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Funerals can be expensive but, in this guide, we will help you understand how the costs of a funeral add up and what help is available with funeral costs.
Average funeral costs
In 2023 the average cost of a basic funeral in the UK was £4,141* but you may pay more or less than that. How much you pay will depend on the type of funeral you choose and where you live. The average cost of a funeral in London was £5,171 while the cost of a funeral in Northern Ireland was over £1,000 less, at £3,256.
However, you may be charged more because these figures only cover the basics, such as the funeral director's costs, doctor's fees (where applicable), minister's fees and burial or cremation charges. If you're planning a gathering after the funeral then any catering costs or venue hire will be extra, as will funeral notices, car hire and the cost of flowers.
Five ways to keep down the costs of a funeral
At such an emotional time, you may feel pressured into spending more than you can afford or feel comfortable spending. However, there are ways you can manage the costs and still give your loved one a good send-off.
1. Speak to the funeral director
If you're on a budget or are worried about the cost, make sure the funeral director understands this at the start. They will be able to advise you on ways to save money. For example, a cardboard coffin is a fraction of the cost of a solid wood coffin. And if you opt for a wooden coffin, the price of the, the cost will be cheaper if you choose a veneer, rather than solid wood, and simple fittings over ornate ones.
Increasingly, funeral directors are offering lower-cost options, including direct cremation. This is a cremation without a funeral service. It means that no family members or friends can attend the cremation, but your loved one's ashes will be returned to you if you ask for this.
2. Where can you make cutbacks?
Think about what it's important to spend money on and what you could do without or spend less on. Flowers, catering, cars, newspaper notices, venue hire and memorials are all things you can tailor to your budget.
3. What can you do yourself?
Consider if there's anything you can do yourself to keep the costs under control. For example, printing the order of service at home, using your home for the post-funeral gathering or asking friends and family to help with the catering.
4. Shop around
Not all funeral directors charge the same. Of course, shopping around may be the last thing you feel like doing after losing a loved one, but if you feel up to it, you may be able to reduce the costs. Ask for a written estimate detailing what's included so there are no surprises later.
5. Burial or cremation
A burial costs significantly more than a cremation. A cremation won't always be appropriate but where it is, this can bring down the cost quite considerably.
Help with funeral costs
You may be able to get some help with funeral costs in some circumstances. If you receive certain state benefits or tax credits, are the person responsible for arranging the funeral and meet certain rules about your relationship with the person who died, you can apply for the Funeral Expenses Payment if you live in England or Wales, or the Funeral Support Fund if you live in Scotland. If you're in Northern Ireland you can apply for the Funeral Expenses Payment on the NI direct website or by calling 0800 085 2463.
You have to apply for this help within six months of the funeral. These payments are designed to help people on low incomes who don't have any relatives who can help them cover the cost of the funeral. The amount you'll get will depend on your circumstances but is unlikely to cover all of the costs of the funeral. The other downside is you won't know how much you're going to be awarded at the time you're making the funeral arrangements.
You may also have to pay back this money, depending on how much the person who died left behind.
You may also be able to apply for an interest-free Budgeting Loan towards the costs of a funeral.
If there's no money to pay for a funeral
Local councils have a duty to arrange funeral for anyone who dies in their area where there is no one willing or able to arrange the funeral. It's called a public health funeral. The council then reclaims the cost of the funeral from the money or property (if any) the deceased person left behind.
*SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024.
