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What is the cost of cremation in the UK?
The average cost of cremation in the UK in 2023 is £934, an increase of 5.5% from 2022. This covers the cost of a standard week-day time slot for an adult resident of the area, and does not include other funeral costs, such as funeral directors fees or interment costs.
Throughout the UK, cremation is the most widespread form of funeral, with over 65% of funerals involving a cremation. This guide to cremation and burial costs will show you the most and least expensive areas in the UK to get cremated, and the difference between the cost of a cremation and the cost of a burial.
The cost of a cremation can vary greatly depending on where you live. In England the average cremation is £939. In Scotland it is £910, whereas in Wales it is cheaper at £857.
Northern Ireland is the cheapest part of the UK, with an average cremation cost of £408. The most expensive regions are the South West and the East of England, where the average cost of cremation is £1016. In any part of the UK, cremation is cheaper than burial, usually by more than 50%.
This table shows the average cost of cremation in every area of the UK:
| Area | Average Cost of Cremation |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £408 |
| London | £823 |
| Wales | £857 |
| North East England | £890 |
| North West England | £905 |
| Scotland | £910 |
| East Midlands | £922 |
| West Midlands | £943 |
| South East England | £957 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £980 |
| East of England | £1,017 |
| South West England | £1,017 |
What is the average burial cost in the UK?
Burial is more expensive than cremation. As of 2020, the average cost of burial across the UK is £1,698 - more than double the cost of cremation.
The average cost of burial also varies between nations of the UK: in England it is £1,862, in Scotland it is £1,650 and in Wales it is £1,686. Northern Ireland is the cheapest region for burial, at £543. Northern Ireland is also the only area of the UK where burial remains a more popular choice than cremation.
Funeral Guide based these figures on the interment fee and a 50 year lease of the burial plot for a local resident. The cost of burial for a non-resident can often be twice as expensive.
In contrast to the cost of cremation, London is the most expensive area for burial and the South West is the second cheapest area.
| Area | Average cost of burial |
|---|---|
| London | £4,391 |
| West Midlands | £2,077 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,928 |
| Scotland | £1,650 |
| North West | £1,729 |
| Wales | £1,686 |
| North East | £1,706 |
| East of England | £1,386 |
| South East | £1,537 |
| East Midlands | £1,249 |
| South West | £1,287 |
| Northern Ireland | £520 |
What other costs are there for cremation, burial and funerals?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland there is an additional fee of £164 for two doctors to sign the Medical Certificates for Cremation because it is not part of their standard NHS duties.
If you have chosen a burial funeral, then you will sign a lease for a set duration of time - usually 50 or 75 years. When the lease of a burial expires the next of kin will be contacted, and can renew the lease by paying additional fees.
You can find burial and cremation fees in your local area when you compare funeral directors on Funeral Guide.
Compare funeral directorsThe actual cost of a funeral is higher than the cost of burial or cremation because it also includes funeral directors' fees, coffins, hearses, flowers, catering and memorials, as well as a range of optional extras to personalise the service.
You can find out more about arranging a funeral and help with funeral costs on Funeral Guide.
You can also view directories of crematoriums and natural burial grounds.
