How much do funerals cost?
An overview to understanding all the costs of funeral services
Managing Costs
Choosing a funeral package can simplify the choices for your funeral service, however, this may not benefit those that need to closely manage the funeral costs. However, our Tailored Funerals start from £995 (Click here to view our packages).
Key items that can help reduce the cost of a funeral are:
- The type of service you select - non-attended, attended, full-service these will impact the costs.
- The venue you choose - each venue charge a different price and have different slot times. E.g venue 1 may cost £900 but has a 60 minute allotted time, venue 2 may cost £766 but have a 45 minute allotted time for the funeral service.
- Keep vehicles for travel to the funeral (limos etc) to a minimum.
- Burial is far more costly than cremation.
If you’re struggling with the planned costs, please call us and our team will be happy to help. If you'd like to see more details use our funeral price calculator.
Understanding funeral costs
There are a number of elements that combine for the funeral service costs. We break these down into the following areas:
Funeral Director Fees
Being experts, a funeral director fee covers the majority of funeral arrangements, depending on your service choices. We allow you to concentrate on other things, we’ll we take care of the funeral service. This normally includes:
- Providing advice and guidance with your requirements
- Organisation and co-ordination of the required documentation and costs for the funeral to legally proceed
- Moving your loved one into their care in climate-controlled mortuary facilities
- Implementing and checking your chosen arrangements before, during and after the funeral service.
- Preparing your loved one for the funeral service
- Maintaining a venue (chapel of rest) so you can visit your loved one before the funeral
- Coffin or casket and pallbearers (if required)
- Being there on the day to direct those in attendance
- The organisation of flowers, music and funeral service stationery.
Third-party funeral costs
These are costs paid to other companies on your behalf (also called disbursements). These costs vary depending on what you choose in your funeral service and the location you’ve selected for the burial or crematorium. We collect and organise all the external payments for you so that the funeral can legally proceed.
Cremation funeral costs
These costs normally include:
- Cremation fees from the local crematorium: The cost of cremating a loved one at a local crematorium
- Cremation documents fees: Forms for applying for a cremation
- Minister or Officiant fee: For the person conducting the funeral service (if selected)
- Interment of ashes: The cost of keeping the ashes in a permanent place, usually a burial plot (if selected)
- Scattering of ashes: Disposal by strewing of ashes in the Garden of Remembrance (if selected)
- Memorial masonry: The cost of creating, installing, repairing and engraving a memorial (if selected)
- Doctor’s fees: These charges are for the cremation certificates
Burial Funeral Costs
These costs are normally comprised of:
- Minister or Officiant fee: The person conducting the funeral service
- Exclusive Right Of Burial (EROB): The burial plot
- The interment: Preparation of the burial plot or grave
- Headstone Fee: Removing a headstone (if a burial plot has a headstone then it will need to be removed to allow for the funeral to take place). The cost also covers replacing the headstone back on the grave
- Maintenance and monument fees: The local Councils often charge fees for work such as grass cutting and insurance for the burial plot
- Venue fees: The cost for the funeral service in a place of worship (e.g. Church fee)
- Memorial masonry: The cost of designing, installing, repairing and engraving a memorial.
Optional Funeral Costs
These are additional requests that are above the basic needs of a funeral. The basic needs may be a a non attended cremation, other options are available:
- Venue choices (different venues charge different amounts - even for the same service).
- Car hire
- Flowers
- Order of service handouts
- Memorial options
- And many more.
Choose additional options based on your preferences and what you’re loved one would have wanted.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
We’re happy to answer any questions you have. Just drop us a line, or give us a call.
01902 246 040 // 81 Tempest Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 1AA