The “cost of dying” in Britain has hit a record high, with the average price of a simple funeral reaching £4,285, according to damning new research.
Data from SunLife’s Cost of Dying report found a 3.5 per cent increase in prices from last year, continuing a trend of rising funeral expenses across the UK.
Overall, the total “cost of dying”, which includes funeral expenses, send-off costs and probate fees, has climbed to an unprecedented £9,797. This marks the highest figure ever recorded in the report’s 21-year history, reflecting the ongoing cost of living crisis.
These findings come from SunLife’s latest annual report, which remains the longest-running study into funeral costs in Britain. A simple funeral includes an attended burial or cremation, funeral director fees, doctor and celebrant fees, a coffin and limousine.
The rise in costs has significantly outpaced inflation over the past two decades.In 2004, when SunLife began tracking funeral expenses, a simple funeral cost £1,835. Had prices followed the standard inflation rate, today’s average cost would be £3,211.
Instead, funeral costs have soared by 134 per cent over the past 21 years, rising from under £2,000 to more than £4,000. The overall cost of dying has seen a more modest increase of 1.4 per cent compared to last year, partly due to a decrease in average probate costs of nearly £100.
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‘Cost of dying’ in UK surges to all-time high as funeral prices hit £4k
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This reduction in probate fees likely reflects variations in estate sizes rather than lower professional charges. London remains the most expensive place in the UK for funerals, with costs averaging £5,449 in the capital.
According to SunLife, this represents a 5.4 per cent increase from the previous year and is 27 per cent higher than the national average.
Seven out of ten UK regions experienced rising funeral costs over the past year. The North West saw the most dramatic increase, with prices surging by 13 per cent.
The cost disparity between regions is significant, with London funerals costing 58 per cent more than those in Northern Ireland, which remains the least expensive region.
Families are ‘struggling to cover the cost’ of funerals GETTY Direct cremations have seen a notable price increase, rising 6.7 per cent to £1,597 – only the second increase since tracking began in 2017. Despite this rise, they remain the most affordable funeral option available.
The popularity of direct cremations has grown significantly in recent years, now accounting for one in five of all funerals. This represents a substantial increase from just three per cent in 2019 and 14 per cent in 2020.
This trend began during the pandemic out of necessity but has maintained momentum even after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. Direct cremations now make up 20 per cent of all funerals, showing a steady increase from 18 cent in 2022.
The financial burden of funerals is causing significant strain on families, with only 38 per cent of people making sufficient provisions to cover the full cost, SunLife reports.
While 68 per cent of people set aside money for their funeral before death, many fall short of the total amount needed. One in five families face notable financial difficulties when paying for a funeral, needing to find an average of £2,371 to cover the costs.
Those struggling to pay often turn to various sources: 33 per cent use savings and investments, 24 per cent rely on credit cards, and 23% borrow from friends or relatives.
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Funeral costs are rising amid the cost of living crisis GETTY Some families (19 per cent) resort to selling belongings to meet funeral expenses. The impact extends beyond financial stress, with 75 per cent of those struggling to pay reporting effects on their mental health and 61 per cent experiencing physical health consequences.
SunLife CEO Mark Screeton emphasised the importance of discussing funeral arrangements with loved ones. “It’s so important for people to talk more about their funerals, so that loved ones aren’t left to organise things with little idea about what the deceased would have wanted,” he said.
He noted that families often only choose lower-cost options when specifically requested by the decease “A send-off doesn’t need to cost thousands. A direct cremation with a DIY get-together afterwards might be the perfect way to say a personal goodbye to loved one,” Screeton added.
He urged Britons to be more open about discussing funeral preferences and financial arrangements. “That way, family and friends aren’t left to make difficult emotional and financial decisions once we have gone,” he concluded.
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