What to do when someone dies
Understanding Funeral Costs in 2025
Planning a funeral is often only carried out once or twice in one’s lifetime. Understanding the various costs isn’t always straightforward as no two funerals are the same. The main costs can be categorised into funeral director fees and third-party expenses.
This guide is designed to give you all the insights you need to understand what to expect when you are setting your budget for a funeral.
Background information on funeral costs
For peace of mind, the CMA produces a standardised price list which became law in 2021 and which all funeral directors are required to display.
The standardised price list is for essential services such as collecting and caring for the deceased person, providing a simple coffin, basic transportation and a simple funeral service.
However, a funeral director can go above the standardised price list by offering optional extras or upgrades that go beyond basis funeral services. Costs can vary widely across the UK.
Current trends in funerals influenced by cost
Although families have been under pressure due to the cost of living, and this has led to some choosing more basic funeral types, there is still a growing emphasis on cost-effective, unique, personalised funerals.
The market also offers prepaid funeral plans which are a useful option for many families wanting to lock in today’s prices and have more clarity around their financial planning for family funerals.
To be sure you are receiving the most transparent costing for your funeral, SAIF recommends that you always check prices on your local funeral director’s website.
How is a funeral priced?
A funeral would typically be broken into the following component parts:
Funeral Director
Funeral director fees typically encompass the costs charged by the funeral service provider to organise the funeral. Services such as administration, funeral arranging and supervision, mortuary facilities, use of a Chapel of Rest, guidance with death registration, preparation and submission of newspaper notices, transport, and managing charitable donations would all be included.
A funeral director is responsible for the body whilst it is in their care. This will include collection, preparation, and managing viewings.
Third- party costs
These costs may include a doctor’s certification fees, a minister or celebrant’s fees, cremation costs or burial space fees, death notice costs, or probate fees.
Optional Extras
These are the additional costs that are chosen to personalise the funeral or create a more elaborate send-off. These costs are optional.
They may include flower and coffin costs, memorials and headstones, catering and venue hire costs and any other keepsake costs that are chosen.
Factors that influence funeral costs
The cost of a funeral can vary depending on several factors, so it’s important to make choices that feel right for you and your family. For instance, burial typically includes costs like the interment fee (for digging the grave) and plot price, while cremation may involve additional fees if you choose to have a ceremony. Direct cremation, the most affordable option, involves fewer services, such as no viewing, embalming or service. From our experience, this can sometimes leave families feeling they have fewer opportunities for closure. Ultimately, the choice should reflect what best honours your loved one and supports your family’s needs.
Location can also affect costs such as urban versus rural, and regional price differences.
Seasonal factors could also have a bearing such as floral costs which will be affected by the time of year. Burial costs can also be seasonal.
Types of Funerals
The type of funeral that is chosen will also affect the overall budget of the funeral. On a sliding scale, funerals with no service will typically cost less, with traditional funerals (religious or secular) costing more. The optional extras will add to the cost such as the floral arrangements, the catering for the wake, the memorial, the printing of the order of service and unique transport if chosen such as a horse-drawn carriage.
There is usually a way to tailor your funeral to your exact requirements and this can be extremely helpful when working hard to keep to budgetary requirements.
Hidden or Unexpected Costs
Sometimes there may be hidden fees, such as:
- Out of hour collection fees
- Additional fees for oversize coffins or long-distance transport
- Cemetery annual costs
If you're uncertain about any of these details, our funeral directors and arrangers are here to guide you and explain everything in a way that feels clear and understandable. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have. We're here to support you every step of the way.
Prepaid Funeral Plans
To assist with funeral planning, purchasing a prepaid funeral plan can be advantageous. More people made financial provision via a funeral plan to pay for their funeral in 2024 than the year before.
A funeral plan can be paid for over several months, and today’s prices can be locked in, thereby avoiding the inflation associated with funeral costs. There are also many different types of funeral plan. CPJ Field can assist with finding the right funeral plan for you or your family member.
How can CPJ Field help with funeral costs?
At CPJ Field, we understand that what is right for one family may not be right for another. We are here to work through all your funeral choices and carefully price your funeral.
We have many years of experience with managing funeral costs and our customer portal is a useful tool for our clients to see the exact breakdown of their funeral.
Our ethos is to work with families to give them a funeral send off that they deserve. Our funerals are always fairly priced and are good value for money.
