The CMA Standardised Price List is the single most important tool for comparing funeral costs in the UK. Since 2021, every funeral director must publish one — yet many consumers don't know what to look for or how to use it.
What Is the CMA Standardised Price List?
The Standardised Price List (SPL) is a legally mandated document that all UK funeral directors must publish under the Competition and Markets Authority Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021.
The SPL must show prices in a standardised format covering two main baskets of services plus optional extras:
1. Attended Funeral Basket — 6 mandatory items for a full funeral service
2. Unattended Funeral Basket — 5 mandatory items for a direct cremation
3. Additional Options — Extras beyond the standard baskets
Why Was It Introduced?
The CMA investigated the UK funeral market in 2020-2021 and found:
- Average funeral costs had risen by 56% in real terms over 15 years
- Consumers found it difficult to compare prices between funeral directors
- Many providers didn't publish prices at all, or published them in inconsistent formats
- Bereaved families were "captive customers" — making decisions under time pressure and emotional stress
The remedy was the Standardised Price List, enforced by consumer law with potential court action for non-compliance.
The Attended Funeral Basket (6 Items)
Every funeral director must show the individual price for each of these six items:
| Item | Typical Price Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Legal and administrative arrangements | £395 – £1,250 | Paperwork, death registration liaison, all admin |
| Collecting and transporting the deceased | £150 – £395 | Collection within an agreed radius (usually 20 miles) |
| Care of the deceased in appropriate facilities | £175 – £450 | Dignified storage in temperature-controlled facilities |
| Providing a suitable coffin | £225 – £795 | A basic coffin appropriate for a cremation or burial |
| Viewing of the deceased | £0 – £200 | Some include this free, others charge separately |
| Hearse to cemetery or crematorium | £195 – £450 | Transportation within a specified radius |
The total attended funeral price is the sum of these six items. FuneralCompare displays this total so you can compare providers at a glance.
The Unattended Funeral Basket (5 Items)
For direct cremation (no ceremony), the SPL must include:
| Item | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative arrangements | £395 – £1,000 |
| Collecting and transporting the deceased | £150 – £350 |
| Care of the deceased in appropriate facilities | £175 – £400 |
| Providing a suitable coffin | £150 – £450 |
| Transportation to crematorium or cemetery | £100 – £350 |
The total unattended funeral price averaged £1,095 across FuneralCompare's dataset in 2026.
Additional Options
Beyond the mandatory baskets, funeral directors must also show prices for optional extras. These commonly include:
- Limousine — £200 – £400 per vehicle
- Celebrant or minister fees — £150 – £350
- Flowers — From £50 for a simple spray to £300+ for larger arrangements
- Order of service sheets — From £1.50 per sheet for basic printing
- Death notice in local newspaper — £50 – £200 depending on the publication
- Memorial books and stationery — £15 – £50
- Burial plot and grave digging — £1,000 – £5,000+ depending on location
How to Use the SPL to Compare Prices
### Step 1: Find the Total Price
Look at the total attended or unattended funeral price. FuneralCompare does this for you automatically.
### Step 2: Compare Individual Items
Two funeral directors might have the same total but very different itemised prices. One might be cheaper on the coffin but more expensive on the hearse. The comparison table shows each item so you see the full picture.
### Step 3: Check What's Missing
Some funeral directors might have missing items in their SPL. If a provider hasn't published prices for all mandatory items, that's a red flag — the CMA requires full disclosure.
### Step 4: Look for Hidden Costs
The SPL doesn't cover everything. Ask about:
- Crematorium or cemetery fees (these are separate from the funeral director's charges)
- Doctor's fees for cremation certification
- Minister or celebrant fees if not included
- Transport beyond the standard mileage radius
What If a Funeral Director Doesn't Have an SPL?
If a UK funeral director doesn't publish a Standardised Price List, they're in breach of the CMA Order. You should:
1. Ask them directly for their SPL (they're legally required to provide it on request)
2. Report them to the CMA if they refuse
3. Consider using a different funeral director — if they won't publish prices, what else might they be hiding?
FuneralCompare tracks which providers have complete SPL data. Providers without published pricing are flagged so you know what to expect.
Find funeral directors near you with full CMA-standardised pricing on FuneralCompare. Compare prices side by side and make an informed choice.