Funeral costs are one of the first worries families face, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer on. These figures come from SunLife's Cost of Dying Report 2026, one of the most widely used UK sources.
The averages
- Traditional attended funeral: around £4,510 (weighted UK average across cremation and burial)
- Simple attended funeral: around £3,828 (weighted UK average across cremation and burial)
- Direct cremation (no service or mourners present): around £1,628
- Professional fees, send-off extras and admin can add roughly £1,300 or more on top
Burial is usually the most expensive option once the plot and grave costs are included, and prices vary significantly by region.
Where the money goes
- Funeral director's fees — care of the person who has died, the coffin, hearse and staff
- Crematorium or cemetery fees
- Officiant or celebrant
- Doctors' fees for cremation certificates (not applicable in Scotland)
- Optional extras: cars, flowers, order of service, notices, catering, memorials
How to keep control of the total
- 1Set a budget figure first, even a rough one, before quotes arrive.
- 2Ask two or three funeral directors for itemised written quotes.
- 3Record each estimate, quote and confirmed cost in one place as it comes in.
- 4Check which extras you actually want — each one is a choice, not an obligation.