Rising funeral costs push families towards simpler services

Rising funeral costs are prompting more families across the UK to opt for simpler services, according to SunLife’s 2026 Cost of Dying Report, making it the most common funeral choice.  

However, according to the insurer, the average cost of a simple attended funeral has also risen to £3,828. When additional send-off expenses such as catering, memorials, flowers and venue hire are included, total spending rises to £5,140.

A simple attended funeral includes the main elements of a traditional service but with fewer extras. By comparison, the average cost of a traditional attended funeral increased 5.3% over the past year to £4,510 – the largest annual rise since 2016. Including send-off costs, the total average spend for a traditional funeral now stands at £5,822.

SunLife said rising cremation and burial fees, higher coffin prices and wider cost of living pressures were driving changes in consumer behaviour. London remains the most expensive place to die, with a simple attended funeral costing £4,897 on average.

The report also found that discussing funeral wishes in advance can reduce costs. Families who knew some of the deceased’s preferences spent £335 less on average than those who had no prior knowledge.

Direct cremations now account for 21% of funerals and remain the cheapest option at £1,628. In most cases, the choice was made by the deceased in advance rather than by family members after death. While no mourners attend the cremation itself with this plan, 86% of families who chose this option still went on to hold a memorial or wake, bringing average total spending to £2,949.

One funeral director interviewed as part of the research said some form of service remained important for bereaved families, saying: “I just think that as human beings, we have to process what we’re going through.”

Despite efforts to plan ahead, many families continue to face financial pressure. While 70% of people reported making some provision for funeral costs through savings, funeral plans or insurance, only 42% save enough to cover the full amount.

One in seven families (15%) admitted that paying for a funeral caused financial hardship, with those affected needing to find an additional £2,365 on average. Nearly one in five said this had a direct impact on their standard of living, forcing them to cut back on essentials such as food, heating or household bills.

The report also found that 12% of those struggling financially turned to crowdfunding, while 8% borrowed money from an unregulated lender. Among those experiencing difficulty, 70% reported a negative impact on their mental health and 58% said their physical wellbeing was affected.

Lindesay Mace, co-manager of funeral poverty charity Down to Earth, said: “The distress caused by struggling to pay for a funeral should not be underestimated. We see the devastating effects on people’s health and their ability to grieve, on a daily basis at our Down to Earth funeral costs support service.”

Mark Screeton, chief executive at SunLife, added: “Funerals are a deeply personal experience, but our research shows that the cost of saying goodbye continues to rise faster than some families can afford.”