How much is it to cremate somebody?
How much does it cost to have a cremation funeral? Learn the average cost of a cremation in the UK, plus prices for extras like cremation plots.
There's a lot to think about when organising a cremation funeral. You need to consider the venue, the order of service, the date and time and a whole host of other things.
But one of the most important considerations is also one of the most difficult to plan for. How much, exactly, does it cost to arrange a cremation?
The simple answer is this: on average, a simple funeral with a burial or cremation costs £4,285 in the UK (SunLife). However, what you pay depends on where you live – and costs can change dramatically depending on the choices you make for the funeral.
In this guide, we break it all down for you. We show you what cremation costs in different parts of the country and how these costs might change based on the type of funeral you choose.
Please note that all costs are correct as of July 2025.
How much is it to cremate somebody?
How much are cremation services?
When we talk about a cremation service, we mean the funeral ceremony that happens before a cremation.
In the UK, the average cost of a simple cremation or burial with a service is £4,285 (SunLife). That cost includes:
- Funeral director fees
- Doctor fees
- Celebrant fees
- A mid-priced coffin
- Transport for a few close friends or relatives
- The price of the cremation itself
However, it doesn't include the cost of what SunLife calls "optional extras". These are the things that can personalise a funeral and make it feel more special.
You may or may not consider these things optional, depending on your culture and personal preferences. They include things like:
- Flowers for the service
- Printing for the order of service
- Venue hire for the wake
- Catering for the wake
- Extra limousines or cars for the family
- A memorial (such as a headstone)
On average, these extras add £2,861 to the cost of the cremation (SunLife). That brings the total average cost to £7,146.
How much for a basic cremation?
"Basic cremation" is another name for direct cremation. This is a type of cremation without a funeral service.
If you choose direct cremation, the person who has died will be cremated at a time and date of the crematorium's choosing. Nobody is allowed to go to the crematorium, and there's no formal ceremony to say goodbye to the person.
The average cost of a direct cremation in the UK is £1,597 (SunLife). However, that cost doesn't include optional extras. For instance, you might want to pay for a cremation plot so you can bury the ashes, plus a memorial headstone to mark the grave.
Some people might find it odd to have a cremation without a funeral service. However, direct cremation is getting more and more popular. As of 2024, direct cremations accounted for 20% of all funerals in the UK (SunLife).
Many people who choose direct cremation for their loved ones go on to hold informal memorial services at a later date. This means they can say goodbye in their own way and in their own time.
How much is a cremation plot?
A cremation plot is a small grave where you can bury a person's ashes.
The cost of a cremation plot varies widely around the UK. You can expect to pay anything from £400 to £2,000 or more, depending on your location and the type of burial ground (council-owned or private).
When you buy a cremation plot, you're actually leasing the land from the cemetery owner. You're given a legal document called the "Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial", which gives you rights to the grave for a fixed time. Exclusive Rights of Burial are often more affordable for residents of the area where the grave is located.
You'll also have to pay an interment fee – the cost of actually burying the ashes. This fee can range from around £250 to £650.
Bear in mind that burying a person's ashes isn't the only option. You can choose to scatter the ashes, for instance, or keep them in an urn at home. Why not look at our ideas for creative things to do with cremated ashes?
How much does a cremation cost around the UK?
While £4,285 is the average cost of a cremation funeral in the UK, the actual price you'll pay can change a lot from location to location.
Cremations in Northern Ireland tend to be most affordable. The cost of a cremation with a service at Antrim and Newtownabbey Crematorium, for instance, is currently £650 for a resident of the district.
Meanwhile, cremation costs in London and the South East can reach £1,000 or more. As of July 2025, a Sunday morning cremation service at Golders Green Crematorium in North London costs £1,760.
As with the cost of a cremation plot, the cost of cremation can vary depending on whether the person who died lived in the area. Fees for non-residents are often higher.
Please note that the fees above only cover the cremation and service. They don't include professional fees (for funeral directors, doctors and celebrants) or the price of transport or a coffin.
Cremation costs vs burial costs
Cremation is usually more affordable than burial. According to Funeral Guide, the average cost of a cremation service in the UK is £934, compared to £1,698 for a burial.
These costs are only for the cremation or burial and the service. They don't include other fees, such as funeral director fees.
It's not a hard and fast rule that cremation is more affordable, though. For instance, direct cremations are more expensive on average than direct burials, coming in at £1,597 versus £1,527 (SunLife).
Of course, these are averages. What you end up paying might be more or less, depending on your location and other factors.
At Akshardham Funeral Directors, we pride ourselves on providing compassionate, step-by-step funeral care while keeping our prices as low as possible. Are you looking for affordable cremation services in London? We are here to help. Please call on 020 8355 7876 – our lines are open 24/7/365.
