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Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
19 minute read
Whether we are planning a funeral for ourselves in the distant future, or find ourselves needing to coordinate a funeral in the short-term for a relative or friend, “how much does a funeral cost?” is likely the first thing on our minds. Funeral costs can provoke anxiety, and, alongside our personal preferences and religious choices, our budget is ultimately what will decide what kind of funeral we opt for. In this article, we will answer the question “how much does a funeral cost?” and other related questions.
We’d also like to say, whatever has brought you to this page, we are here to help. We understand that you might be facing an emotionally complex time, or may be worried about the admin that comes along with funeral arranging. Aura is the UK’s top-rated ‘Cremation Services’ provider on Trustpilot, with 4.9/5 stars. We’ve earned this score by gaining the trust of the families who’ve placed themselves in our care, and who’ve appreciated our compassionate and knowledgeable approach to funeral arranging. Whether you need help to organise a direct cremation now, or a prepaid funeral plan for the future, we are confident that we have an option that will suit your needs.
Understanding funeral costs is difficult enough at the best of times, but if we are dealing with the unexpected death of a loved one, or wondering how to cope with the death of a parent, it can be even harder to focus on information gathering. The first thing that you may find useful to do is to start narrowing down your options. There are a number of things that can impact the price of the funeral you end up arranging. For instance, if considering between cremation and burial, you will find that burial is generally a more expensive option, due to the fact that it has certain costly expenses like plot and headstone purchase. Making a decision about this early on will help you to more quickly home in on what’s appropriate for you.
Deciding whether or not to have an attended direct cremation or a no fuss funeral, for instance, will also greatly impact the cost. With the former option, there will likely be an order of service, and therefore probably celebrant or minister fees to pay. There may even be an end-of-life celebration afterwards, which will add further expense, as well as any possible cremation ashes ideas.
Funeral prices tend to rise year-on-year in the UK, with Legal & General (L&G) predicting an 86% increase in a 20-year-period. One of the ways in which funeral plans work is to lock in today’s prices for your future funeral, meaning you won’t feel the effects of any potential price increases or of inflation. For this reason, planning your own funeral could make good sense.
Aside from Legal & General, there are other organisations which look into funeral cost data, helping people to make more informed spending decisions. SunLife is another organisation that compiles cost data, and according to their ‘Cost of Dying Report’, the average cost of a funeral last year was £4,141. This is an average which combines both cremations and burials; the figures they give for the average cremation and burial costs in the same time period respectively are £3,795 and £5,077.
Clearly, there’s a lot of leeway in interpreting these figures: the size and type of your funeral will make a big difference, as will the region of the UK in which it is held. The regional difference in price can be thousands of pounds; Legal & General puts the average burial cost in Wales at £5,000, but at £8,800 in Greater London, making an estimated difference of almost £4,000.
It might help to think of things in terms of compulsory and avoidable costs. For instance, there are certain cremation costs which are unavoidable no matter what type of service you opt for: cremation fees; funeral-director fees (usually including the cost of admin support); and care and preparation of the person who has died before their cremation to name a few. Yet, there are other costs which many people pay as added extras, for instance customised urns to contain ashes, ashes fireworks, or other cremation ashes ideas; catering for an event after the funeral ceremony; or celebrant fees for an attended ceremony.
In paying for a funeral, we may have to pay funeral director fees, third-party funeral costs; and additional costs for personalisation.
From national corporate chains, to independents and high-street funeral directors, there’s a wide variety of different providers of funeral services across the country. What each one charges for its services will depend on some of the factors we’ve mentioned above. But Marie Curie gives us a rough average figure for funeral-director fees: £2600.
In general these fees cover the cost of the admin and logistical support that’s needed when a family is organising a funeral, as well as the basic necessities like care (and sometimes collection) of the person who has died before their funeral, and transportation to their funeral on the day itself. Charges for these services can fluctuate widely from director to director, so make sure you understand what you’re getting for your money.
You can see what’s included with Aura’s final funeral and plan prices in the comparison list below.
Certain funeral costs need to be paid to third-parties when arranging a funeral. For instance, there is usually a fee for the cremation or burial itself which is often additional to the fee charged by a funeral director. Marie Curie puts these fees respectively at £800 and £2,200 for cremation and burial fees. It used to be the case that doctor’s fees would need to be paid by the family, for the Medical Certificate of Death (MCCD), as another form of third-party funeral cost. But, following changes to the death-registration process in September 2024, doctor’s fees are no longer payable.
Another example of a third-party cost would be the fee paid to a secular celebrant or religious officiant when holding an attended ceremony or a meaningful celebration of life after the funeral. Such professionals are normally self-employed, working separately from the funeral director. Aura’s Angel Team can help you or your family to source one with no extra administration fee. Typically, they work to design a ceremony with the family around the life of the person who has died, bringing together their favourite music, readings, prayers, and poetry along with a rendition of their achievements and some true-to-life stories about them.
With the rise in popularity of direct cremation, and the decline of religion in the UK leading to a drop in the number of traditional funerals taking place, it’s no surprise that people are looking for more and more creative ways to personalise their own send off. This customisation is normally an extra expense on top of the basic costs that need to be paid. For instance, at the funeral itself a family may want to ensure their loved one is cremated or buried inside a custom coffin, themed or built in a certain way that is different from the standard.
Families may also wish to invest in remembering a loved one by having an end-of-life celebration, or wake, after the funeral itself, sometimes at an alternative venue. These ‘avoidable’ costs are optional for families, and can make a big difference to the overall price they will pay; according to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, the average cost of funeral-rated catering, for instance, at a wake, in the UK was £476.
Weighing up cremation vs burial is one of the first things we have to do when deciding on funeral arrangements. Burial, understandably, is generally more expensive than cremation in the UK. That’s because we can’t have a traditional burial without a grave, and the plot of land for the grave-site needs to be purchased (or leased on a long-term basis), along with a headstone to mark it. Headstones can vary in price, of course, with the decision of how much text (and whether to include images) influencing the overall cost; this expense can be anywhere between £600-2000.
According to SunLife’s 2024 report, funeral costs have risen by 126% since 2004, which, it goes without saying, is a huge increase. But, according to them, it also seems that burial prices are increasing more quickly than cremation prices: between 2023 and 2022, the average price of a burial has increased by 5.9%, where the average cremation cost has risen by 3.3%. Where in the UK you are looking to bury can also make a big impact on the price, as well as the method of burial. It’s possible to arrange a ‘direct burial’ which can be much cheaper, as well as natural or woodland burials, which can help to avoid many of the most expensive costs.
With cremation, these things don’t need to be considered, which makes it much cheaper. There are still specific costs involved, of course; there are a range of different types of cremation, from the standard way, to water cremation, and electric cremation (which many regard as more environmentally sustainable). Each of these different methods comes with a different range of prices. The ashes also need to be processed afterwards. With Aura, we can (for a nominal fee) return the ashes by hand to the family after the cremation, or scatter them on the family’s behalf at the crematorium’s own Garden of Remembrance free of charge. The price of ashes hand-delivery is included in the overall cost for funeral-plan holders.
Arranging a low-cost funeral is the priority of more and more people when the time comes. Some like to spend the money they thereby save on a celebration of life later on, where others appreciate the ability to send off a loved one without bringing huge amounts of financial strain down upon themselves. Aura’s direct cremations are available for those in need now from £1,095, and for those interested in a funeral plan for the future from £1,595.
Aura’s simple cremations include the following things, whether for those in need in the short-term, or those holding one of our funeral plans:
One of the reasons that basic funerals – especially direct cremations – are becoming more popular is cultural. In general in the UK, we are less and less religious; of course, there are many different beliefs on death and funerals in religion, with cremation being permitted by many, but the trend shows people moving more and more away from the traditional idea of a funeral, without things like flowers, funeral processions, limousines and pallbearers.
Another big reason is cost. With the aftermath of the Covid pandemic still rippling across our economy, many people are struggling to battle the cost of living. Sadly, we may be struggling to afford a funeral altogether, which also explains a concurrent rise in public health or ‘pauper’s funeral’.
For those requiring support and who are eligible, there may be government support available for paying funeral costs. Others find putting a funeral plan in place to be very helpful, and there may also be support available from charities and your community.
The UK government offers various programs for eligible families who may be struggling to pay for the cost of a funeral. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has two schemes designed for those in need: the Bereavement Support Payment and the Funeral Expenses Payment. You may also be able to gain access to the bank or building society account of your loved one in order to pay your funeral costs directly from their funds there; this can be done through the Grant of Probate scheme.
The average amount paid out by the government can vary; according to the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Scottish government pays out £1,950 on average to those eligible, which could cover the cost of a low-cost cremation. Whereas, Quaker Social Action says that the UK government’s payout covers, on average, 41% of funeral costs. Your own financial circumstances and location will impact what payout, if any, you receive from the government.
A funeral plan is something many people turn to in order to avoid the pain of rising funeral costs. In a nutshell, a funeral plan allows you to avoid rising costs by locking in today’s prices. When you purchase an Aura funeral plan, we put your money into our secure, independently managed trust. The trust guards your money against the future impact of potential price rises and inflation, and, when it’s time for your funeral, we simply withdraw what we need from the trust. It means that what you pay at the point of purchase is all you’ll ever pay for your funeral, sparing the loved ones you leave behind from having to worry about paying for your funeral.
Aura’s funeral plans, aside from being truly all-inclusive, are also some of the most flexible available. Unlike other providers, we allow you to pay for your funeral plan all in one go, from £1,595, or in up to 24 monthly instalments, from £66.46. In either case, the end price is the same, as we don’t charge you a payment-processing fee, or any specific admin costs for monthly payments. You can compare Aura funeral plans to other leading providers by considering the table below. You might also want to read the advice of impartial consumer experts about prepaid funeral plans, such as Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert, to give you a bit more context.
Funeral plans and government support may not be available or appropriate for everyone, with charities and the local community also offering financial and bereavement support.
Quaker Social Action can point you in the direction of charities providing financial support, as can Cruse Bereavement Support. Different professions often have their own charitable support networks, too.
You may also wish to consider crowdfunding, or other types of community fundraising, as a way of sourcing financial support for a funeral. Websites like JustGiving or GoFundMe allow you to post a fundraising request, which can be shared across social media. Many people manage to raise all or part of what they need to pay for a funeral by making use of such websites.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairer finance rating | |||||
Starting from price | £1,595 | £1,895 | £1,700 | £1,785 | £1,595 |
Trustpilot rating | 4.9/5 stars | 4.8/5 stars | 4.6/5 stars | 4.6/5 stars | 4.9/5 stars |
| All-inclusive* | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Lifelong free cancellation | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Money-back satisfaction guarantee | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Trust solvency | 146% | 124.8% | 106% | 138% | Unknown |
| No added instalment fees | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
There are various ways in which you can keep the cost down when planning your own funeral, or that of someone else. Opting for a simple funeral or direct cremation that avoids many of the optional extras is an effective way to pay a lower price. Doing your market research and comparing the different options which are out there is another good way of making sure that you are getting the most for your money.
By opting for a modern, low-cost alternative to the traditional funeral, such as a direct cremation, you can keep the costs low. This helps you to avoid many of the extra costs which cause the final price you could end up paying to swell. For instance, by arranging the most basic direct cremation option, you can even avoid having to pay third-party fees to a celebrant for service arrangement and presentation. You can also save on the cost of floral tributes and limousine hire. Embalming isn’t always necessary with a cremation, and, because there’s no final viewing with an Aura direct cremation, embalming isn’t included in this service. This is another expense that can therefore be avoided.
Instead, with Aura, families can make little touches that enhance the specialness of the occasion. For instance, you can select the music that plays as the person who has died is carried into the crematorium chapel and placed on the catafalque. Ensuring that it’s something that was dear to them in life can help to make things more meaningful and special, and more personal to them.
Make sure to compare direct cremation providers and costs when you are looking for a funeral at short notice, or even if you are considering a funeral plan. Making sure that you are as well informed as possible is one of the best ways to avoid paying more than you need to.
Remember that prepaid funeral plans allow you to lock in today’s prices for your own funeral, even if it doesn’t occur for decades; what you pay now is all that will ever need to be paid. Aura is fully regulated by the FCA and all of our plans are protected by the FSCS, which means that our funeral plans are safe, and your money is protected. All of this can give you, and your loved ones, peace of mind that everything is sorted and paid for in advance, and that there’ll be nothing left to pay when the time comes.
By opting for personal alternatives to the traditional norm, and collectively paying for a funeral as a family, you can keep the costs down. Keep a funeral checklist to help you keep track of who has agreed to pay for what, as well as any ideas that people might have for how best to personalise or celebrate the life story of the person who has died at a later date. This practice can even be applied to any end-of-life celebration that you decide to hold. For instance, if you are holding a wake, you can ask those who are attending to each bring a small plate or something to drink with them, thus contributing to the catering collectively.
It’s a popular funeral myth that funerals are always expensive, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. By budgeting and working together as a family, and by making important decisions about what type of funeral to arrange, you can more effectively keep costs down. Having arranged a direct cremation, you can even organise a low-key home-based memorial later rather than at an expensive venue, at which DIY mementos of the person’s life can be shared among family members and friends. This option is just as meaningful and dignified as storing ashes within a vault or mausoleum, but more cost-effective.
We hope that this article about funeral costs has been helpful. If you’ve got any questions for us after reading it, whether about the right funeral for you; the best way of paying for it; or about getting support with paying funeral costs, we are here to help you and to point you in the right direction.
At Aura, we pride ourselves on the compassion, patience and kindness of the service we offer. They are available to both those who need to arrange a direct cremation at short notice, as well as those looking to the future with a prepaid funeral plan. In both cases, it’s our wonderful, compassionate Aura Angel team who’ll be there to guide you or your family through the difficult experience of funeral arranging for a loved one. They’re not only experts in funeral coordination, but can lend you an ear if you need to talk about what you’re going through. We’re there for you on the phone, whenever you’re ready.
We’re a family-run company, founded by Paul Jameson in 2019 after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. He set up Aura in order to make sure that families in the UK would benefit from his confrontation with his own mortality, and his experience with end-of-life planning. He runs the company today alongside his son, David (our CEO), and a family friend called Ben (our COO). Aura’s mission is to provide a service that never compromises on quality, and never drops below what Paul wants for his own family. If you decide to give us a call, we’re sure you’ll find that the service you receive is of the same level of quality that Paul would want for his own family.
