Costs

There are various costs associated with a funeral. You may be able to get funeral expense help from the government. The person who died may have a funeral plan that will pay for all or part of the funeral.

We have a document that sets out the costs at Birmingham City Council cemeteries and crematoria. Costs will vary at other cemeteries and crematoria, and in other council areas. Funeral directors will have fees on top of the other costs.

If you cannot afford the funeral

If you cannot afford the funeral and the person who died has no estate which can pay for it, we can arrange and pay for the funeral.

If the person who died has an estate, but there are no family or friends to take on the responsibility of the funeral, we can arrange it.

There is further information about this on our help with arranging funerals page.

Costs in 2023 in the UK

The average cost of a burial in 2023 is around £5,000. The average cost of a cremation is around £4,000.

The total “cost of dying” in the UK in 2023 is £9,200. The cost of dying includes:

• the funeral
• paying funeral directors and other professionals
• paying for things such as memorials, deceased estates notices, flowers, catering for the wake and so on

Page last updated: 29 September 2023