The cost of a traditional funeral continues to rise year on year, driving a growing trend towards more affordable alternatives such as direct burials and cremations. Yet for many, the price of any type of funeral remains out of reach. In the last year alone, the number of people turning to crowdfunding has doubled, as families increasingly rely on online platforms to cover essential costs.
How the cost of funerals has changed
This year’s Sun Life Cost of Dying Report 2026 revealed that costs increased across all types of funerals in 2025 and that more people favoured a simple funeral, choosing to skip extras such as limousines, flowers and higher-tier coffins. CEO at SunLife, Mark Screeton, commented that “With the price of funerals continuing to rise, many people these days are seeking cheaper alternatives or cost-cutting measures.”
The cost of funerals and how these increased in 2025
| Type of funeral | Average cost | Increase compared to costs in 2024 |
| Traditional attended burial | £5,440 | +4.7% |
| Direct burial | £1,628 | +6.6% |
| Traditional attended cremation | £4,200 | +5.5% |
| Direct cremation | £1,628 | +1.9% |
Flowers increased the most, rising 9% to £242, and were the cost most organisers felt they overspent on, having not explored simpler, far less costly options. Costs vary by location, with Northern Ireland the least costly and London the most expensive.
Crowdfunding to pay for a funeral
Crowdfunding to cover funeral costs doubled last year, with more families turning to sites like JustGiving and GoFundMe to set up digital appeals to raise funds. Shock and sudden deaths can cause unexpected financial hardship for those left behind who may have to face paying up to £3,828 - the cost of a simple attended funeral. And even in situations where death is less unexpected, those left behind may struggle to find the means to pay for final arrangements if money was not set aside for this purpose. A reality reflected in the fact that more than 20% of adults in the UK had less than £1,000 in cash, according to the Financial Conduct Authority last year.
Families facing ‘notable financial concerns when paying for a funeral’ mostly relied on savings and investments or chose to pay the funeral director’s fees in instalments, while others used a credit card to cover all or some of the costs.
Planning ahead for funerals
Putting money aside to pay for a funeral may be low on your list of priorities, but it could also be difficult given the current cost-of-living pressures on households. However, this shouldn’t stop people from discussing their wishes with family and friends. SunLife found that those who arranged a funeral felt pressured to spend more when the deceased provided no direction, and that over 75% of direct cremations and burials - which are low-cost options - were carried out on the deceased’s instructions and arrangements.
Aside from making your wishes known to those who will arrange your funeral, exploring funeral plan options can also help you to ensure that your family are not left facing financial hardship when the time comes. Prepaid funeral plans and Over 50s life insurance plans can be accessible to most and some incorporate guarantees to cover the cost of the funeral even when costs are rising. Having a dedicated policy in place can provide peace of mind by ensuring funds are available exactly when they are needed. According to SunLife, 16% of families found that no money had been set aside for funeral costs. Perhaps more frustratingly, a further 18% knew the money was there but were unable to access the deceased's estate in time to pay the bill.
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