Average UK cremation costs and money-saving tips
Cremation costs in the UK vary depending on whether you prefer a traditional or simple funeral, and on the location. Understanding these options can help you plan an affordable send-off.
At Distinct Cremations, our focus is to provide simple and affordable cremation funerals with no compromise when it comes to dignity and compassion. Give our friendly team a call for more information about our services.
Exceptional service
Rated 5/5 on Feefo
Experience you can trust
Over 74,000 cremations a year
Expert funeral care
Supporting families for over 30 years
How much does cremation cost?
In 2024, the average cost of cremation in the UK was £3,980*. This amount will include the services of a funeral director, cremation, a coffin and optional features such as a limousine, and a minister or celebrant.
The cost of cremation varies depending on location, beliefs, and whether you choose a traditional or simplified send off. For instance, cremation costs will be higher for an elaborate funeral with a procession.
Whichever type of funeral you choose, you can make it unique to your loved one with personal touches.
*SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
Langstone Vale Crematorium
Burial and cremation costs compared
Average UK burial costs - £5,198
Burials cost £5,198* on average, making this the most expensive option. This represents an 8.4% increase from 2022, when the average burial cost was £4,794.
* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
Average UK cremation costs - £3,980
The average cost of cremation in the UK is £3,980*. This marks an 8.3% rise from 2022, when the average cremation cost was £3,673.
* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
Average direct cremation cost - £1,597
The average direct cremation costs £1,597*, and is a cheaper alternative to traditional funeral options.
* SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
A Distinct Cremations cremation - from £1,299
At our direct cremation, or just cremation service, the deceased rests in the chapel whilst a song of the family's choice is played before the cremation takes place.
This service is conducted without attendees, which keeps costs low and allows families the freedom to celebrate in their own personal way.
Alternatively, we offer a attended cremation service which gives the chance for family members and friends to pay their respects.
To arrange a direct cremation, speak to our caring team today.
West Berkshire Crematorium
Average cremation cost by region
As well as the type of cremation you choose, region also has an impact on the average cost of a cremation funeral. Those who live in Greater London can expect to pay the most, whereas cremations in Scotland are the most affordable.
Those living in a more expensive area might consider a nationwide funeral provider like Distinct Cremations. Paying for a funeral with a provider that has one set price for their services throughout the UK could work out cheaper than paying a local funeral director.
| Region | Average cremation cost** |
|---|---|
| Greater London | £3,200 |
| South East | £3,092 |
| West Midlands | £2,917 |
| South West | £2,750 |
| East | £2,670 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £2,668 |
| North East | £2,641 |
| East Midlands | £2,639 |
| North West | £2,608 |
| Wales | £2,497 |
| Scotland | £2,435 |
| Region | Greater London | South East | West Midlands | South West | East | Yorkshire & Humber | North East | East Midlands | North West | Wales | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average cremation cost** | £3,200 | £3,092 | £2,917 | £2,750 | £2,670 | £2,668 | £2,641 | £2,639 | £2,608 | £2,497 | £2,435 |
** Costs according to independent research carried out by Legal & General in 2022
What is the cheapest cremation option in the UK?
The most affordable cremation option is a direct cremation, averaging at £1,597, which is £2,383 cheaper than a traditional cremation.*** This offers an alternative for those who want to keep funeral costs low.
Distinct Cremations offers dignified, direct cremations and options for attended services. You can find a summary of our services below. Alternatively, you can view our CMA standardised price list.
***The average cost of a direct cremation of £1,597 in 2024 vs the average cost of a basic funeral £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Funeral Service
From £1,899
A personal funeral service for friends and family
Unrestricted number of attendees
A 30-minute service at the crematorium
Choice of family-led or celebrant-led funeral
Option to upgrade to a 60-minute service
Direct Cremation
From £1,299
Celebrate a life without the formalities of a funeral
Simple, dignified and our cheapest cremation service
No formal service or attendees present
Coffin rested in chapel whilst music plays
Both of our services include only what's necessary to keep cremation costs affordable while delivering care and compassion at every stage.
We collect your loved one, care for them at our professional mortuary, carry out the cremation and personally hand deliver or scatter the ashes. We also support you with completing all of the necessary paperwork.
Even if you were planning to spend money on a larger send off, having a direct cremation frees up funds to be used elsewhere instead. You may like to gift the money to your family to give them more financial stability, or to plan a celebration of life that reflects the hobbies and interests of your loved one.
Breakdown of cremation costs
There are some cremation fees you will need to pay regardless of the type of cremation and funeral provider you choose.
Different funeral providers include different funeral costs in their prices, so shop around to find a funeral provider that includes what you would like, without you having to pay for additional extras that you don't want to use.
Necessary cremation costs
| Necessary costs | |
|---|---|
| Crematorium fees | |
| Death certificate - £11 | |
| Coffin | |
| Transport of the deceased to the crematorium | |
| Plot to bury the ashes | |
| Urn | |
| Celebrant | |
| Pallbearers | |
| Flowers | |
| Orders of service | |
| Embalming and viewing of the deceased | |
| Death notice/obituary |
| Crematorium fees | Death certificate - £11 | Coffin | Transport of the deceased to the crematorium | Plot to bury the ashes | Urn | Celebrant | Pallbearers | Flowers | Orders of service | Embalming and viewing of the deceased | Death notice/obituary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necessary costs |
If you would like to have a wake or celebration of your loved one's life, there will be additional costs involved with arranging this too.
Choosing a cremation provder
Choosing a funeral provider who specialises in the funeral you want can help to minimise your cremation costs and the support they offer can also bring you great peace of mind.
Look into how funeral providers differ from one another.
You can compare direct cremation providers via our comparison table.
Read reviews to see other people's experiences of the providers you're considering. We're proud to say our customers' reviews on the independent rating site Feefo give us a 4.9/5.
Don't feel rushed to make an instant decision. Take your time to digest your options. For more detailed information about our services, our free funeral guide is available to download online.
Get in touch with us today
If you'd like to chat with someone to explain the details about our cremation services at any point or you have specific questions you'd like to ask, please do get in touch. We're here to support you.
How to reduce cremation costs
If you'd like to reduce cremation costs, there are several things you can do to keep expenses low. Here are some tips to minimise cremation costs.
Financial Support
Worried that funeral costs will stretch your finances? There are different ways to pay for a funeral.
- If you receive benefits, you may be eligible for support paying for a funeral.
- Depending on the profession of you or your loved one, charity support may be available.
- Money or assets from your loved one's estate can be used, but may take time to access.
Funeral plans
A funeral plan lets you choose and pay for a funeral ahead of time.
- You know exactly how much the funeral will cost.
- You can either pay upfront in a single payment or spread the cost via monthly payments to make the individual payments more affordable.
- Even if funeral prices rise in future, the price of the funeral plan won't change, protecting you from inflation.
Direct cremation
You could also choose a direct, or unattended, cremation, removing extras like embalming and a formal service, making this the most affordable option.
Families may hold a more personal memorial service at a later date, which can be more flexible in terms of location and timing.
Want to learn more? Read our guide: What is a Direct Cremation?
What our customers say about us
We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.
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Other useful resources
Continue your research to keep your cremation costs affordable and find a funeral service that suits your preferences. Or give us a call to discuss our cremation funerals on 01543 211997.
How to have a low cost funeral
Still concerned about cremation costs? There are several steps you can take to minimise your funeral expenses. Explore the different ways to keep costs as low as possible.
Arrange a funeral from £1,299
Arrange a respectful and affordable funeral for your loved one with the help of our experienced team who can guide you through the process and answer your questions.
Learn more about cremation plans
A funeral plan confirms what you'd like and lets you secure your future arrangements. Find out more about setting up a plan.
