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Funeral Cost Calculator
A realistic, itemised UK estimate — adjusted for your region, with every figure sourced and every assumption explained. Built by someone with 20+ years in UK funeral care, with no commission from any provider.
1. Where in the UK?
Where you live changes the price more than almost anything else — a simple attended funeral averages £3,105 in Northern Ireland but £4,897 in London.
2. Choose the type of funeral
Tap "What's included" on any card to see exactly what that price covers. Not sure which suits you? The decision tool works it out with you.
3. Add the send-off extras you'd actually want
These personalise the day. Every amount below is a typical UK figure — but they're all editable, so put in what you'd actually spend. Most families choose a few, not all: the average send-off spend is £1,312.
Your estimate
Where the money goes
How your choice compares
This is an estimate, not a quote. Real prices vary between providers even on the same street. Every funeral provider must publish a Standardised Price List (a legal requirement since September 2021) — always compare at least three, and get any quote itemised in writing before agreeing to anything.
If that number is frightening
You may have more help available than you think. The Funeral Expenses Payment (England, Wales and NI) can cover the cremation or burial fee in full plus up to £1,000 of other costs; Scotland's Funeral Support Payment is similar. And a direct cremation with your own memorial afterwards is a dignified choice, not a lesser one — read the full guide to getting help with funeral costs.
Every figure on this page, sourced
- All six funeral type averages, the regional price table, the £886–£4,863 burial plot range, and the £1,312 average send-off spend: SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026 — the UK's longest-running study of funeral prices, based on quotes from 100 funeral directors and a survey of 1,500 people who organised a funeral.
- Typical extras figures (catering £450, venue hire £400, limousine £320, order sheets £60, notices): SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026 survey data. Flower costs vary from around £50 for a simple spray to several hundred pounds, so the default here is a modest mid-range starting point — adjust it to your plans.
- The funeral director's fee making up roughly 56% of a simple attended funeral bill: SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026.
- Regional adjustment method: SunLife publishes regional averages for a simple attended funeral. This calculator applies each region's ratio to the national average (£3,828) to adjust attended funeral figures. Direct cremation and direct burial providers typically price nationally, so those figures don't change by region.
- Standardised Price List requirement: Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Funerals Market Investigation Order, in force since September 2021.
Common questions
How much does a funeral cost in the UK in 2026?
It depends on the type and where you live. A direct cremation or direct burial averages £1,628. A simple attended funeral averages £3,828 nationally — but ranges from £3,105 in Northern Ireland to £4,897 in London. A traditional attended funeral averages £4,510 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026).
Why do funeral costs vary so much by region?
Mainly because cremation and burial fees are set locally, and land costs vary hugely. The clearest example is burial plots: the average plot costs £886 in Northern Ireland but £4,863 in London (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026).
What's actually included in the average funeral price?
A simple attended funeral figure includes the funeral director's professional services, collection and care of the person who died, a basic coffin, a hearse, the cremation or burial fee, and a minister or celebrant. The funeral director's fee typically makes up around 56% of the bill. Send-off extras like flowers, catering and venue hire are on top — that's what step 3 of this calculator covers.
Is this an exact quote?
No — it's a realistic, itemised estimate based on published UK averages, so you can budget and compare before speaking to any provider. Prices genuinely vary between providers, even locally. Always get a written, itemised quote before agreeing to anything.