How much is a funeral in the UK?

Understanding different types of funerals

Choosing the right kind of funeral is one of the most personal decisions you or your family can make. It shapes how you’ll be remembered and how loved ones say goodbye. It also has the biggest impact on the final cost.

Even if the idea of planning your funeral feels uncomfortable, deciding on a general approach now means your family won’t have to second-guess what you’d have wanted. You don’t have to wait until you’re in your 60s or 70s.

Attended funeral

An attended funeral is when family and friends come together to say goodbye. It can happen in a church, crematorium or another special place. And it may include readings, prayers or personal tributes. Whatever feels right for your beliefs and preferences.

This type of funeral provides comfort and closure for those left behind. While it’s usually the most expensive type, many people feel the cost is worth it. Others prefer a simpler approach.

Unattended funeral

An unattended funeral is when no one is there for the cremation or burial. The funeral company takes care of everything quietly. This includes collecting the deceased and providing a basic coffin. The family might have a special memorial or gathering later.

This is a good choice for people who don’t want a fuss or feel saying goodbye in a more private way is better for them.

Direct cremation

Cremation is when a person’s body is respectfully reduced to ashes at a crematorium. These ashes can either be kept, such as in a commemorative urn, or scattered at a place important to the person in life or their loved ones.

Direct cremation, a type of unattended funeral, is a simple and low-cost way to say goodbye. No one goes to the cremation when it happens. The family can pick up and scatter the ashes later and remember their loved one in their own way, any time they choose. Or the ashes can be scattered on behalf of loved ones if preferred.

More and more people are choosing this because it doesn’t involve a big event, a lot of planning or a high cost. It also takes the pressure off families at a tough time.

Direct burial

Direct burial, another type of unattended funeral, also takes place without a service or guests. The deceased person’s body is quietly laid to rest in the ground, usually in a coffin. Loved ones can instead choose to mark the passing in their own way later.

Though still more expensive than cremation because it includes burial fees and a coffin, it’s a simpler and often cheaper alternative to a full burial with ceremony.

What’s included in funeral costs?

The cost of a funeral usually covers three main things: help from the funeral director, payments to any third parties who are involved, and any extras you choose.

Funeral director services

Funeral directors help guide families through every step of the process. They take care of the practical side of things while also offering support during a difficult time. Their services usually include:

• Bringing the person into care: Collecting them from their home, hospital or care home
• Looking after them with respect: Keeping them safe and cared for until the funeral
• Providing a lined and fitted coffin: Helping choose and supply the right one
• Arranging the date, time and venue: Making sure everything is booked and confirmed
• Coordinating transport and staff: Organising the hearse, drivers and team for the day
• Helping with paperwork and certificates: Dealing with legal documents so the family doesn’t have to

It’s not just about making arrangements. It’s about offering kindness, care and reassurance when people need it most.

Third-party costs

The funeral director will take care of payment for some things on the family’s behalf. These costs are usually added to the funeral bill. The price can change depending on where you live and what you choose. They can include:

• Crematorium or cemetery: The place where the main funeral service happens
• Religious minister or celebrant: Someone to lead the service and say a few words
• Doctors’ fees (for cremations): You might need to pay for the forms you need
• Venue hire: If you use a special place for the funeral
• Musicians or singers: If you want live music or singing at the service

You don’t have to pay for all of these. It depends on the kind of funeral you want.

Optional extras

These are extra things that can help make your funeral more personal. You don’t need to include them all. Even a few small touches can feel special.

Extras might include:

• Flowers: To make the place look nice or to go on the coffin
• Obituary notices: A message in a newspaper or online to tell others about the funeral
• Printed orders of service: Booklets that show what will happen during the funeral
• Keepsakes or memory books: Things to help remember the person who died
• Catering at the wake: Food and drinks for people after the funeral
• A recording or livestream of the event: So people who can’t attend can still watch

You don’t have to include everything. Simple, meaningful things can create a lovely way to say goodbye.

Cremation and burial costs

In the UK, cremation is usually cheaper than burial. According to the SunLife report:

• A funeral with cremation costs about £3,980
• A funeral with burial costs about £5,198

If you choose cremation, there might be an extra doctor’s fee unless a coroner is involved. This is because special forms are needed before the cremation can take place.

Burial costs more because you have to pay for a grave and sometimes its ongoing care. Many people also choose to add a headstone, which adds to the price.

Both options can be meaningful. The important thing is to know the costs in advance, so you and your family can plan and worry less later.

How to pay for your funeral

Planning for your funeral doesn’t mean you need to plan every detail. But making plans to cover the costs can lift a huge weight off your loved ones’ shoulders.

While saving money for future events is no bad thing, having money in a bank account may get caught up in what’s called probate when someone dies. This is where their account gets frozen when they are declared dead.

A convenient and more immediate way to cover funeral costs is with over 50s life cover. If you’re aged 50 or above, you pay a fixed monthly amount. When you pass away, the policy pays out a lump sum. Your family can use this to pay for your funeral and say goodbye without delay.

Some policies have the option of a funeral benefit, where the payout goes directly to your chosen funeral provider. It’s a simple way to be prepared, with everything taken care of automatically when the time comes.

Funeral Benefit Option: one less thing for loved ones to think about

If you take out Post Office Over 50s Life Cover and are planning to use the cash sum to help pay for your funeral, you can add our Funeral Benefit Option at no extra cost.

When it's time, the money from your policy will go to Co-op Funeralcare. With a single call from your loved one, a funeral director will take care of all the arrangements. They’ll work with your loved ones to create the type of funeral you’ve said you want. And this can be a huge help at a difficult time.

You’ll also get a discount, saving £50 on Direct Cremation, £100 on a Essential funeral or £250 on a Tailored funeral. 

How to lower cost funerals

If you’re worried about how much a funeral might cost, it’s worth knowing that there are lower-cost options that still offer dignity and care.

Direct cremation is typically the cheapest choice, with an average price of around £1,597. You won’t have the extras like flowers or a hearse, but you will get a respectful, professional service.

Other ways to keep costs down:

• Choose a basic or eco coffin
• Skip limousines and use your own transport
• Keep the guest list small or hold a private farewell later
• Avoid printed materials like order of service sheets
• Host a wake at home rather than hiring a venue

Your funeral doesn’t need to be grand to be meaningful. Planning something simple now can help avoid stress later and give you the comfort of knowing it’s sorted.

Help with funeral costs

If you’re worried about how your funeral will be paid for one day, there are some ways that might help:

• Government support: If your family gets certain benefits, they might be able to get up to £1,000 financial support through a Funeral Expenses Payment. Keep in mind, though, it can take four weeks or more to receive the funds
• Public health funeral: If no one can pay, the council might arrange a simple but respectful funeral
• Funeral loans: Some companies let families pay in small amounts over time
• Crowdfunding: Families sometimes raise money online, especially if a loved one dies unexpectedly

Even if it feels far off, thinking about these things now can help avoid stress later. Just having a chat with your family can make a big difference.