Funeral Options: Every Type Explained

The most familiar type of funeral: a service at a church, chapel, or crematorium, followed by burial in a churchyard or cemetery. A funeral director manages the whole process from collecting the deceased to the graveside.

Burial plot costs vary enormously by location. In London and the South East, a new single grave can cost £4,000-£7,000 alone. In rural areas, costs can be much lower.

A service at a crematorium or church, followed by cremation. The ashes (also called cremated remains) are returned to the family, usually within a week or two. The family can then scatter, bury, or keep the ashes.

You can split the ashes between family members or scatter them in multiple locations. Ask your funeral director about the legal requirements for scattering in your chosen location.

The most affordable option. The person is collected and cremated without a formal service. No mourners attend the cremation itself. The ashes are returned to the family, who can then hold a memorial at any time and place they choose.

Direct cremation has grown from around 4% of funerals in 2016 to over 20% today. Many families follow it with a personal gathering, a memorial walk, or a scattering ceremony.

Similar to direct cremation, but the person is buried without a formal service at the graveside. A simpler, lower-cost burial that gives the family a permanent place to visit.

Some cemeteries and providers offer direct burial packages. Contact local cemeteries directly, as prices vary significantly.

The person is buried in a natural burial ground, often a meadow or woodland. A biodegradable coffin or shroud is used. No concrete or metal. The grave is typically marked with a native tree or wildflowers rather than a headstone.

The Natural Death Centre maintains a directory of natural burial grounds across the UK at naturaldeath.org.uk.

A humanist celebrant leads a bespoke ceremony that is entirely tailored to the person who died. No religious content. The focus is on celebrating the person's life, with personal readings, music, tributes from friends and family, and stories.

Humanists UK trains and accredits celebrants across the country. Find one at humanism.org.uk/ceremonies. Many secular celebrants are also available who are not formally affiliated with Humanists UK.

A funeral conducted according to the traditions and requirements of the person's faith. Includes Christian (Church of England, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist), Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and many other traditions.

Our cultural and religious guide covers specific requirements for major faiths in more detail.

It is entirely legal in the UK to arrange a funeral yourself without using a funeral director. The family can wash and lay out the deceased, choose the coffin, transport the body to the crematorium or burial ground, and hold the service entirely themselves.

The Natural Death Centre (naturaldeath.org.uk) provides detailed guidance on arranging a DIY funeral. They also have a helpline: 01962 712690.

If the person died abroad, repatriation involves returning the body to the UK for a funeral here. Alternatively, some families choose to hold the funeral in the country where the person died and have the ashes repatriated, or arrange a local funeral there.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) can provide guidance if someone dies abroad. Call 020 7008 5000. The British Embassy in the country of death will also assist.

Funeral Expenses Payment

If you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or certain other means-tested benefits, you may be entitled to help from the DWP. This covers burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 towards other costs. Apply within 6 months of the funeral on form SF200. Call 0800 731 0469 for more information.

Children's Funeral Fund

If a child under 18 dies in England (or a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks), the Children's Funeral Fund covers burial or cremation costs. There is no means test. Tell your funeral director at the first meeting and they will handle the application.

Trade union and employer schemes

Some trade unions and employer pension schemes include a death grant or lump sum that can help with funeral costs. Check the deceased's union membership and any workplace pension documentation.

Crowdfunding

GoFundMe and similar platforms are increasingly used to raise money for funeral costs, particularly when deaths are unexpected or when the deceased was young. This can be set up quickly and shared through social media. Many people are glad to have a practical way to help.

Pre-paid funeral plans

A pre-paid plan lets you fix the funeral director's costs at today's prices. Since July 2022, all funeral plan providers must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Check that any plan you consider is FCA-regulated.

What to look for in a funeral plan

Check exactly what is included (some plans do not cover cremation or burial fees). Check what happens if the funeral director goes out of business. Check whether you can change provider.

Writing your wishes down

Even without a pre-paid plan, writing down your funeral wishes clearly and telling your next of kin where to find them is enormously helpful. It removes uncertainty at a difficult time.

Funeral savings

Some people prefer to put money aside in a savings account rather than take out a plan. If you do this, make sure someone knows about the savings and that they are accessible when needed.