Examples of funeral costs

Understanding what a funeral might cost

The cost of a funeral can vary enormously, depending on the kind of funeral you're planning and the choices you make along the way.

We know it can be difficult to understand what everything might cost, particularly when you're making decisions at an already challenging time. That's why we've put together a selection of examples showing how different funerals can be arranged, and how the costs add up.

From a simple unattended cremation to a traditional funeral, a natural burial or a more elaborate gathering in an unusual venue, there are many possibilities.

Each example includes our professional fees and the additional services and third-party costs involved, such as crematorium or cemetery fees, celebrants, flowers and transport.

These are illustrations rather than fixed-price packages. The final cost will depend on your circumstances, the choices you make and the fees charged by other providers.

We're always happy to talk through the possibilities and prepare a detailed, personalised estimate, without any pressure or obligation.

Explore our funeral services and costs →

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Illustrative funeral costs

Seven different ways to say goodbye

Every funeral is different. These examples show how our fees, your choices and payments to third parties can come together. Select See the full breakdown to explore each example in detail.

Unattended cremation

A Direct Cremation at Honor Oak

A simple cremation without a funeral ceremony or anyone attending the cremation. You can choose to gather and remember the person who has died at another time, or not hold a ceremony at all.

Example total£1,975.00
Our services and choices£1,975.00
Third-party fees / allowances£0.00
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Direct cremation service, including a simple coffin, collection and care, transport, Honor Oak cremation fee and a simple ashes container£1,975.00
Subtotal£1,975.00

This is the published Poetic Endings direct cremation service price. A £250 collection supplement may apply for collection from a private home or nursing home, or where immediate collection is requested.

Contemporary cremation

A Modern Funeral at Mortlake Crematorium

A contemporary ceremony led by an independent celebrant, with a simple cardboard coffin, silver hearse and friends or relatives carrying the coffin.

Example total£5,120.00
Our services and choices£3,560.00
Third-party fees / allowances£1,560.00
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Simple cardboard coffin£410.00
Silver Mercedes hearse£550.00
Friends or relatives carrying the coffinIncluded
Subtotal£3,560.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Mortlake Crematorium — standard weekday service£810.00
Celebrant — illustrative allowance£350.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£200.00
40 bespoke orders of service — illustrative allowance£200.00
Subtotal£1,560.00

Mortlake’s £810 standard fee applies to a weekday service between 10am and 4.40pm. Supplier allowances are illustrative.

Traditional cremation

A Traditional Funeral at Honor Oak Crematorium

A familiar, traditional funeral led by a minister, with a black hearse, limousine, professional pallbearers and personal flowers and stationery.

Example total£5,960.30
Our services and choices£4,220.00
Third-party fees / allowances£1,740.30
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Simple veneered coffin£550.00
Traditional black hearse£350.00
Limousine£400.00
Four professional pallbearers£320.00
Subtotal£4,220.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Honor Oak Crematorium — standard 50-minute service£1,196.30
Church of England minister — 2026 fee£244.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£150.00
30 bespoke orders of service — illustrative allowance£150.00
Subtotal£1,740.30

The £244 minister’s fee assumes a Church of England minister leads the crematorium ceremony. Other officiants may charge differently.

Church service and cremation

A Church Funeral Followed by Cremation at Beckenham

A funeral in a Church of England church, followed by cremation at Beckenham, with a willow coffin, hearse, limousine and professional pallbearers.

Example total£7,186.00
Our services and choices£4,970.00
Third-party fees / allowances£2,216.00
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Somerset Willow coffin£850.00
Hearse£400.00
Limousine£450.00
Four professional pallbearers£320.00
Additional into-church arrangements£350.00
Subtotal£4,970.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Beckenham Crematorium — standard Mon–Wed service£1,335.00
Church of England service and minister’s subsequent committal — 2026 fees£281.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£350.00
50 bespoke orders of service — illustrative allowance£250.00
Subtotal£2,216.00

The £281 church fee is £244 for the church funeral plus £37 for the minister’s committal at the crematorium, assuming they attend both. Beckenham standard services cost £100 more on Thursday and Friday. Heating, organist and other extras are not included.

Natural burial

A Natural Burial at Eden Valley

A funeral surrounded by nature, with a simple cardboard coffin, celebrant, flowers and a woodland burial at Eden Valley in Kent.

Example total£7,800.00
Our services and choices£3,830.00
Third-party fees / allowances£3,970.00
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Simple cardboard coffin£410.00
Funeral vehicle — illustrative allowance£500.00
Four professional pallbearers£320.00
Subtotal£3,830.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Eden Valley adult grave space£1,950.00
Eden Valley weekday interment fee£925.00
Eden Valley maintenance contribution (minimum)£20.00
Celebrant — illustrative allowance£400.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£375.00
40 bespoke orders of service — illustrative allowance£300.00
Subtotal£3,970.00

The Eden Valley plot, interment and maintenance figures are the operator’s published weekday charges. Weekend interment costs more.

Alternative venue

A Funeral at the Horniman Museum & Gardens

A ceremony in the Conservatory, followed by cremation at nearby Honor Oak, with a natural coffin and a celebrant-led service.

Example total£9,036.30
Our services and choices£4,340.00
Third-party fees / allowances£4,696.30
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Natural Woven soft white coffin£750.00
Silver Daimler hearse£490.00
Additional venue coordination fee£500.00
Subtotal£4,340.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Honor Oak Crematorium — standard service£1,196.30
Horniman Conservatory one-hour hire — published Poetic Endings fee£2,400.00
Celebrant — illustrative allowance£500.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£350.00
40 bespoke orders of service — illustrative allowance£250.00
Subtotal£4,696.30

The £2,400 venue hire is published on our Horniman page, but must be reconfirmed for the chosen date. Extra venue time, catering and associated staffing are not included.

Cemetery burial

A Burial at Camberwell Old Cemetery

A simple graveside ceremony led by a friend, with a veneered coffin, hearse, professional pallbearers and a 25-year resident Solo Grave at Camberwell Old Cemetery.

Example total£10,685.50
Our services and choices£3,840.00
Third-party fees / allowances£6,845.50
See the full cost breakdown

Our services and choices

Our tailored funeral services£2,600.00
Hardwick medium oak veneered coffin£570.00
Hearse£350.00
Four professional pallbearers£320.00
Subtotal£3,840.00

Third-party fees and allowances

Solo Grave 25-year burial rights — Southwark resident£3,511.60
Solo Grave interment fee — Southwark resident£2,813.80
Temporary grave marker permit (12 months)£50.10
Temporary grave marker — illustrative allowance£120.00
Flowers — illustrative allowance£150.00
50 orders of service — illustrative allowance£200.00
Subtotal£6,845.50

The Solo Grave is for Southwark residents, subject to availability and maximum coffin dimensions of 6ft 6in × 26in including handles. The 25-year lease is not permanent ownership. Non-resident charges or different grave types cost more.

About these examples: Prices illustrate the stated choices and are not fixed-price packages or quotations. Our charges follow the Poetic Endings October 2026 Additional Options Price List. Crematorium and burial-ground figures are based on published 2026 tariffs. Amounts described as illustrative allowances are example budgets, not confirmed supplier quotes.

Final costs depend on the specific date, availability, eligibility, supplier quotations and any additional services requested. We will always explain your options and provide a personalised estimate before arrangements are confirmed.

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What makes up the cost of a funeral?

Funeral costs generally fall into two categories.

Funeral director's fees cover our professional services, care of the person who has died, arrangements, support and any additional services you choose, such as a coffin, funeral vehicles or professional pallbearers.

Third-party costs, sometimes called disbursements, are fees paid to other people or organisations on your behalf. These might include crematorium or cemetery charges, a celebrant or minister, flowers, venue hire or printed stationery.

Some costs are essential to the type of funeral you're arranging, while others are entirely optional.

We'll explain everything clearly, so you can see exactly what you're paying for and decide which choices feel important to you.

View our funeral services and prices →

Let's talk about what's possible

You don't need to have a particular kind of funeral in mind, or know what everything should cost, before getting in touch.

Whether you'd like something beautifully simple or wonderfully individual, we're here to help you explore the possibilities and understand the costs.

We'll listen to what matters to you, explain your options and prepare a clear, personalised estimate so you can make decisions with confidence.

Get in touch with Poetic Endings →