Coffin In Back Of Hearse

Burial funerals are becoming less popular, partly due to high burial costs when compared with other funeral types.

If you'd like to find out more about our alternative funeral options including direct cremations and simple affordable attended cremations give our friendly team a call.

By being aware of burial costs, you can make sure a burial funeral is within your budget whether you're planning ahead for yourself or arranging a funeral for someone else. Having an idea of the price also allows you to check that the amount you are being charged is in line with the average burial costs and you're not paying too much.

A traditional burial is the most expensive of the modern funeral options available, so you may also like to consider other options for low cost funerals as well as ways you can minimise the cost of a burial.

Burial costs UK

A burial is one of several funeral types available. Knowing how much a basic burial will cost as well as other extras that go hand in hand with a burial-style funeral can help you decide whether a burial is suitable for you.

Average burial cost - £5,198

Coffin With Funeral Directors

The average burial cost in the UK in 2024 was £5,198. This makes burial the most expensive funeral option when compared with the average cost of a cremation (£3,980) and an unattended direct cremation (£1,597).[1]

Popularity of burial funerals

Great Glen Chapel

A burial funeral is a traditional option, but in 2024, only 27% of people[2] chose burial. This may be partly due to the difference between burial and cremation costs and the desire for more affordable funeral alternatives.

Reduced spending on burial extras

Coffin Outside With Mourners In Background

You don't need to spend a lot on additional costs to have a respectful send off. Spending less on extras like flowers, limo hire, order of service sheets and death and funeral notices can help ease the financial pressure.

[1] The average cost of a burial in 2024 was £5,198, a cremation was £3,980 and a direct cremation was £1,597 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

[2] In 2024, 25% of funerals were burials, 55% were cremations and 20% were direct cremations (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

Burial costs by region

Average funeral costs can vary greatly in different areas throughout the UK. Average burial costs are no different so your burial costs may be higher or lower, depending on the region you live in.

Those in London and the West Midlands can expect to pay the most for a burial funeral whereas in Wales and the East Midlands burial costs are substantially lower.

Region Average cost[3]
Greater London £7,637
West Midlands £5,747
South East £5,731
Yorkshire & Humber £5,145
South West £4,972
North West £4,729
Scotland £4,718
North East £4,714
East £4,658
Wales £4,524
East Midlands £4,295

[3] Costs according to independent research carried out by Legal & General in 2022

Alternatives to a traditional burial

As an alternative to a burial, there are more affordable funeral options available. If you think paying for a funeral will leave you financially stretched or you would rather use the money that would have gone towards a funeral elsewhere, you could consider a simple cremation funeral or an unattended cremation only instead.

Choosing a low cost funeral can alleviate the stress of covering funeral costs or free up money for a more personal celebration of life in memory of a loved one.

Cremation with Distinct
A fuss-free funeral with Distinct Cremations
  • An unattended cremation without mourners or an attended cremation
  • A service without pomp and ceremony giving you the freedom to include personal touches
  • A compassionate and attentive team to answer questions and support you with paperwork
  • The option to organise a separate celebration of life that's personal and unique to your loved one
  • Cheaper than a traditional funeral, with prices starting from just £1,299
Traditional Funeral
A traditional burial
  • A burial funeral held in a conventional setting like a church or chapel with mourners present
  • A formal and traditional service that usually follows a fixed format and may have less flexibility
  • Funeral and service coordination from a funeral director
  • Service may include extras like a hearse, limousines and pallbearers and is usually followed by a wake
  • Costs on average £5,198[4] for a burial funeral
    [4] The average cost of a burial in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

Another way to minimise funeral costs is to choose and pay for a funeral in advance with a funeral plan. At Distinct Cremations, we offer funeral plans for small and pared-down attended cremations as well as cremation only plans.

If you'd like more information about our funeral plan options, give our empathetic team a call on 01543 211997.

Breakdown of burial costs

A burial funeral generally follows a traditional format. Depending on the funeral provider you choose, some extra aspects like transport or a more extravagant coffin may be included in the price. Choosing a burial funeral that includes these additional extras means they will be reflected in the cost and you will pay more.

These are some of the most common additions but if you would rather avoid these costs, a simple funeral could be a better choice for you.

Burial Service In Chapel

  • Coffin
  • Headstone
  • Burial plot
  • Burial fees
  • Minister
  • Church or chapel
  • Funeral director
  • Pallbearers
  • Hearse
  • Family transport
  • Flowers
  • Order of service
  • Death notice
  • Memorial event/wake

Our simple low cost funerals

At Distinct Cremations, we specialise in cremation funerals and offer simple cremation services as well as wholly unattended cremations. Our unattended and attended cremations offer pared-back and cost-effective alternatives to traditional burial funerals.

Find our services below or alternatively you can view our CMA standardised price list.

Direct Cremation

From £1,299

Our unattended cremation is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony. Unattended cremations take place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed throughout.

Attended Cremation

From £1,899

Our Funeral Service offers an affordable funeral for those looking for simplicity and to be surrounded by their nearest and dearest. You have the choice of a 30 or a 60 minute service. This can be family-led or led by a professional celebrant. The choice is yours.

How to reduce burial costs

You may be sure that a burial funeral is right for you, either for religious reasons or simply because of personal preference. If so, there are still ways to avoid high costs by simplifying the burial service.

Some of these cost savings apply to other funeral types too so they can be useful if you're still deciding on the type of funeral you would like to arrange for a loved one or would want for yourself.

  1. Consider a natural burial site rather than a traditional cemetery or graveyard as these tend to be cheaper and also have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly.

  2. Choose a less popular date and time. Funerals in the morning on weekdays can be cheaper than those on weekends or out of hours.

  3. Choose the burial ground in an area where your loved one was a local resident. Costs are likely to be cheaper for residents than for those from different areas.

  4. Ask family members or close friends of the deceased to be pallbearers rather than paying for people to provide this service.

  5. Keep floral arrangements simple or skip having them altogether. Flowers are expensive and will not last for long.

  6. Choose a plain coffin and modest headstone rather than the more ornate options which can cost significantly more.

  7. Drive yourself to the funeral rather than hiring a funeral car or limousine for family transport.

  8. Consider not having an order of service at the funeral or creating a funeral notice, death notice or obituary. A personal eulogy can be read at the funeral in front of loved ones instead.

  9. Keep the wake simple by hosting it at home, asking for help from friends and family or having an alternative memorial event like a family visit to the grave.

  10. If your mind is not yet made up about burial, research alternative funeral choices to know your options and make the best-suited decision for you and your family.

Other useful resources

Find out more about the other funeral types available or please give us a call on 01543 212000 to speak to us about our affordable and dignified cremation services.

Alternative low cost funeral options

Wallet On Wooden Table

Still deciding on the type of funeral you would like to arrange? See how lower cost funeral options compare to burial costs.

See more about low cost funerals

Different ways to pay for a funeral

Older Couple At Table With Laptop

Not knowing how much you will need to pay for a funeral and when to pay can be stressful. Getting prepared in advance can ease your concerns.

How to pay for a funeral

Arrange a funeral from just £1,299

What to do if someone dies in Scotland_ wild flowers

Our knowledgeable and respectful team can help you arrange a cremation funeral for a loved one with dignity and care at a low cost.

Arrange a funeral

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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Alan Harris, on Feefo 17 Jun 2025
Distinct Cremations provided a professional service for my Fathers cremation. Every discussion I had with their representative Sarah, was helpful and supportive. She clearly explained the entire process and made sure we understood all of the options at each stage. Losing someone is very painful and to have someone take care of the cremation with all of our selected options was a great comfort. I have already recommended Distinct to my family and friends who are considering this type of cremation.
Kevin William Gallagher, on Feefo 16 Jun 2025
They were so caring and I had my doubts at first. So when my neighbour was very poorly. I discussed it with her and we agreed to go forward. So I rang them and from then I they put my mind at rest. When she passed away one phone call out of hours and everything was all it took. My neighbour was picked up in 2 hrs 30 minutes. This was around 2am. Then they helped me through every step of the way. The ashes were delivered to my door within 7 days. Everything was so dignified. I've enquired about mine when the time comes. Wish to Thank everyone for the service they gave me. The lady 79 years old involved had no children and no close family. Kind regards Kevin Gallagher
Anonymous, on Feefo 16 Jun 2025
From the first contact we had with Distinct Cremations, they were compassionate, understanding and professional. Nothing was too much for them, making a difficult situation more bearable. Our contact, Grace was amazing. Would happily recommend them. Thank you
Anonymous, on Feefo 14 Jun 2025
Both my mum and dad took out these policy's, my dad passed last year and mum passed this year, distinct cremations dealt with everything professionally and with courtesy, everything my parents wanted was taken care of, the people were lovely and always on the end of the phone for anything, thankyou from the bottom of my heart for making a tought time for our family into a pleasant experience ❤️
Warwick Kevin Fisher, on Feefo 8 Jun 2025
Outstanding from start to finish..I would definitely recommend Distinct Cremations ...All communication was dealt with professionally and compassionately.
Anonymous, on Feefo 7 Jun 2025
Cannot fault the excellent service received, all the employees are lovely, professional while friendly and compassionate. Highly recommend them and especially our director Maxine for making such a sad, difficult time/task easier to deal with.
Anonymous, on Feefo 5 Jun 2025
Was a fantastic service and would definitely recommend to others. They keep you upto date with every process which was very much appreciated.
David Hunter, on Feefo 4 Jun 2025
Everyone i spoke to we're lovely and explained everything i needed to know simply. Well pleased with the service i've recieved.
4.9/5
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