The average cost of a simple funeral has reached a record £4,285, with one in five families struggling to pay, annual figures show. The figure has risen 3.5% in a year, while the overall cost of dying has reached £9,797, according to the 21st SunLife Cost of Dying report.
The cost of a simple funeral – which includes an attended burial or cremation, funeral director, doctor and celebrant fees, a coffin and limousine – has risen by 134% from £1,835 in 2004. If funeral prices had risen at the same rate of inflation, the average cost today would be £3,211, SunLife calculated.
The total cost of dying – which also includes full send-off costs and probate fees – has increased by 1.4% to £9,797. The comparatively modest increase was due to the average cost of probate falling by almost £100 year-on-year.
As probate fees are typically calculated as a percentage of the estate being managed, this is likely due to a variance in the average estate size of respondents rather than a decrease in professional fees, the report said. London remains the most expensive place to die, with the average funeral costing £5,449 – a 5.4% rise on last year and 27% more than the UK average.
The cost of direct cremations – a cremation without a funeral service – has risen for just the second time since tracking began in 2017, up 6.7% from £1,498 to £1,597. However, they still remain the cheapest type of funeral.
Direct cremations, which saw higher numbers during the pandemic, now account for a fifth of all funerals, up from just 3% in 2019. Only 38% of people make provisions to cover the full cost of their funeral, causing “notable financial concerns” for one in five families, a survey for the study found.
On average, those families had to find almost £2,371 to cover the costs, with 33% using savings and investments, 24% putting it on a credit card, 23% borrowing the money from a friend or relative and 19% selling belongings. The findings also suggest that Britons still find talking about funerals as uncomfortable as ever.
Of those organising a funeral, 18% did not know any of their loved one’s wishes, 51% did not even know if their loved one wanted a burial or cremation, 67% did not know if they wanted a religious service or not, and 87% did not know who they should be inviting to pay their respects.
When asked about their own funerals, 35% said they wanted their family to spend as little as possible. SunLife chief executive Mark Screeton said: “It’s so important for people to talk more about their funerals so that loved ones aren’t left to organise things with little idea about what the deceased would have wanted.
“This year’s Cost of Dying Report highlights just how much of a financial and emotional impact not knowing can have. A send-off doesn’t need to cost thousands. A direct cremation with a DIY get-together afterwards might be the perfect way to say a personal goodbye to a loved one. But we know families tend to only choose low-cost options when it has been specifically requested by the deceased.
“So it’s really important that, as a nation, we start talking about funerals, so that we can discuss with loved ones the type of funeral we want and how it will be paid for. That way, family and friends aren’t left to make difficult emotional and financial decisions once we have gone.”
Lynne Clarke, 64, organised a direct cremation for her mother Shirley Kirkham, 91, with Pure Cremation, The cost was £1,895. Lynn said: “My mum was taken ill while my husband and I were living in Spain. We returned to the UK to see her, and just five weeks later, she passed away. In those weeks I spoke to mum about her funeral, and suggested a direct cremation as a friend of mine had organised one recently.
My mum had never heard of one, but liked the idea so decided to pay in advance with Pure Cremation. Then, when she passed in October, all I had to do was call them, and they said they could organise it for the 18– a Friday.”
The family decided to organise a celebration of life for the same day, in the Crown and Cushion – her local pub in Chapeltown, Sheffield.
“All mum’s family and friends came, and it was a real celebration – not sad at all. Everyone was asked to wear bright colours, we had music playing, lots of food and drink. We had pictures of mum displayed around the pub and her favourite tipples were vodka and orange and Harvey’s Bristol cream, so we had shots of vodka on the bar, orange juice in jugs and shots of sherry. It wasn’t sad at all.
“I have absolutely no regrets. While it wasn’t about the money, mum’s decision to pre-pay with Pure Cremation meant we didn’t face financial stress or the burden of arranging a big funeral. We knew exactly what she wanted, which allowed us to focus on creating a meaningful celebration of her life.
“It was wonderful, no pressure, it is all on your own terms, and because you don’t have to go to crematorium, it is not morbid at all, which is why my husband, and I have decided we will also have direct cremations.”
Ian Atkinson, Chief Marketing Officer at Pure Cremation added: “That the average cost of a funeral has risen by 3.5% in just a year is shocking.”