All figures from SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026. National averages are a useful starting point, but actual costs vary with location, personal choices and whether you choose burial or cremation.
Comparing typical funeral costs
UK averages from SunLife's Cost of Dying Report 2026.
Simple attended funeral
£3,828 average
An attended funeral with a simpler service.
- Simple attended cremation
- £3,518 average
- Simple attended burial
- £4,758 average
Traditional attended funeral
£4,510 average
A more traditional attended funeral. SunLife reports this separately from simple funerals — the figures are not interchangeable.
Direct cremation
£1,628 average
A cremation with no service or mourners present at the crematorium.
Average optional send-off spend
£1,312 average
Optional extras families choose, such as flowers, stationery, a wake or venue hire. This varies entirely by family preference.
Simple attended funeral plus average optional send-off spend: £5,140 average total spend.
What makes up the cost?
Every invoice differs, but funeral costs usually fall into four broad areas.
- Funeral director charges
- The professional fees charged by your funeral director for the services you choose.
- Cremation or burial fees
- Fees charged by the crematorium, local authority or cemetery.
- Celebrant or minister fees
- The fee paid to the person who leads the service, where applicable.
- Optional personal choices
- Costs you decide on yourself, such as catering, a venue for the wake, flowers, orders of service or notices.
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Common questions
Why are burials typically more expensive than cremations?
Burial usually involves buying the right of burial for a plot and paying interment fees for preparing the grave. These fees are set locally and vary considerably. In SunLife's Cost of Dying Report 2026, a simple attended burial averaged £4,758 and a simple attended cremation averaged £3,518.
Why do prices vary across the UK?
Local authority and cemetery fees, crematorium charges and funeral director pricing all differ by area, so costs can vary substantially between nations and regions.
Can families get government help with funeral costs?
Financial help may be available depending on where you live in the UK and your circumstances. Different schemes operate in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Read our guide to paying for a funeral for more information and links to official guidance.