Breakdown of funeral costs UK
The cost of both cremation and burial funerals in the UK…
6.5 min
No, in the UK you’re not required to have a funeral by law.
When someone passes away, their body must be cremated or buried, but there doesn’t have to be a funeral service before this.
There are also no rules as to how, where or when you choose to commemorate a life. It can be as simple, personal or unique as you wish.
If you’re thinking ‘I don’t want a funeral when I die’ or you’re honouring the wishes of a loved one who didn’t want a funeral, then you could opt for a simple direct cremation without ceremony. Or perhaps you’re thinking ‘I don’t want a traditional funeral’.
If so, there are plenty of alternative funeral options that may be more appropriate.
Instead of a funeral, you may wish to leave a little extra financial security for your loved ones, in the form of an inheritance.
In this scenario, you may want to consider over 50s life insurance.
For more information, continue reading our helpful guide as we answer the question: Do you have to have a funeral?
A funeral is a formal gathering of family and friends who wish to say a final goodbye to someone who’s passed away.
In the UK, most funerals have a traditional structure, and include an officiant or celebrant-led ceremony at a crematorium chapel or place of worship.
The ceremony is then followed by a cremation or burial. For a burial, mourners may also attend a burial service at the graveside before the coffin is lowered into the ground.
Usually, a funeral director is appointed by the bereaved family to help arrange and conduct a funeral.
So, what is a funeral for? A funeral has various purposes, some including:
Yes, generally it would be okay not to have a funeral if:
The circumstances surrounding the death may also influence how you feel about holding a formal send-off that may cost thousands of pounds.
These may include:
There are many reasons why someone may choose not to have a funeral. Some of these include:
According to the Co-op Funeral Trends report published in 2019:
Attitudes to funerals in the UK are changing, as more and more people are opting for simpler and cheaper funeral alternatives.
Funeral directors have had to evolve their services to keep up with the changing demands of their customers.
Funerals are now more likely to focus on remembrance and celebrating the life of the deceased, rather than traditional or religious values.
Whether you don’t want a funeral or you want something different from a conventional funeral, you’ll be able to find something that caters for your unique needs.
Here are some traditional funeral alternatives you may consider…
Traditional funeral alternatives | What is it? | Other important notes |
---|---|---|
Direct cremation | A straightforward cremation, without a funeral service or ceremony beforehand, and no mourners present. | You’ll be cremated in a basic coffin at a date and time decided by the crematorium. |
Direct burial | Similar to a direct cremation, except with a burial. | You’re interred (buried) in a basic coffin. Venue is chosen by your loved ones, but they don’t attend. |
Cremation with family-led service | A cremation which has a private ceremony beforehand held by loved ones. | Avoids the expense of full traditional funerals, while giving your loved ones a chance to say goodbye. |
Do It Yourself (DIY) funeral | A funeral where your loved ones make all the arrangements. | Saves money, but could be a challenge for loved ones to carry out during a difficult time. Includes:
|
Humanist/Celebration of life funeral | Non-religious funeral. | Allows for more focus to be placed on the deceased rather than any religious aspect. |
Woodland funeral (natural burial) | A more eco-friendly alternative. | The coffin or shroud is made from biodegradable materials. No headstone or embalming is permitted in order to protect the environment. |
The SunLife Cost of Dying report in 2024 revealed:
Regardless of the type of funeral you choose, it’s important that enough money has been saved up to respect your wishes.
If you’re worried about your family struggling to afford the cost of your funeral, why not contact Reassured about an over 50s life insurance plan?
This is a type of policy that guarantees a cash pay out to your family when you pass away, providing them with some funds to help towards your funeral.
Depending on your personal circumstances and budget, you could secure up to £20,000 of cover. Quotes could start from just 20p-a-day.
No, you don’t have to use the services of a funeral director or use a funeral home when someone dies, even if you want to have a funeral.
A funeral director provides most of the professional services required for a funeral and can ease a lot of the stress that families face during an already difficult time.
One of the most important roles that a funeral director has is being able to collect and then care for the deceased in a temperature-controlled mortuary up until the funeral.
They also have suitable vehicles to transport the body to where the funeral service is being held and then to the crematorium or cemetery.
Nonetheless, it’s possible for loved ones to make all or some of the necessary arrangements themselves.
This is called a DIY funeral (as mentioned above).
Loved ones would have to consider the following arrangements that need to be made:
There’s no obligation for people to wear black to a funeral, however, when making your choice it’s important to consider the wishes of the person who’s died and their family.
Black tends to be the most suitable colour for the occasion, however, other dark colours would be acceptable.
Sometimes, people request that mourners to their funeral wear colourful clothing or clothes of their favourite colour.
According to the Co-op survey, 84% of funeral directors have reported an increasing shift in families asking mourners to wear brighter colours at services and 87% had conducted a funeral in the last 12 months where mourners wore bright colours.
No, you don’t have to have a wake after a funeral.
Traditionally, a wake is held straight after the service and may take place at a local church hall, hotel or another nearby venue.
It’s usually a more casual event with food, drinks, music and further tributes to the deceased.
If you don’t want to have a wake, then you may consider having a ‘living funeral’.
This is when all your family and friends get together for one final celebration before you pass away.
Instead of being a sad event, it can include drinking and eating, sharing happy memories and dancing to your favourite music.
The money received from an over 50s life insurance plan could contribute towards a happier event in your honour.
Quotes could start from as little as 20p-a-day. Simply contact us if you would like more information.
If you’ve chosen not to have a funeral for yourself or for a loved one, then there are alternative ways that family and friends can pay tribute.
These include:
Medical schools accept body donations for research or for training healthcare professionals.
Donating a body doesn’t cost the family anything and there doesn’t need to be a funeral beforehand.
For more information visit: Human Tissue Authority.
Unless the person who’s has died has a prepaid funeral plan (or life insurance that’s written into trust) in place, then some aspects of the funeral may need to be paid upfront by the person arranging the funeral.
Most of the time a funeral director or funeral services provider will allow you to spread the cost of their services by instalments.
Third-party costs, such as minister or celebrant fees, doctors’ fees and cremation or burial fees may need to be paid upfront.
If there are funds remaining from the deceased’s estate, then the amount spent on a funeral can be claimed back following probate.
If you’re unsure whether a traditional funeral is for you, why not consider an over 50s plan to help cover your alternative funeral choice, as well as the essential cremation or burial fees?
With over 50s life insurance, cover lasts for the rest of your life and guarantees your loved ones a pay out.
This can allow your loved ones to help cover the cost of your funeral or any other celebration of life that’s more your style when the time comes.
It can also potentially leave some additional funds for your loved ones to spend as they wish.
[1] https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/
[2] https://www.coop.co.uk/funeralcare/funeral-trends