What Are Funeral Expenses?

What are funeral expenses? If we find ourselves in the position of needing to organise the funeral of a loved one whom we’ve lost, or if we are beginning to think about what sort of funeral we’d like for ourselves, then we might be asking ourselves that question. In this article, we will provide an answer to the question “What are funeral expenses?”, and other connected questions.

Defining funeral expenses

In wondering how much a funeral costs, it’s important to be aware that funeral costs can vary depending on where you are based in the UK, and on what kind of funeral you are looking for.  

What are funeral expenses?

Funerals have the potential to be complicated, like any multifaceted event. There are many smaller elements making up the finished article, and each one may have its own associated cost. From the cost of catering at a wake, to the fee of the celebrant delivering the service, each item will need to be budgeted and paid for. When planning a funeral, part of your process will be to work out the minimum you will need to spend in order to achieve the funeral you want.

Typical funeral costs in the UK

In the UK, according to SunLife in their Cost of Dying Report, the average cost of a traditional funeral in the UK last year was £4,141. However, this doesn’t take into account the difference between cremation costs and burial costs, between which there is quite a large disparity. One of the first things you’ll need to do when planning a funeral is to weigh up cremation vs burial, and decide which one meets your budget and preferences most closely. The average price of a cremation specifically, in the same year, according to SunLife, was £3,795.

It’s also important to point out that there can be quite a large regional disparity in funeral prices. According to Legal & General, the average cost of a burial in Wales is ~£5,000, whereas in the Greater-London area, it’s ~£9,000; a difference of ~£4,000. Burial prices can fluctuate quite wildly because the price of renting a burial plot in a heavily urbanised area is far higher than in quieter, rural areas. Cremation prices don’t tend to vary as widely by region, with Legal & General showing that they cost roughly between £4,000 and £5,000 in the UK.

What is considered a funeral expense?

When arranging a funeral, it can be helpful to split funeral costs into two categories: essential funeral costs and additional extras. This can help you to budget more effectively and to see more clearly where your money is going.

Essential funeral costs

Regardless of the funeral you choose, whether direct cremation or a fully fledged traditional burial, there are certain expenses which must be accounted for. These include the cost of caring for the person who has died in mortuary facilities prior to their cremation, as well as transportation to the burial site or crematorium on the day. There is also a burial or cremation fee to be paid, depending on the funeral, and a funeral director’s fee, too. 

There may also be certain third-party fees which are unavoidable, depending on the funeral you choose. For instance, if you opt for an attended ceremony, you will likely need to pay an independent, self-employed celebrant or a religious minister for their services in helping to design and officiate the service. You may also need to pay for copies of the Death Certificate, for instance if you want to apply for probate or to close the bank accounts of the person who has died. 

Optional or additional costs

As highlighted by SunLife, there are a whole range of ‘additional costs’ which people often spend money on when they are arranging a funeral, such as a custom urn or flowers.

*Figures for ‘Avoidable Costs’ taken from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024. (The funeral director used in each funeral may cause these prices to vary).

As we can see, deciding to add an ‘attended’ element to the funeral you are arranging can significantly ratchet up the cost of everything.

Average funeral costs in Scotland

There could be financial support available to residents of Scotland, from the government, for those struggling to pay funeral expenses.

Breakdown of funeral costs in Scotland

According to Legal & General, cremation prices in Scotland are approximately £4,200, and burial prices roughly £5,500. SunLife puts the average funeral cost in Scotland at £4,030. Much like elsewhere in the UK, there could be significant regional variance in funeral costs, such as between urban locations and rural ones. Some of the lowest prices are in very remote areas, such as in the Hebridean isles, as compared to the mainland.

Recent data on funeral costs within Scotland is hard to find. According to data gathered by the Scottish government in 2018 for a funeral cost impact assessment, the Western Isles are the least expensive places to be buried, and Argyll and Bute the most expensive. In 2018, the lair fee (burial-plot rental) in the Western Isles was £407, whereas in Argyll and Bute it was £771; the burial fees for the same locations were £319 and £653, respectively. Please bear in mind that, in the ensuing five years, these prices are likely to have increased significantly across the board.

Support available for funeral costs in Scotland

Families in Scotland who are wondering how to claim funeral costs back from the government may be glad to learn that there could be support available through the Scottish government. It offers support in the form of a payment similar to the UK government’s Funeral Expenses Payment: the Funeral Support Payment.

You can get a Funeral Support Payment from the Scottish government if all of the following apply:

• you live in Scotland
• you or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits
• the person who died lived in the UK
• the funeral is being held in the UK or in some circumstances, another country 
• you’re applying after the person has died, until 6 months after the date of their funeral
• you or your partner are responsible for the funeral costs
• it’s reasonable for you or your partner to accept responsibility for the funeral costs

Please note that, if you intend to apply for this support payment, you can’t already have been granted the Funeral Expenses Payment from the UK government: you must choose either one or the other forms of support.

Options for covering funeral costs

There are a couple of different ways available for covering funeral costs, and which one you may choose will likely depend on your budget and your preferences.

Paying for funerals without savings

If you are in the position of not being able to use personal savings to cover funeral costs, there may be some other options available to you. For instance, you might be able to use the estate of the person who has died in order to pay. For that, you will need to register the death and obtain the Death Certificate. That’s because you’ll need it to apply for probate, which is the legal right to administer their estate. In order to use their estate to pay for the funeral, you will also likely need to locate their will, but when someone dies without a will, there may also be a way forward.

You may also find crowdfunding a useful way to raise money from friends, family, and the local community for someone’s funeral. Websites like GoFundMe and JustGiving allow you to tell the story of your loved one’s life, and to create a page for their funeral. This can then be shared easily across your social media platforms in order to publicise it widely, for instance when announcing a death to friends and the wider community. Those impacted who read the message can then easily contribute to the cause.

Prepaid funeral plans and insurance

There are other ways which people use to cover the cost of their funeral in the future, such as a prepaid funeral plan. There are also types of insurance which cover funeral costs. You can follow this link in order to compare funeral plans vs over-50s life insurance, but in general, the important differences can be seen here:

In short, funeral plans are purpose-built to pay for funeral expenses, whereas over-50’s life insurance is not. You can compare Aura funeral plans with other leading providers to help you get a sense of what is out there.

Managing and reducing funeral expenses

There are plenty of budget-friendly funeral options out there, for those looking to arrange a low-cost funeral. You can also work closely with the funeral provider to make sure you fully understand what you are paying for, and whether there are any hidden fees.

Budget-friendly funeral options

One of the best ways available to those looking to keep funeral costs down is to opt for a direct cremation. It’s an increasingly popular form of funeral which offers a low-cost, dignified and modern alternative to the traditional funeral. Aura’s direct cremations focus on the cremation process, handling the practical matters so that you can concentrate on grieving instead of worrying about financial matters.

Questions to ask a funeral provider

Make sure to understand exactly what you are getting for your money by asking the funeral provider whether there is anything you will need to pay for which is not included in the final quoted price. A good funeral director will want to help you to minimise costs as far as possible, so ask them if there are any areas of the package which you can remove without compromising the overall purpose. You should also compare direct cremation providers and their costs in order to understand whether you are getting the best possible deal. 

Ask them what kinds of support you will get from the funeral-arranging team, and whether that too is included in the price. For instance, Aura’s industry-leading Angel Team is there to guide you every step of the way through the funeral arranging process, acting as a cremation forms guide for those who are worried about any permits and paperwork. But they can also provide emotional support to those who want to talk about what they are feeling.

Aura is here to help

We hope that this article has helped you feel more comfortable with what funeral expenses are, and how to minimise them. If you’re currently organising a funeral for a loved one, we want you to feel as comfortable and as well informed as can be. 

If you’d like Aura’s help with funeral arrangements, whether in the here and now or as part of a prepaid funeral plan for the future, our Angel team is always ready to take your call. We are the UK’s top-rated ‘Cremation Services’ provider on Trustpilot with 4.9/5 stars. Our Angels are central to that success, delivering our compassionate and knowledgeable service to all families in our care.

If you’d like our support with funeral arrangements, please feel free to give us a call. We’re here to help.