Average Funeral Cost in the UK: What Official Sources Say

In short: There is no single current official average funeral cost for the UK. The CMA’s latest annual review, published on 7 August 2025, found average funeral director revenue of £2,778 per funeral for directors with five or more branches in the year to 31 August 2024, and that figure excludes cremation, burial and other third-party costs. Local prices vary widely, so comparing providers in your area matters more than any national figure.

Is there an official average funeral cost?

No government body publishes one current average funeral cost for the whole UK. Neither GOV.UK nor Citizens Advice gives a single official figure for what a funeral costs as a whole. The nearest official data comes from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has monitored the funeral market since its investigation.

The CMA said in its review of 7 August 2025 that it will not publish further annual reviews, although it will keep monitoring information it receives under its Order. That means the 2025 review is the most recent official set of figures this guide could find, as at November 2026.

MoneyHelper does publish average funeral costs, but its figures come from commercial industry surveys rather than from official data. This guide does not repeat them. If you want to see them, read the current MoneyHelper page, and treat any national average as a rough guide only. Your own quotes matter more.

What the CMA data says about funeral director charges

The CMA’s 2025 review put average funeral director revenue at £2,778 per funeral, for the year from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024. This covers directors with five or more branches, and the CMA calculates it by dividing total revenue, excluding disbursements, by the number of funerals arranged.

That wording matters for families. Disbursements are payments a funeral director makes to a third party on your behalf, such as the crematorium or burial fee, doctors’ fees and a celebrant’s fee. So the figure shows what the director charged for its own services and goods, not the full bill you might receive.

The same review reported:

• revenue per funeral rose 1.7 per cent in that year, while consumer price inflation (CPI) was 2.2 per cent
• average revenue per cremation at crematoria was £862 in the same year, up 4.8 per cent
• average revenue per funeral and per cremation was still lower in real terms in 2024 than in 2021

These two figures describe different businesses, so do not simply add them together to get a total. They also come only from firms that must report to the CMA, which means the larger funeral directors, so they may not match what a small independent charges. Treat them as a guide to the direction of travel, not a price you should expect.

What the CMA investigation found about prices

The CMA’s 2020 investigation found that funeral prices had risen faster than general inflation and that prices for similar services varied considerably. Its final report summary, published in December 2020, found that funeral directors’ prices had risen by an average of 5 per cent a year over 13 years, and crematorium prices by an average of 6 per cent a year over 10 years.

It also found that:

• there were significant price differences between funeral directors in the same local area
• bereaved people are often emotionally vulnerable, feel under pressure to decide quickly and rarely compare prices
• most people choose a funeral director through personal recommendation or by returning to one used before
• prices were often hard to compare online or by phone

This led to the Funerals Market Investigation Order. Since 16 September 2021, funeral directors must display a Standardised Price List in their premises and on their websites, and crematoria must provide price information to funeral directors and customers. These are the tools you can use to work out the average funeral cost where you live, because they show real local prices.

What Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper say about costs

Both explain what makes up a funeral bill rather than giving one official average funeral cost. Citizens Advice says a simple funeral is likely to include a plain, lined coffin, moving the person to the funeral director’s premises, a hearse and bearers. It lists flowers, a more expensive coffin and fittings, doctors’ fees for a cremation certificate, burial or crematorium fees, embalming, a memorial and catering as costs that can be extra.

GOV.UK makes the same split: funeral director fees, third-party payments such as the officiant, crematorium, cemetery fees or a newspaper notice, and local authority burial or cremation fees. Our guide to where the money goes goes through each part in detail.

MoneyHelper gives practical tips on comparing prices:

• get at least two quotes, ideally from an independent funeral director and a national chain
• compare nearby cemeteries and crematoria, because fees can differ sharply over a few miles
• council crematoria are usually cheaper than private ones, though facilities may be more basic
• cheaper time slots, such as early morning or weekdays, can reduce the cost
• plan a budget and avoid borrowing to pay for a funeral

MoneyHelper also says prices vary quite a bit depending on location and the funeral arrangements, which is why a national average funeral cost is a weak guide for any one family.

Why the average funeral cost varies by area

Prices differ by area mainly because local competition, crematorium ownership and third-party fees are different in each place. The CMA’s 2020 report found that crematoria are few and far between, that many people have access to only one local crematorium and few have access to more than three. It said competition between crematoria was generally weak.

Other reasons the figures differ:

• local authorities ran 61 per cent of crematoria at the time of the CMA’s 2020 report, and private crematoria were often significantly more expensive than local authority ones
• burial costs include the plot and the digging and closing of the grave, and cemeteries may add charges such as non-resident fees or an annual maintenance fee, according to MoneyHelper
• funeral directors set their own prices, so two firms in the same town can charge very different amounts
• the type of funeral changes the cost: attended, unattended, cremation or burial
• extras such as flowers, catering, a memorial or newspaper notices are chosen by the family and add to the total

Because of this, a low average funeral cost in one region does not mean you will find a low price near you. A shorter journey to a cheaper crematorium, even a few miles further away, can change the bill.

If an unattended cremation might suit your family, see our guide to direct cremation.

How to compare funeral costs in your area

Ask at least two funeral directors for their Standardised Price List and compare them line by line, along with the local crematorium prices. The CMA guidance requires funeral directors to publish the list on their website, as a separate PDF reachable by one link from the home page, and in their branch window.

A practical order of steps:

1. Ask each funeral director for the Standardised Price List. They must provide a copy on request and offer a physical copy to anyone who cannot visit or go online.
2. Compare the total attended funeral price. The CMA label for it is funeral director’s charges only, so it excludes third-party fees.
3. Add the local crematorium or cemetery fees, which funeral directors must also display, including the standard, reduced and unattended cremation fees.
4. Check the Additional Options Price List for items such as flowers, coffins, transport and funeral jewellery.
5. Ask for the final written total, with every extra, before you agree.
6. Check the terms of business for deposits, payment dates and late payment charges.

If you are looking at cremation specifically, our cremation cost guide explains the fees involved. You could also look at low-cost funeral options before you decide.

Planning a budget and help with costs

Set a budget before you meet a funeral director, and ask who is responsible for paying before you sign anything. GOV.UK says funds can come from a prepaid plan or insurance policy, from family or friends, or from the estate, and that access to the estate usually requires a grant of representation.

If you are struggling to pay, you may be able to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment if you get certain benefits. It usually will not cover the full cost, so check what is covered. If there is nobody able to arrange a funeral, MoneyHelper says the local council where the person died can arrange and pay for a basic funeral. Our guide to funeral costs and funeral expenses payment explains who can apply and how.

In Scotland, the Funeral Support Payment has replaced the Funeral Expenses Payment, according to GOV.UK. Scotland also has its own Funeral Director Code of Practice, in force from 1 March 2025. Prices and rules can differ in Wales and Northern Ireland, so check with the local council and ask each provider for its price list.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average funeral cost in the UK?

There is no single official average. The CMA’s August 2025 review found average funeral director revenue of £2,778 per funeral for the year to 31 August 2024, excluding third-party costs such as cremation fees. Your total will depend on your area and choices.

Does the CMA figure include cremation or burial fees?

No. The CMA calculates average revenue per funeral excluding disbursements, which are payments a funeral director makes to third parties for you. Cremation or burial fees, doctors’ fees and celebrant fees are normally extra. Ask for a written total before you agree.

Why do funeral prices differ so much?

The CMA found significant price differences between funeral directors, even in the same area, and few people shop around. Crematoria also have little competition, and many families have only one nearby. Costs also change with the type of funeral and the extras chosen.

How do I find out what funeral directors near me charge?

Ask for each funeral director’s Standardised Price List. The CMA Order requires it on their website and in their branch, and they must give you a copy on request. Compare the same items across at least two firms.

Are council crematoria cheaper than private ones?

MoneyHelper says council-run crematoria are usually cheaper than private ones, though facilities may be more basic. The CMA found in 2020 that private crematoria were often significantly more expensive. Check the local prices that crematoria must display.

Can I get help if I cannot afford a funeral?

You may be able to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment if you receive certain benefits, though it usually does not cover the full cost. In Scotland, Funeral Support Payment applies instead. If no one can arrange it, the local council may arrange a basic funeral.

Is a direct cremation cheaper than a traditional funeral?

There is no official figure, but an unattended cremation has no service, viewing or agreed time, and crematoria set a separate unattended fee. Compare the actual prices on each provider’s Standardised Price List rather than relying on an average.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Funerals market review of outcomes (CMA, 7 August 2025)
• GOV.UK: Funerals market investigation final report summary (CMA, December 2020)
• GOV.UK: CMA action makes funeral prices clear for grieving families
• GOV.UK: Funeral directors and crematorium operators guidance (CMA)
• Citizens Advice: Arranging a funeral
• MoneyHelper: How much does a funeral cost?
• GOV.UK: Arrange a funeral
• GOV.UK: Funeral Expenses Payment

This page is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. The Care Panel is an independent guide and is not part of any government body or care provider. Last checked 9 November 2026.

Related: Cremation cost in the UK · Funeral costs and Funeral Expenses Payment · Who pays for a funeral

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.