The cost of a funeral has risen by 6% in the past year to an average of £4,706
- Below you will find tips for planning a funeral and limiting costs
Cremation with service: Average costs have risen to £4,431 this year, L&G says
The cost of holding a funeral has risen by almost 6 per cent this year to an average of £4,706, according to new research from Legal & General.
Direct cremation, the simplest and cheapest option without help or mourners, has risen the most in price, by 11.5 per cent to £1,557.
The ashes are then returned to a family, allowing them to organize a personal memorial service at a time of their choosing, which has become a more popular choice for farewell in recent years.
The average cost of a cremation and burial has risen 6.1 per cent this year to £4,431, while the price of a funeral and burial has risen 7.3 per cent to £5,894, the L&G research shows.
It also found that the number of public health funerals increased by 23 percent between 2018 and 2023.
Local authorities have a legal duty to provide funerals as a last resort when families cannot be traced or are unable to finance them. L&G suggested the trend was driven by rising costs.
L&G’s findings on the price of simple funerals are similar to SunLife’s latest annual survey, which found that the average cost of a simple cremation or burial had risen by 4.1 per cent to £4,141.
That would include the cost of the funeral director, a mid-range casket, a funeral limousine, a doctor and a minister or celebrant.
But it wouldn’t involve a memorial service, death and funeral announcements, flowers, order forms, limousines, the location and catering for a wake, or hiring a professional to manage an estate.
SunLife noted that costs rose again due to higher cremation and burial costs, after several years of falling after new rules required companies to publish a clear breakdown of prices on their premises and websites from autumn 2021.
Burial with a service: Average costs have risen to £5,894 this year, L&G says
L&G says: ‘Funeral costs are high, largely due to the cost of appointing a funeral director, as well as third party costs for the funeral or cremation, including the cost of the service plus the minister or officiant.’
But it says: ‘A funeral director plays a crucial role as he acts as a guide in both the planning and execution of the funeral.
‘Together with their staff, they ensure that family members are cared for, making a difficult day as easy as possible.’
L&G says extras can include flowers, memorials and plaques, newspaper announcements, hiring an organist, releasing pigeons or some other unique tribute.
Research found that the East Midlands has the lowest combined costs for a funeral director and undertaker, at around £5,000. But Wales has the cheapest cremations, at around £3,900. Greater London is the most expensive region to hold a funeral.
