Funeral costs are on the rise again according to the latest SunLife Cost of Dying report, in many cases outstripping the rate of inflation. In 2024, many people who experienced ‘notable financial concerns’ when paying for a funeral went into debt to cover the costs, taking out an average of £3,109 on loans and credit cards.
At QSA’s Down to Earth service, we see the impact that these struggles have on people’s lives every day.
SunLife’s Cost of Dying 2025 Report found that costs for the type of attended funeral that they track have reached an all-time high of £4,285*, up 3.5% from 2023 (an attended funeral is one where mourners are present at the service).
Although there are less expensive funeral options available, including those where mourners can attend, the cost of a ‘direct’, ie. unattended cremation also rose, and this was at the highest rate of all the funeral types tracked – up 6.7% to £1,597.
Cremation fees could be a key driver behind the price rises this year, with SunLife finding a rise of 11% in the average of the cremation fees they track. However, in some parts of the UK, funeral director fees are also pushing up overall costs, with particularly high increases in the South East & East of England (9.8%), London (15.6%) and North West England (17.3%).
It is good to see that the percentage of people facing ‘notable financial concerns’ has dropped slightly, to a little under 1 in 5 (from 20% in 2023 to 18% in 2024). However this is surprising, as it is not the experience of our funeral costs advice service. Last year saw the number of people getting in touch with us rise by 40%, a bigger increase than in 2023.
“My brother died suddenly and was on benefits. It was left to me to pay for [the] funeral which I couldn't afford.”
– Down to Earth client
We know through our frontline work that the impact of price rises and unaffordable costs can be significant. We worked with SunLife to introduce wellbeing data into their 2024 report, and the latest edition sees this included for the second time.
This year it again illustrates the impossible choices that people face. Among those who experienced ‘notable financial concerns’ when paying for a funeral:
1 in 3 (34%) had to cut back on essentials like food.
1 in 4 (24%) struggled to pay essential bills and rent.
3 in 4 (75%) experienced an impact on their mental health.
“At a very difficult time already, money worries was the last thing we needed.”
– Down to Earth client
These findings are shocking – nobody should be in this position. At Down to Earth, we believe that everyone should be able to access an affordable, meaningful funeral.
This is why, as Down to Earth policy lead, I am working to bring about the following changes:
1. Increases to the Funeral Expenses Payment (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) and Funeral Support Payment (Scotland) so that these cover the cost of the simplest attended funeral.
2. Reform of the Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria so that 40% more people can access a payment.
3. In 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) introduced the ‘Funerals Market Investigation Order’, which required more transparency in funeral pricing. We want to see better compliance from funeral directors and crematoria, so that it is easier for people to compare costs.
“During the time my husband passed, I couldn't process anything on what to do and how to go about it.”
– Down to Earth client
4. Full-scale regulation of the funeral industry. We want to see this happen in a way that would also allow price controls to be considered as a further stage. Many people don’t feel able to compare funeral prices when they’re grieving – only a little over a third (35%) of people did so according to SunLife.
5. Statutory minimum standards for council funerals. If people are unable to make funeral arrangements, this responsibility falls to the local council; but at present, the standards of council funerals are a postcode lottery. Everyone should be able to access a dignified funeral that they can attend if they wish.
In the meantime, our Down to Earth pages offer extensive resources on reducing funeral costs and raising funds. We also provide advice and guidance to those in the greatest need.
“[Down to Earth] helped with multiple advices and guided me step by step, made [a] huge impact on my life, meaning I can get back to trying to process my grief.”
– Down to Earth client
*This includes a burial or cremation with mourners present, all funeral director fees, a mid-range coffin, one funeral limousine, as well as doctor and celebrant fees. (Since September 2024, doctors’ fees (£164) only exist in Northern Ireland.)