The average UK funeral costs £3,086 for an attended service, and the most expensive providers charge over £4,795. But you don't have to pay those prices. Here are 10 practical ways to reduce funeral costs without compromising on the quality of the farewell.
1. Always Compare Multiple Providers
The single biggest money-saving step is to compare prices. Our data shows the cheapest attended funeral in our database costs £1,495 while the most expensive costs £4,795 — a difference of £3,300 for the same standardised basket of services.
What to do: Use FuneralCompare to find and compare all funeral directors in your area. Check the box next to providers you're interested in and see their full prices side by side.
2. Consider a Direct Cremation
Direct cremation (unattended cremation) costs around £1,095 on average — roughly one-third of the cost of a traditional attended funeral. You can hold a separate memorial service later at a venue of your choosing, which gives you more control over the cost and format.
Savings: Up to £2,000 compared to an attended funeral.
3. Choose an Independent Funeral Director
Independent funeral directors often charge significantly less than national chains. Our data shows many high-quality independent providers charging under £2,000 for an attended funeral, while national chains in the same area may charge £3,000 or more.
Why they're cheaper: Lower overheads, local premises, and family-run businesses with less corporate markup.
4. Be Flexible with the Date and Time
Crematorium and cemetery fees vary by time and day. A weekday morning slot is usually the cheapest, while Friday afternoons and weekends cost the most. Some crematoria offer discounted slots for the first or last appointment of the day.
Savings: £100 – £400 depending on the venue.
5. Ask About a Basic Coffin
The price of a coffin in our dataset ranges from £225 to £795 for the standard basket. An eco-friendly coffin made from cardboard, willow, or bamboo can cost even less — often under £200.
Important: A simple coffin is no less dignified than an expensive one. Many funeral directors will quote a higher coffin price automatically unless you ask for a basic option.
6. Limit the Limousines
Each limousine adds £200 – £400 to the bill. Instead of multiple limousines, consider:
- One car for close family only
- Asking family and friends to travel directly to the crematorium or cemetery
- Using personal cars for the funeral procession
Savings: £200 – £800 for multiple vehicles.
7. Choose a Simple Burial
If you're choosing burial over cremation, burial costs can vary enormously. Options from cheapest to most expensive:
1. Green/natural burial site — £500 – £1,500
2. Existing family plot — Only grave-digging fee (£500 – £1,000)
3. Cemetery burial (new plot) — £1,000 – £5,000+
Savings: A green burial can save £2,000+ compared to a traditional cemetery burial.
8. DIY the Order of Service Sheets
Many funeral directors charge £100 – £300 for designing and printing orders of service. You can:
- Design them yourself using free online templates (Canva, Google Docs)
- Print them at a local print shop or use an online printing service
- Share a digital version by email or on a memorial website
Savings: £50 – £200.
9. Consider a Weekday Service
Crematorium and cemetery fees vary significantly by day. According to industry data:
10. Ask About Payment Plans
Many funeral directors offer payment plans that let you spread the cost over 6-12 months. While this doesn't reduce the total cost, it makes it manageable if you're on a tight budget.
What to ask: "Can I pay in instalments?" Some providers charge interest, others offer interest-free plans for a small administration fee.
Putting It All Together: Your Budget Funeral
Here's what a well-planned budget funeral might look like:
| Item | Typical Cost | With Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Legal and admin arrangements | £500 | £450 (shop around) |
| Collection and transport | £250 | £200 (choose a local provider) |
| Care of deceased | £250 | £225 |
| Basic coffin | £350 | £150 (eco coffin) |
| Viewing of deceased | £100 | £0 (free at some providers) |
| Hearse | £300 | £250 |
| Crematorium fee | £800 | £650 (weekday slot) |
| Total | £2,550 | £1,925 |
Total saved: £625 — and that's before considering direct cremation, which would cut the total to around £1,095.
Start comparing funeral prices on FuneralCompare today. Enter your postcode to see real CMA-standardised prices from funeral directors near you.