Cremation Costs in the UK 2021

The cost of having a funeral in the UK is higher than ever before. In the last two decades, the cost of a basic funeral has been rising at a rapid rate, and a growing number of families in the UK are struggling to pay for funeral services.

The average cost of a cremation is significantly lower compared to burial. This is the reason why cremation is more popular now, accounting for over 80% of funerals in the UK.

The total funeral cost is comprised of the funeral director fees, the cost of cremation or burial and other associated services. In this article, we will look at how cremation funerals are conducted in the UK, the top cremation providers and many more.

What is a Cremation Funeral in the UK?

Since cremation is more flexible and affordable than the traditional burial option, its popularity has risen significantly over the last few years.

Cremation is the method of preserving the ashes of a body instead of the traditional burial in a coffin or casket. Today’s crematoriums feature industrial furnaces that reduce the body into basic chemical compounds, also known as cremains. The cremains pose no health risk and can be kept in an urn, interred at a cemetery or scattered in a memorable place.

The whole cremation process takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete, though it may take longer to collect the cremains. According to the regulations set by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), only one body should be cremated at a time where an effective labelling system should be used for identification throughout the process.

Before the body is put in the cremation chamber, all the jewelry is taken off, and any medical devices such as prosthetics, pacemakers and silicone implants are removed. The cremation chamber temperature is increased to approximately 760^o C to 980^o C, and after a couple of hours, the organics matter will be consumed by the heat. The bones fragments are processed into fine particulates that look like ash and collected in a temporary container or urn.

Compared to traditional burial funeral, cremation is significantly less expensive. This may be the reason why there has been a steady increase in the number of cremations in the UK, accounting for over 80% of all funerals.

Apart from the price, there are other factors that may be influencing the growing popularity of cremations. First, there is an argument that cremations are environmentally friendly because they don’t include embalming, coffin materials and land use. Second, cremations offer the flexibility to choose the final resting place. For example, the ashes can be scattered in a specific place that was special to the deceased.

Top UK Cremation Providers in 2021

Cremation Costs

The overall cremation cost will depend on whether you will seek the services of a funeral director or you will arrange the funeral yourself. Although funeral directors ease the burden of planning a cremation funeral, their fee increases the overall funeral costs.

At the moment, the average cost of cremation in the UK is around £3,250, which includes the funeral directors fee, crematorium’s fee, the minister/celebrant fee and associated paperwork. If the deceased did not live in the district or borough in which the crematorium operates, there could be an additional fee.

In some cases, the cost will also include transportation of the body, embalming, a funeral procession, pallbearers, hearse and even a limousine depending on the funeral plan level. Some plans also include a coffin and the opportunity of family and close friends to view the body.

When assessing the overall cremation cost, it is worth bearing in mind elements such as flowers, memorial, catering, rented limousine and rented venue. The addition of these elements can inflate the overall cost by almost £2,000 or more.

How to Reduce the Cremation Cost?

Consider a Direct Cremation Plan.

A direct cremation is a simple way to conduct a cremation funeral, and it is the fastest-growing choice for most UK families because it is more affordable.

Depending on the region you live, the cost of a direct cremation plan can either be in the hundreds or thousands of pounds. However, these types of plans come with some limitations such as no viewing of the body, no service, no embalming and the process is conducted at odd hours such as evenings or weekends.

Use Private Cars.

It is considered traditional to have hearses and limousines leading the procession to the funeral service.

However, this is not a necessity, and you can reduce the overall cost by cutting down on transportation costs. Depending on where the memorial or service is held, you can ask family and friends to use their cars instead of hiring limousines.

Hold the Wake in your Home.

There are certain ways you can cut the cost if you are considering to hold a memorial service or wake after the funeral.

There is no right or wrong memorial service or wake, and you can hold it within your means. For example, you can hold a wake in your home rather than hiring a large venue.

Try Crowdfunding.

Instead of one family member bearing the whole financial responsibilities, friends and family can contribute to cover the expenses.

This is also a good way of bringing together those who knew the deceased. Donating something, no matter how small or big, often gives a sense of greater involvement. Nowadays, there are numerous online crowdfunding platforms that allow friends and families to not only contribute but also share photos, videos and stories.

Skip Embalming.

Preservation through embalming is a traditional practice that is optional and not a necessity. It is mainly done to slow down the natural decaying process for a more life-like appearance for public viewing.

If viewing the body is not essential for you, you can arrange for the cremation immediately after death, which is a great way to cut costs. Alternatively, you can choose refrigeration, which is also a bit cheaper.

Cremation vs. Burial

Costs

The major difference between a cremation funeral and a burial funeral is the cost.

While the average cremation cost is around £3,500, the average burial cost is £5,000. The cremation cost is even lower when you choose the direct cremation plan, which can be as low as £1,000.

However, one thing that can inflate the cremation cost is what you decide to do with the ashes. Although burying the ashes in a cemetery is preferred by many, it can cost up to £400 or more while scattering them is free.

Flexibility

Compared to burial funeral, cremation is more flexible, allowing you to choose whether to hold a service at the crematorium or later.

Also, there are options when it comes to what to do with the cremated ashes. You can bury them at a cost or choose free alternatives such as scattering them in one of the favourite spots of the deceased. In addition, the ashes can be shared among family members and friends.

Pros and Cons of Cremation Funeral

Conclusion

Cremation funeral is increasingly becoming a preferred method because it is cheaper than burial funeral.

Since there are numerous cremation funeral providers, it can be challenging to choose the right funeral plan for your needs. Make sure to check out our list of recommended cremation providers in the UK to narrow down your list.

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