How much does a funeral cost? | Funeral Costs Calculator

Breakdown of funeral costs

This breakdown of funeral costs highlights on average what you could expect to pay of a funeral in the UK in 2020. Prices vary depending on the type of funeral, where you live and the services you include.

Basic funeral costs (funeral director and 3rd party costs) - £4,417
Additional funeral expenses – £2,306
Professional fees for administering the estate - £2,771

This means the total cost of dying in the UK is now £9,493.

What are the funeral director costs?

Funeral director costs cover all aspects of arranging and implementing the funeral service and currently average £2,687. This includes collection and care of the deceased, administration, use of their funeral home facilities, the coffin, hearse, funeral cars for family if required and services on the day.

The funeral director will also liaise with third parties and provide support for the family throughout the process.

What are the 3rd party funeral costs?

3rd party funeral costs are essential costs that are beyond the control of the funeral director. These include the cremation or burial fees, the minister or celebrant’s charges for carrying out the funeral service and doctor’s fees where appropriate.

Cremation and burial fees vary depending on where you live however the average cost of the minister or officiant is £169 and doctor’s fees where required currently average £164.

What are the additional funeral expenses?

Additional funeral expenses are the services you choose as optional extras that personalise the service such as:

Memorial - £910
Limousine hire - £313
Wake, including venue hire and catering - £653
Order of service - £88
Flowers - £184
Death notices - £82

What are the professional fees?

Professional fees for administrating the estate may be necessary if probate is required, however this all depends on whether you decide to do it yourself or use the services of an expert.

For more information look at our guide to probate.

Planning for the future

As funeral prices continue to rise, planning for the future is important if you want to remove the financial pressure from your family. Saving is one solution however other options are available such as funeral plans or over 50 life insurance.

For more information on what you can do to plan for the future, look at our guide on ‘how to pay for a funeral’.

Funeral Calculator

The funeral calculator is designed to help you understand how much a funeral could cost in years to come. It also highlights the benefit of paying with a prepaid funeral plan versus using your savings.

Just use the sliders below to confirm your current age and an estimate of how long you think you might live and the funeral calculator will do the rest.

Your age:

Your guesstimate of how long you will live:

Average cost of a prepaid funeral plan today is £3,750

The amount £3,750 will have grown to at 1.5% AER in a savings account

Cost of a funeral based on funeral inflation for the last 10 years at 4.7%

The amount you could save your family if you buy a prepaid plan today

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According to Sunlife the average cost of a funeral in 2019 was £4,417

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Frequently asked questions

What is the average cost of a funeral today?

The average cost of a funeral in the UK today is £4,417. Burials are more expensive at £4,975 whereas the average cost of cremation is currently £3,858.

Who is responsible for funeral costs?

The family or the executor of the estate is usually responsible for funeral costs however they are entitled to claim the money back from the deceased’s estate once settled.

Will the bank release funds for a funeral?

The bank will usually release funds for a funeral on receipt of the death certificate and an invoice of funeral prices from the funeral director, however this isn’t guaranteed.

What happens when a family can’t afford a funeral?

If the family can not afford the funeral, the local authority has a legal duty to provide a small, dignified service, known as a Public Health Funeral.

Public Health Funerals are usually cremation with a short service that people can attend. The date and time of the service is chosen by the local authority and there are no extras such as viewing, flowers, cars or notices.

Can I get help with funeral costs?

Help with funeral costs is available through the government’s funeral payment scheme for people on low incomes, claiming certain benefits. It doesn’t cover all costs, however the funeral payment plan can help with cremation or burial fees and provide up to £700 for additional expenses such as the funeral director.