Funeral Costs in the UK
Funeral Costs vary a great deal from one funeral director to another. As always it is advisable to get more than one quote to compare the funeral costs and services. Usually the funeral directors will be able to provide detailed price lists of all costs involved.
The following advice comes from the office of fair trading
- When you arrange a funeral, you are responsible for paying the bill;
- Funeral payments are normally recoverable from the dead person's estate;
- The cheapest service is not necessarily the best value.
The table below indicates some typical costs associated with a funeral.
| Funeral Item | Details of the Funeral | Funeral Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Burial | Burial of Adult in Coffin | £600 |
| Burial | Burial of Cremated Remains | £150 |
| Headstone | Creation of Headstone Foundation | £70 |
| Headstone | Placement of Vase | £35 |
| Headstone | Lawn Headstone | £100 |
| Headstone | Removal and replacement of headstone | £100 |
| Services and Fees | Professional Advice service, assistance with all arrangements and provision of funeral director | £500 |
| Transport | Hire of Hearse or Limousine | £275 |
| Transport | Transfer of deceased to place of burial | £120 |
| Transport | Horse Drawn Carrige for Deceased | £1000 |
| Coffin | Pine Coffin | £300 |
| Coffin | Luxury Coffin | £750 |
| Coffin | Willow Coffin | £1000 |
| Coffin | Cardboard Coffin (environmentally friendly) | £90 |
| Coffin | Coffin Shroud | £25 |
| Clothing | Suit Hire | £50 |
| Clothing | Dress Hire | £50 |
| Burial | Cost of Cremation | £380 |
| Services and Fees | Cost of Cremation Certificates filled out by doctors | £124 |
| Total Cost | Total cost of Cremation including Flowers, Cremation, Ministers fees, Coffin | £2750 |
| Services and Fees | Announcements in newspapers | £75 |
| Flowers | Flowers at Church | £200 |
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Date Added: Wednesday 16th June 2010
"My Mum was buried in February this year and I think the cost of her funeral with the "Co-Op" was outrageous. she was buried with my Dad who died 20 years ago "she paid for her space when she buried him" and she kept everything including the bill. I know 20 years is a long time ago but its interesting to see how the prices and terminology have changed. Here is the breakdown of both Funeral Bills....JULY 1990 Funeral Costs - Independant Funeral Director -....To supply Oak Coffin Interior lined Blue Taffeta - £146.00. Remove deceased to Chapel of Rest and attend to deceased - £28.40. Church Fees - £25.00. Cemetary Burial Fees - £75.00. Purchase one space with extra depth for two burials - £70.00. Hearse to Cemetary - £36.50. Two Limousines to Cemetary and Return - £72.00. Provide Four undertakers - £40.00. Arrange and Conduct Funeral - £86.60. One insert in Newspaper - £18.40. Acknowledgement - £12.90. VAT 15% on same - £4.69. TOTAL £616.09. Funeral Costs 2010 - CO-OP Funeral Directors - .....Profesional Services - £700.00. Supplementary Services (including hygenic treatment)- £885.00. Provision of Traditional Oak Coffin - £250.00. Provision of Limousinr - £150.00. Newspaper notices (incl VAT)-£80.00. Interment Fee - £120.00 Ministers Fee - £100.00. Organists Fee £20.00. TOTAL - £2385.00. I`d really like to know why there are two seperate charges for their "Services" £700.00 for professionl services and £885.00 for supplementary services including hygenic treatment. Its absolutely Scandolous "
Ema
Date Added: Monday 14th June 2010
"Goodness me I have never seen so many whiney moaners on one page. Undertakers are employed mostly to deal with tasks many people do not wish to attend to (primarly a dead human body. I could paint my own house if I wanted to it would be alot cheaper than employing a painter.... I would rather employ a painter. Most people also dont wnat to take reponsibility for dealing with tthe body of their dead mother and the odour etc that is associtied with death. I bet you lot that a whining are horrible to deal with, ( not just at funerals), probably demanding, and want it all for nothing. take your coffe coupons and get a life. "
Thats life
Date Added: Wednesday 9th June 2010
"Dad died toward the end of May 2010 in Worthing. I was expecting something around £3000 after reading a number of review pages, but called three FD's anyway to get competing quotes. Two of the smaller firms quoted each item separately and they both totalled just shy of £3000. HD Tribe who are a large concern on the south coast, offered a full funeral for £2200, including a limo (the other two were extra) and their own chapel at a time to suit us (i.e. not confined to the 40 slots offered by the crematorium) as well as a fully personal service. I cannot recommend them highly enough. "
John Fernandez
Date Added: Tuesday 8th June 2010
"Given that the cost rises on average 10% eac hyear, its worth looking at a pre-paid funeral plan. If you get one for cremation, these guarantee to cover the full cost no matter how far down the line you need to "activate" the plan. Look for companies that DON'T charge by age or gender, that do have a SET price; once its paid for, its paid for. Age Concern (Age UK) do these for everyone over the age of 50 with no upper age limit or medical questions. Do the research and make your comparisons wisely."
Time4Change
Date Added: Saturday 17th April 2010
"Went to 2 funeral parlours for quotes for a cremation. Co-op Collection - £120 Use of rest room - £60 Coffin - £250 Prep body/put in coffin - £60 Professional fees - £925 Hearse - £175 Limo - £140 Cremation fee - £473 Docs fees - £147 Minister - £60 Total - £2410 Independent funeral parlour Professional fees - £995 Coffin - £576 Hearse/limo (cortege) £130 Cremation fee - £473 Docs fees - £147 Total £2191 I would be scared to cough or sneeze in the Co-op rest room in case they introduced a charge for it !! It's just a licence to print money ! as most I suspect will be paid for out of insurance money so most people will not query the extravagant costs. Others will feel "guilty" that they aren't doing the best for there lost one so will just pay through the nose. You'll never see a poor funeral home director !"
Dave Harney
Date Added: Saturday 3rd April 2010
"mother in laws funeral in january with the coop was £3,054. we got 3 rough prices and there wasnt a lot in it.chose coop because (lucky for them) it was by the care home and very near the church and we were then able to save on a limo car and walk in front of the hearse a quarter of mile to the church.) we did choose a colouful coffin which was beautiful at a cost of £670.(the estimate was £650)cheap coffin would have be £160ish) we got a discount of £69 because we are a coop member and will also get coop points. the breakdown was £690 for advice, support and guidance,all personnel neccessary to make the funeral arrangements, completing documentation and liasing with the third parties. SO i think this is daylight robbery for what the undertaker did. approx 1 hour of work. didnt even offer to run us 1 mile to the office to registar the death as we told him we were having to go on the bus. spent three quarters of an hour in his so called lounge that smelled of death. i went to the toilet and that smelled lovely!!noticed a plug-in atomiser in the lounge but it had obviously run out. £310 preperation of deceased and use of chapel of rest. £390 for all neccessary personnel to conduct the funeral.(the bill stated all personnel in the first charge, so whats the difference) £578.50 cremation fee. £147 doctors fee £149 minister and church fees £120 +vat for telegraph and argus insert for 1 night. we had the £5 gratuite removed as the cremation attendant gets a wage but on all funerals there is this £5 on your bill and we were told we were the only ones who have asked for it removing. FLEECING THE LIVING I SAY. we asked if we could see the body to check it was mum in law and this we did and she was looking pretty good.( i thought she was going to wake up)they had done a pretty good job. after viewing, the undertaker insisted we leave the room because they had a job to do. we left the room but days later realized she had been out of our site and this was the whole point of checking it was her right to the end. the undertaker said he didnt demand we left the room. but he did say "can you please leave the room,, i have a job to do" he didnt tell us why we had to leave the room and we should have been told and then made the decision..WE WOULD HAVE STAYED. he just wanted to screw the lid on. the price is ridiculous and i dont know how they have the cheek to charge this amount of money. oh and while the service was going on the undertaker kept coming in and out through the squeaky church door and then at the end of the service didnt tell me what to do and i got left behind in the pew like a fool. "
j haywood
Date Added: Thursday 1st April 2010
"The costs for funeral directors services vary greatly. Co-Op and other big corporations are just in it to keep their shareholders happy and to rip people off. Little independent firms are far more cost effective and provide a personal service not a body factory production line. Phone several firms and check prices, its always the co op that rip everyone off. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT FUNERAL DIRECTORS FIRMS! there honest and wont rip you off"
JB
Date Added: Wednesday 3rd March 2010
"I'm a financial adviser and was just checking out the average cost of a funeral and I noticed a post about the life insurance not paying out yet. For future reference if you have life insurance you should get this written into trust as this is free and means it pays out almost straight away as it avoids inheritence tax and probate. If you want to look into your own cover I'm happy to do that for you and I don't charge any fees. My name is Jade Byrne and my company is ARC Finance Group Ltd and you can contact me on 01748 901443 or you can email me at jade@arc-finance.co.uk. I hope that this information helps you."
Jade Byrne
Date Added: Saturday 30th January 2010
"My father is being cremated next week, I have an estimated cost for a simple service, just a hearse, veneered coffin, we are arranging flowers ourselves Total £2350 ! Then crematorium charge £535, Minister £115, Doctors (!) £147 Overall Total £3147 It is just outrageous !!"
Linda, Wilts
Date Added: Monday 7th December 2009
"We've just received a bill out of nowhere to replace the headstone on my dad and his partners grave, along with new inscription, and for it to be transported back to the cemetery for £790!!!! "
Stuart M.
Date Added: Tuesday 17th November 2009
"useful page! our costs for my mum in Leicester, nov. 2009 - Coffin £325 (not cheapest), hearse £295, removal fee £195, co-op fees £785, casket £130, flowers £120, crem fee £480, minister £114, organist £26, internment £160. total £2630. my dads 17 years ago was £1045!"
lsc4alm
Date Added: Tuesday 17th November 2009
"K.Waite: There are several governing bodies, SAIF (Society of Allied and Indepedent Funeral Directors) is one and looks afer independent funeral directors, while the NAFD (National Association of Funeral Directors) is larger; most FDs are a member of one or the other."
Tom
Date Added: Friday 6th November 2009
"It might be worth noting that no one is obliged to use a funeral director for a funeral, the funeral director is called upon by peoples own choice to use them to carry out tasks they may not rpefer to do them selves. So when there are comments insinuating that funeral directors are "ripping off" the bereaved for the want of a better expression, bereaved families are not being forced to use their services. There are countless funeral directors that offer excelling service and value for money and unfortunately like everything else, some seem to be getting tarred with the same brush!!"
a
Date Added: Tuesday 3rd November 2009
"hi im 22 and i have to bury my mum soon she wanted to be buried in the church graveyard in a nice coffin we want flowers in a mum shape and a hearst to take her we will carry her to her restplace and i want a tombstone it would help alot if anyone in the know could just give me a guestimate on the cost ?"
perry mason
Date Added: Wednesday 30th September 2009
"I would like to say that funeral directors are notorious at playing with peoples emotions at the time of the death of a loved one. I have left a letter asking my family not to be taken in by this and no newspaper advertisements either. They are also astronomical too. I said anyone who had been a close friend/family would know without letting others who don't give a fig notification. Good to have found this site. "
Sallyanne
Date Added: Wednesday 12th August 2009
"I could not agree with p kelly more! I am a funeral director and I believe I could give the same dignified service for a fraction of the cost. The problem is starting up! This business is a rip off!"
P C
Date Added: Wednesday 12th August 2009
" I Had my Wifes Funeral with this company, Sanderson funeral service,the funeral cost me £1926.00 this did not include press notice and flowers, these funeral directors are so kind and caring "
c grundy
Date Added: Wednesday 5th August 2009
"I work in the industry and agree that firms like the cooperative are only interested in profit no matter what they may say and are greedy they are the biggest in the country but aint the best "
FSO
Date Added: Tuesday 14th July 2009
"Above says willow coffin £1000! We paid £480 including delivery naturalendings.co.uk/buy-coffin-now.asp "
Rose
Date Added: Saturday 11th July 2009
"MOTHERS FUNERAL THIS MONTH - UNDERTAKERS COST FOR CREMATION - COST WITHOUT ADDING THE COST OF FLOWERS AND NOTICES IN PAPER ETC £2905 FLOWERS £350 NEWSPAPER FAMILY NOTICES IN A GROUP - £300 £500 FOR HIRE OF A SMALL ROOM FOR DRINKS AND FOOD AFTERWARDS DON'T FORGET THE COST OF DEATH CERT AND COPIES OF BIRTH CERTS ETC - WE HAVE SPENT WELL OVER £5000 UPTO NOW AND I WOULDN'T SAY IT HAD BEEN A LAVISH SERVICE REALLY ONLY BASIC. EVEN HER INSURANCE WONT PAY OUT UNTIL PROBATE HAS BEEN SORTED BUT PEOPLE NEED PAYING STRAIGHT AWAY - AND IN THIS PRESENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE WHEN FUNDS ARE LOW IT IS A VERY WORRYING TIME FOR FAMILY WHEN THEY HAVE TO TRY AND FIND THE MONEY FROM SOME WHERE. "
P KELLY
Date Added: Tuesday 2nd June 2009
"Just going through the grind myself, and definately feel this is a useful page. I suspect cost of burial is the cost of the hole in the ground, not the plot itself. Definitely think that Funeral Directors are legalised scammers on the back of bereavement and sentiment."
TR
Date Added: Saturday 30th May 2009
"As a professionally registered and qualified funeral director i must say these figuers are in no way comparative to any i can think of. Although costs vary vastly from one area of the country to the other, there is no way these costs reflect the actual costs of a funeral, as i am sure any recently bereaved family would tell you. "
D
Date Added: Thursday 2nd April 2009
"I\'m in the process of organising my Father\'s funeral. It took me a week to get a written quote from the undertaker. When I called today to remind him, he told me not to grumble at him (I wasn\'t up to that point but then did) and how busy he\'d been. When we first met, I said I would like a wicker or cardboard coffin (my Father is being cremated) and the undertaker was very dismissive about ideas, said that \'men don\'t get married in wicker coffins\' and that \'cardboard coffins are not very environmentally friendly\'. For my Mother\'s sake I daren\'t rock the boat but after the funeral I shall complain to whomever is the governing body of funeral directors. "
K.Waite
Date Added: Tuesday 17th February 2009
"when my dad was cremated in 1994, the funeral parlour had the audacity to ask if we would return his ashes urn after we had finished with it ''as they are expensive'' (we had paid for the damn thing )
after paying over £1,000 for the funeral, i felt i was entitled to keep the urn , and i did!"
tony fry
Date Added: Tuesday 17th February 2009
"funerals are a scam, £200 for flowers in church, is just 1 example! and £124 for a doctor to sign a few forms is another. its legalised robbery!"
tony fry
Date Added: Wednesday 28th January 2009
"you need to recalculate the costs shown they are way out of date you dont show the cost of the grave that in hull can be £1500 just for the grave.pluss all funeral directors fees"
ken taylor
Date Added: Monday 27th October 2008
"thanks for the advise it was easy to read and understand"
s stone
Date Added: Tuesday 16th September 2008
"In the absence of any response so far I have completed my own research. Factory gate prices for willow wicker coffins start at around £50, in certain Eastern European Countries. A tightly woven and more attractive seagrass coffin has a factory gate price starting at £70, in Far East Countries. Clearly costs for coffins varies hugely."
Bernard Hornung
Date Added: Thursday 28th August 2008
"I would argue that a willow wicker coffin is more environmentally friendly than a cardboard one, it has less embodied energy, as the process of manufacture requires less energy consumption and the source of materials is sustainable. Moreover if the coffin is cremated, burning natural willow, is less harmful to the atmosphere than burning substances which give off pollutants such as some glues and varnishes, which are used in manufacturing traditional wooden coffins. I cannot understand why a willow wicker coffin should be the most expensive option. Surely these items should only cost a fraction of a traditional hardwood coffin with brass handles etc.. Can anyone provide a price list for willow wicker coffins?"
Bernard Hornung
Date Added: Sunday 20th July 2008
"J Hutton - These prices have been submitted by the public. If you have different prices then please submit them using the form and we will be happy to publish them! "
Admin
Date Added: Saturday 19th July 2008
"I Have studied your page and as a funeral director I have to say your prices are very out of touch. Where can you get a burial for 600.00 - What about the cost of a grave, and I would like to know where you can get an obituary placed in the paper for 75.00 A very misleading page"
J Hutton
Date Added: Saturday 19th April 2008
"Thanks. I will fix the form ASAP"
Admin
Date Added: Friday 18th April 2008
"couldn't submit prices - faulty site? minister cost = £110"
d pearce
