How much does a funeral cost?

Planning a funeral is challenging and emotional, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But having an occasion to celebrate your loved one’s life may bring some closure and support those grieving. While it’s a hard day, coming together to honour a lost loved one may help you to comfort one another as you say your goodbyes.

Over 50s Life Insurance with Sainsbury’s Bank may help your loved ones to fund funeral costs and take away an extra worry at an already difficult time.

Funerals costs can be high and there are multiple factors that impact the price, from the location to how grand or simple you’d like the service to be. The average cost of a funeral in the UK in 2024 was £4,706. This is a weighted average of both burial and cremation costs.

Burial costs

If you’re arranging a burial, you’ll need to be aware of the costs involved. These include the burial plot itself, as well as the grave digger and officiant fee. These funeral costs will vary depending on where you live, but in 2024 the average cost for burials was £5,894.

Cremation costs

While a cremation can be cheaper than a burial, there are still costs to consider. These costs include the funeral director’s charges, the minister’s fee, the crematorium fee and doctor’s fees. Again, these costs will differ based on your location. In 2024 the average cremation cost was £4,431.  

Funeral director’s services

A funeral director can help you navigate all aspects of the funeral arrangement. Their offering may include:

• Liaising with third parties, like clergy, florists and crematorium staff.
• Care and preparation of the deceased.
• Providing and arranging the hearse and related personnel.
• The coffin or casket.
• Any extras, like limousines and flowers.

These costs will vary depending on your funeral director, the level of service and location.

Third party costs

There are more people involved in a funeral than you may expect, which means more people to pay. Third party costs involve payments for things not covered by your funeral director. For example, this may include paying minister or celebrant fees or doctor’s fees for cremation certificates.

Additional send-off costs

It’s your choice how grand or simple your goodbye is. Here are some additional extras you may decide to include when researching funeral pricing:

• Flowers
• Notices in the paper
• Catering and venue hire for the wake
• Memorial headstone
• Order of service sheets

Choose a funeral that’s right for the person who died

Some people may have specific ideas for their own funeral and create a funeral plan before they pass away. But for others, you may be in charge of the planning. This will require you to put some thought into creating a service fitting for your loved one. This may involve choosing their favourite music to play or implementing a certain dress code that suits their personality – like wearing bright colours instead of black.

The most expensive option isn’t always the best

Sometimes the pricier option isn’t necessarily the right one. It’s important to choose a fitting send-off while sticking to a budget, especially considering the high average funeral cost in the UK. While you want to give the best goodbye you can, the funeral is just one part of this. Avoid committing to more than you can afford.

Consider alternative options

There’s no right way to plan a funeral – so much of it depends on the person who’s passed and your relationship to them. Always consider what the deceased would have wanted. They may have given you some indication on this before they passed – from wishing to have their body donated to medical schools to an eco-friendly funeral with a compostable coffin.

Planning your own funeral

You might want to create a plan for your funeral. Consider whether you prefer a traditional burial, cremation, or an alternative option. Decide on your final resting place and the type of send-off you envision, including details like music, dress code, and venue. These steps will help you estimate the cost of your funeral and determine how much cover you might need. Lastly, don’t forget to tell your loved ones your wishes.
 

Get several quotes

Before deciding on a funeral director, get a few quotes to compare prices and services. Costs can vary a lot, so it’s handy to have an overview of all the options before making your decision. That way, you can work out expected funeral prices.

Choose a more inexpensive coffin

The type of coffin you choose is an important decision and can have a big impact on your funeral costs. Certain styles and materials, like solid wood and metal, are usually more expensive. The size of the coffin also affects the price, and wide and bulky coffins will cost more. Ornamentation like carvings and designs also puts the price up. 

Have a wake at home

Organising and hosting a wake at a venue comes with extra expenses, from venue hire to catering and staff fees. Not only is having a wake at home less expensive, but it’s also personal and often more intimate.

Spend less on flowers

While funeral flowers are a beautiful and symbolic send-off, they are also very expensive. You could save costs by having a smaller arrangement, selecting fewer stems compared to foliage, or by crafting your own DIY display.

Unfortunately, flowers don’t last very long, so you may decide on something longer lasting and more personal instead, like a written tribute or pictures and personal items.

Take out life insurance with Sainsbury’s Bank

While nothing can make this time easier for your loved ones, life insurance may make the costs more manageable. 

Selected Sainsbury’s Bank Life Insurance policies can be used towards funeral expenses when the worst happens, so your family can focus on saying goodbye. The amount of cover varies depending on the type of insurance and policy.

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