person who has died, and transport of them to the cemetery or crematorium in a hearse or other appropriate vehicle.

Some packages may also include third-party fees such as the cemetery or crematorium fees or someone to lead a funeral ceremony.

When comparing packages between companies, it can help to be clear what services you want and can budget for. Do talk with funeral directors if you are not sure. Packages often differ in content and cost, so be sure to choose what you can afford, and talk with the funeral directors if you’re not sure.

The fee for a faith leader is normally set by the place of worship but may also include travel expenses. Civil and Humanist celebrants often set their own fees. Generally, the fees for a faith leader or celebrant range from £200.00 to £250.00.

It is advisable to ask a funeral director their payment terms which are part of their terms of business. These will sometimes be available on a funeral director’s website. Payment terms vary between different funeral directors. Some funeral directors will ask for a deposit to cover third party fees, and some will ask for full payment prior to the funeral taking place.

Unfortunately, there isn’t financial help from the government towards wakes and funeral receptions and most charities will not offer grants for wakes. There are some ways that people might choose to keep the costs of this down, for example hosting a small gathering at a family member’s home, asking guests to bring a sharing plate, or providing food only and requiring attendees to purchase their own drinks.