Direct Cremation Prices: Things You Should Know

Direct cremation prices are the first thing on our minds when it comes to organising a funeral. Whether we are planning a funeral now for a loved one who has recently passed away, or looking for a prepaid funeral plan for ourselves, the cost of things is a serious consideration.

We want to take a closer look at the subject of simple cremation costs in this article. We will take a look at the average cost of a direct cremation in the UK, and help you to compare different providers more effectively. 

Direct cremation costs in the UK

The cost of funerals is rising in the UK, and it has been consistently for the last two decades.

According to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, there has been a 126% increase in the cost of funerals in the UK within the last 20 years. Against a general increase in consumer prices of 72% within the same period, we can see the issue: funeral prices are rising faster than many other things.

SunLife also says that the average funeral cost in the UK in 2023 was £4,141, which is a lot of money for anyone. We hope that it brings some comfort to know that direct cremation is generally a lot cheaper than this.

SunLife makes the average cost of a direct cremation in 2023 £1,498.

What is the cheapest way to be cremated?

Direct cremation is generally the cheapest form of cremation there is. That’s because it cuts out a lot of the optional extras that we usually associate with a traditional funeral, like hearses and funeral processions.

Its popularity has been steadily increasing in the UK, and that’s down to three main things:

• COVID-era social-distancing restrictions, which prevented us attending funeral ceremonies in person
  
• the cost-of-living crisis, which has prevented many people from affording traditional funerals
   
• and declining British religious belief, with fewer people invested in religious or traditional funeral practices.

Compare Direct Cremation Costs

Aura’s offering for unattended cremation compares well with other options that are out there. We are cheaper than most whilst also being all-inclusive where others may not be. We are also the highest-rated cremation services provider on Trustpilot.

The below table lets you see the comparison easily.

Aura direct cremation prices

Starting from price	£1,095	£1,395	£1,350	£1,195
Trustpilot rating	4.9/5 stars	4.8/5 stars	4.6/5 stars	4.7/5 stars

* Information is correct as of September 2024.

Aura is one the highest-rated providers on Trustpilot, with Farewill joining us with 4.9/5 stars. However, many of their positive reviews concern their separate will-writing service; one hundred percent of ours relate to the funerals we arrange. 

With Aura, you know you are getting a company that is dedicated to excellence in funeral arranging and will put your financial needs first.

Direct cremation funerals and services explained

We will now briefly explain how a direct cremation ceremony typically works, and then break down some of the costs for you.

How does a direct cremation ceremony work?

With an Aura direct cremation, the deceased is brought from where they are resting in a private ambulance to the crematorium. A song plays as they are brought inside, which can be chosen beforehand by the family. An attendant at the crematorium speaks a few words out of respect for the deceased, and then they are committed. There are no mourners present, and there is no service conducted by a celebrant or religious minister.

After the cremation, within 21 days, the ashes will either be scattered at the crematorium’s own peace garden, or returned to the family.

Understanding direct cremation fees

Cremation has all kinds of fees associated with it, some that we call ‘compulsory’, and others that we call ‘avoidable’. What category each fee falls into depends on what they concern.

‘Compulsory costs’ apply to every ceremony, regardless of what it is, whereas ‘avoidable costs’ depend on the tastes of whoever is organising the funeral. We’ve made two tables below which display a few of the average expenses in these two categories.

Compulsory costs

Service	Fee
Urgent-collection fee	~£250
Oversized / ‘bariatric’ coffin	~£250

(The funeral director used in each funeral may cause these prices to vary)

Avoidable costs*:

Catering (such as for a wake)	£476
Funeral notice	£93
Order sheets	£111
Flowers	£220
Limo hire	£402
Venue hire	£347

We’ve written about some of these compulsory and avoidable funeral costs in more detail, which you can read by clicking the link. As we can see, if the average cost of a cremation in the UK (according to SunLife) is £3,795, then, once the essentials have been paid for, the price can be brought down a good bit by forgoing some or all of the ‘avoidable costs’.  

How to choose the right cremation service provider?

Ultimately, you need to put your faith in a company to handle one of the most meaningful times in your life. We at Aura know how daunting making that choice can feel. Doing your research on the companies that are out there is vital.

Trustworthiness

Doing your research on each provider is vital: Check how highly they are rated on independent consumer feedback sites, like Trustpilot. You should also find out whether they feature on any industry advice or help websites, such as Money Saving Expert. If you want to know more information about a providers prepaid funeral plans you can also look on Fairer Finance.

This will give you a good idea of how trustworthy the company you are looking at is. It will also show you how likely it is that they will be able to deliver on what they are promising.

Customer Care

As well as the final price, you will want to ensure you are getting good value. When it comes to planning a funeral, quality care from expert funeral arrangers is important. Ensure the company you are choosing takes care of their customers so that you always feel supported throughout.

 

How to arrange a direct cremation?

There are three main steps to arranging a simple cremation:

1. Think about what you want. Remember that a direct cremation can be either unattended or attended by mourners. If you choose the unattended option, you won’t be able to personalise anything about the ceremony, such as the music that plays, or any words that might be spoken. But, with an attended ceremony, you can.. To have a funeral that respects your wishes and does you justice, think about what you’d like ahead of time.
   
2. Choose your provider. Whether you’re planning for your own funeral in the future, or organising one now for a loved one, it’s important to understand which provider best suits your needs. Different providers structure their pricing in different ways, so, as Money Saving Expert states, it’s crucial to know what your money gets you.
   
3. Pick a way to pay. With a prepaid direct cremation plan, you’ll also have to decide whether you’ll pay in a lump sum, or in instalments. What you decide will depend on your circumstances and your preferences.

Direct Cremation from £1,095

Whatever your needs, Aura has a direct cremation option that could suit your needs. 

If you need a funeral for someone who has already passed away, we could arrange a direct cremation for you from £1,095. Alongside that, we’ve got a range of 5-star-rated prepaid funeral plans for simple cremations available:

• Perfectly Simple, Unattended: A dignified, unattended direct cremation, at £1,595.
• Wonderfully Imagined, Intimate: A private, 15-minute service attended by up to 15 close friends and family members, at £2,195.
• Wonderfully Imagined, Attended: A full ceremony of up to 45 minutes for as many guests as the crematorium can accommodate, at £2,695.

If there are any questions that you’d like to ask our team, we’d be more than happy to receive your phone call; you can give us a call on 0800 066 3346, or you can simply request a free quote on our website.