Basic Funeral Costs in the UK in 2021

At the moment, the average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is £4,500, which is an increase of over 130% in the last decade and a half.

It is always a difficult time to lose a family member or a close friend. Due to the sharp increase in funeral costs, it is hard to have a balance between getting an affordable funeral plan and giving them the best send-off.

In this article, we give you a breakdown of how much a basic funeral costs, factors to consider when planning a funeral, the most affordable funerals plans as well as some tips that can help you reduce funeral costs.

What is a basic funeral in the UK?

While losing a close person is very painful, it also costs a fortune. The average funeral cost in the UK now stands at £4,500, having risen 130% since 2005.

A basic funeral involves acquiring a death certificate, getting the required funeral permits, funeral planning, sheltering the remains, coordinating with the cemetery, hiring a funeral director as well as paying for the venue, flowers, catering, etc.

After taking into account the additional costs for flowers, venue, catering and funeral director fee, the cost could increase to £7,000 or even more.

There are ways you can hold a funeral if you are financially limited. However, you will have to sacrifice some elements that inflate the cost. For example, you can choose a smaller venue or buy cheaper flowers. You don’t need expensive decorations or a grand venue to have a sentimental send-off.

You can make a funeral more affordable by making it as basic as possible. If you are not careful with the budget, the total funeral cost can easily inflate. Even though it is desirable to give our loved ones the best send-off possible, it is not good to overspend.

Most Affordable Funeral Plans in the UK

Below are the most pocket-friendly funeral plans you should take a look at.

Things to Consider When Arranging a Basic Funeral

Funeral directors

Funeral directors are professionals who help in handling paperwork, logistics and other factors involved in arranging a funeral.

By hiring funeral directors, you can be assured that the funeral process will be orderly.

Mourners

It is uncommon to directly invite people to a funeral. Most people find out about the details through online obituaries, word of mouth or death notice on the dailies. It should include details of whether it is a private or public venue as well as any special requests like a dress code.

Funeral Themes

It is possible to choose a theme for a funeral event. For example, some people request mourners to wear an emblem or follow a specific dress code. A common request is to wear bright colours in memory of the deceased instead of the cliché dark colours.

If the deceased was in a particular profession or service, his/her colleagues may wear a uniform or perform ceremonial gestures.

Officiator

A funeral needs someone to officiate; if you are religious, you can ask the head of your church to lead the service. However, if ever your church leader isn’t available, the funeral service can also be officiated by a friend or family member.

Venue

In most cases, funerals are held in multi-denominational chapels or places of worship. Also, other venues such as burial sites, multi-purpose community spaces or even football grounds can be ideal places to hold a funeral service.

Order of Service

It is important to note that some religious groups require specific guidelines when holding a funeral service. For instance, some strict religious groups advise its members to include specific prayers and practices.

If you or the deceased do not have a specific place of worship and would like your family to conduct the funeral service, you can arrange that with the funeral home in advance.

Funeral Music

Music is considered to be an important part of a funeral service. Nowadays, the music played in the service reflects the personality of the deceased.

Your funeral director can help arrange the music, choir or organist. You can also opt for a musician family or friend to play at the service. Note that some churches and places of worship have restrictions on the type of music that can be played. Usually, most types of music are allowed as long as they are not offensive.

How Much Does a Basic Funeral Cost in the UK?

Recent figures indicate that the average basic cost of a funeral is £4,500. However, the cost varies significantly depending on funeral arrangements and location. For example, the average funeral cost in London is £5,963.

Nonetheless, you can still have a decent funeral at a lower cost. You can opt for cremation package that is much cheaper. Some of the factors that contribute to the overall funeral cost include the following:

Funeral Director Fees

Arranging and planning a funeral can be hectic. Therefore, you need to hire a funeral director who can ensure that the whole process will run smoothly.

The funeral director fee will mainly depend on your region of residence as well as the rate of the funeral director you’ll choose. If you are looking for the cheapest option, go for an independent funeral director rather than one attached to a company.

Third-party costs

Also known as disbursements, these are additional charges for the arrangements of a funeral. Most funeral plans do not include third-party costs so you’ll have to pay for them separately.

Third-party posts can vary widely depending on your region of residence and whether you choose a burial service or cremation. Most funeral directors also do not always include these charges when providing quotes. Depending on the arrangement, third-party costs can add £2,500 to the overall funeral cost.

Burial Costs

The burial cost will depend on a lot of factors. In most cases, it covers the burial plot, minister/officiator, interment, headstone, monument, memorial masonry and the exclusive rights of burial (EROB). You can consult your funeral director to enquire about affordable burial plans in your local area.

Cremation Costs

Cremation is a cheaper option compared to burial. The average cost of a cremation funeral in the UK is £4,000. This cost already included the crematory fee, officiator’s fee, funeral director’s fee and paperwork involved. However, the cost can vary by hundreds of pounds across the country.

Factors such as location, types of services offered and other extras can make the cost even higher. The overall cremation cost will mainly depend on whether you will hire a funeral director to make the arrangements or you will do it yourself. A funeral director plays a critical role in easing the burden of making all the necessary arrangements for a cremation funeral. This helps alleviate the stress at such an upsetting and difficult time.

Operational Costs

Operation costs refer to the amount that should be paid for catering, limousine hire, flowers, etc. The average cost of all these extra services is around £2,300.

Note that these services are entirely optional. You should not be pressured to add things that may disrupt your budget. Therefore, it is important to think carefully about whether these are really necessary because the cost can rise quickly. If you feel you must include these options, you should shop around to get the best deal.

Paperwork Fee

There are certain documents such as the death certificate and the cremation forms that you will be required to pay for.

The death certificate can be obtained from the registry’s office, and the average cost is around £11 across the country. In the case of a cremation, you will be required to have cremation forms 4 and 5. The first form is signed by the doctor who took care of the deceased at the time of death, and the second is signed by an unrelated doctor to confirm. The average cost of each form is around £11.

What is a ‘Cremation Without Ceremony’ and How Much does it Cost?

Also known as cremation without ceremony, direct cremation is where a funeral service company collects the body from a mortuary and cremates it immediately.

In most cases, it doesn’t involve a funeral service or viewing of the body. If you wish to get the ashes, make sure that you have requested earlier enough. You can either collect them or be delivered to you for a small fee.

Usually, the average cost of a direct cremation ranges between £1,500 and £2,000. You can also find some companies that offer it for as low as £1,000. The price includes costs such as crematorium fees and the doctor’s certification. Note that the total cost could go up if you would like the ashes returned to you. Also, collecting the body outside the company’s working hours or from a residence and nursing home can inflate the cost.

What is the Cost of a Child’s Funeral?

In 2019, the UK government introduced the Children’s Funeral Fund to help pay for the cost of a funeral of a child below 18 years or a stillborn after the 24^th week of pregnancy. What you have in your savings or what you earn does not affect how much you get.

The fund covers the burial fee, coffin/shroud/casket, cremation cost as well as paperwork cost. You can claim the funds directly from the burial or cremation provider. Remember that claims should be made within six months after the funeral.

Tips to Reduce Funeral Cost

Funerals are becoming very expensive in the UK. That’s why many people are now looking for ways that can help them cut the funeral cost and still give a decent send-off to their loved ones.

Here are some useful tips on how you can reduce the funeral cost.

Get a Cremation Package

In most parts of the UK, cremation is cheaper than burial.

Additionally, there are other ways that can help you reduce the costs of cremation. For instance, rather than burying the cremated ashes, you can opt to scatter them. Some of the common places you can scatter ashes include your family garden, beach, river or a memorable location that meant something to the deceased.

Some funeral directors offer the option to scatter the ashes at the crematorium free of charge. This will lower the cost even further. Alternatively, you can select an urn of your choice to keep the ashes at home.

Choose an Affordable Independent Funeral Director

The funeral director fee forms a huge part of the total funeral cost. So, it is important to choose the right director that fits your budget. It’s highly recommended that you choose a good and affordable independent funeral director because they usually charge less than those associated with funeral plan providers.

A good funeral director should make all the necessary arrangements from the collection and care of the deceased to coordinating with third parties and organizing the funeral day. Choose a flexible director that will allow you to personalize the funeral in a way that reflects and celebrate your loved one’s life. For instance, you may want to consider alternative coffins and caskets, dressing the deceased in certain clothes, printed service stationery, urns, etc.

Rent a Hearse and Use Private Cars

Travelling costs can eat a significant portion of the funeral budget. To save some money, you can choose a hearse to transport the coffin and require your family members and friends to use their cars instead of renting limousines and other private funeral cars.

Choose a Simple Funeral Plan

If you don’t have a lot of savings to pay for expensive coffins, large funeral halls and limousines, it is best if you only get a basic funeral plan from companies like Dignity.

Conclusion

The cost of a basic funeral in the UK mainly depends on the funeral plan provider you choose, the type of funeral plan you’ll get and where you live. Most funeral plan providers offer a basic plan that includes all the necessary things needed for a basic funeral. The more services a plan has, the higher its cost will be.

A direct cremation is becoming popular since it is much cheaper than a burial funeral. It’s highly recommended for people with limited funds.

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