How much does a funeral cost?
Watch this short visual guide to the average cost of a funeral in the UK.
See our examples of how much a funeral might cost
Video not for you? Read our article on how much a funeral costs
Affordable funeral plans
A SunLife funeral plan can completely cover the cost of your funeral
Why choose a SunLife Funeral Plan?
Protect your family
against soaring funeral costs
Suits your needs
3 different plans to choose from
Nationwide coverage
3,300 funeral directors available
Free £50 gift card
when you choose a plan
Choose a Funeral Plan to suit you
There are some costs outside the control of our funeral directors (these include doctors’ and clergy fees as well as the service at a local crematorium or cemetery) so it’s understandable that we can’t cover everything. We provide an allowance towards these costs that increases every year — it’s our way to ensure we cover as much as we can.
Questions? Read our FAQs
Discretionary costs
Our plans cover most features of a traditional funeral, but they do not include flowers, catering, order of service cards, burial plot or headstone, a religious or non-religious service before the burial or cremation, or any specific requirements at the crematorium, such as an organist or choir. If you would like your funeral director to provide any other services that aren’t included in your plan, these can be arranged for an extra charge.
What are funeral plans?
The sooner you plan the better
The average cost of a funeral in the UK has soared by 4.7% in just one year to £4,078* — and it looks set to go on growing. That’s why it's more important than ever to do something now to help pay for your funeral.
You can protect yourself against rising funeral prices by taking out a Funeral Plan today. You'll also ensure that your family and friends won’t have to worry about making difficult decisions or deal with a big bill — as most of the costs will be taken care of.
*SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2017
Your funeral, your way
It can be difficult to know where to start when you’re planning your funeral. That’s where we come in. We offer a range of Funeral Plans – from a simple funeral to something a little more special. And, we have two payment options to choose from, depending on your budget.
Sorting it all out in advance is easier than you might think. You can choose your Funeral Plan in a few simple steps. Then, all your family will need to do is contact your allocated funeral director, who will put the arrangements for your plan in place. They will also provide your family with help and support at an emotional time.
Why choose SunLife?
When it comes to something this important, you should feel sure that you're dealing with the experts. We've been helping people plan for the end of their life for over 35 years and we're here to make choosing a funeral as simple as possible.
We've teamed up with Golden Charter to help you get the best possible funeral service. They represent the UK's largest network of independent funeral directors — with over 3,300 local funeral directors around the country. When the time comes, your Funeral Director will take care of everything. They’ll provide vital support to your family, from organising the funeral to being there on the day and making sure everything goes just the way you want it.
Ways to pay for your funeral
Two payment options
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to afford the funeral of your choice. That’s why we offer two different payment options.
Payment options compared
Here's an example of how the payment options work, based on a 65-year-old who chooses the Standard Plan.
| PAYMENT OPTION | COST | TOTAL PAID |
| Pay in one go | £3,295 | £3,295 |
| Pay monthly with life insurance | £31.02 per month*, till age 90 or death, if earlier | Depends on how long you live |
*Monthly premiums based on age
Pay in one go
Prices start from £3,295, depending on the Funeral Plan you choose.
This option is available to UK residents, aged 50 and over. You can pay by debit or credit card — it's up to you.
- Once you've made the single payment, you'll have an agreement with Golden Charter to provide the agreed funeral services on your death. The money you paid is held in the Golden Charter Trust, which is managed independently. The trust ensures the money is secure and your funeral will be provided when the time comes.
- Golden Charter is also regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA).The FPA exists to protect plan holders' interests.
- If you change your mind, you have 30 days to cancel and get a refund. If you cancel more than 30 days after taking out your plan, we'll refund your payment minus a £249 cancellation fee. Bear in mind that any money refunded may not be enough to cover alternative arrangements — funeral costs may have risen since you took out the plan.
If you'd like to know more about this payment option, please read the terms and conditions.
Pay each month with life insurance
Prices start from £25.52 a month, depending on your age and the Funeral Plan you choose. For example, if you're 65 and choose our Standard Plan, you would pay £31.02 a month. That's just £1.02 a day.
- This option is available to UK residents aged 50 to 80. Unlike many insurance policies, you won't need to have a medical or answer any health questions – your acceptance is guaranteed.
- You'll need to pay a fixed premium by Direct Debit every month until you're 90, or until death if earlier. When you die, the policy will pay a cash sum directly to Golden Charter, as long as you have been paying premiums for at least two years. Your Golden Charter funeral director will then arrange your chosen funeral services.
- If you die within the first two years of taking out the policy, your chosen funeral services would not be provided. Instead, all the premiums you have paid plus an extra 20% would be paid to Golden Charter. Your Golden Charter funeral director will use this money towards your funeral but your next of kin would need to pay the balance of your funeral costs. You should choose a payment that you’re comfortable paying until you’re 90 – if you stopped paying you wouldn't get anything back and your funeral services would not be provided.
- When the time comes, your loved ones could decide to receive the cash sum instead of the funeral services. If they choose to do that, they may get back less than you have paid in. The cash sum may also be subject to Inheritance Tax.
- If you change your mind, you have 30 days to cancel and get a full refund of the money you have paid in. If you cancel more than 30 days after taking out the policy, or if you stop your payments, your life insurance policy will end, your Funeral Plan will be cancelled and you won't receive anything back.
The life insurance policy is provided by Phoenix Life Limited, which trades as SunLife and which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Please read the terms and conditions to know more about this payment option.
Compare our plans
THE STANDARD PLAN
| Price if you pay monthly with life insurance, depending on your age If you are looking for lower, fixed monthly payments, you can pay for your funeral by taking out a life insurance policy. |
£25.52 to £59.74 per month* |
| Price if you pay in one go If you have the money right now, paying it off in a single payment gives you the reassurance that your Funeral Plan is paid for so you can get on with your life. |
£3,295 |
| The funeral director’s services This covers all the funeral arrangements for a burial or cremation that the funeral director makes on behalf of your loved ones. Your funeral director will provide guidance on all aspects of the funeral arrangements and help your loved ones to complete the certification and registration of the death and other related documents. |
 |
| The coffin Your funeral director will provide your loved ones with a range of quality coffins to choose from, which also includes a personalised name plaque. |
Simple coffin |
| Transport of the deceased Your funeral director will arrange the transportation of the deceased to a suitable resting place within 15 miles of your address. |
During normal office hours |
| Care of the deceased and chapel of rest Your funeral director will arrange for the care of the deceased before the burial or cremation. This does not include embalming. This feature also covers the use of a chapel of rest or service rooms. |
|
| Family viewing If included in your plan, your loved ones will be able to view the deceased in the chapel of rest, rest rooms or service rooms, during normal office hours. |
 |
| Hearse and limousines All plans cover the cost of the hearse and attendants. Each limousine can seat up to 7 people. |
Hearse only |
| Allowance towards service at crematorium or cemetery, including attendance of clergy or an officiant Our plans include an allowance towards the cost of a service at a local cemetery or crematorium, and also fees for clergy or an officiant to attend the service. These costs are out of our control but to help towards covering these fees, we increase this allowance every year. But depending on the cost of these services at the point of claim, there may be a shortfall which would need to be met by your next of kin. |
|
| Advice about bereavement counselling If included in your plan, your funeral director will provide your loved ones with confidential advice and resources about bereavement. This would also include a recommendation for a local bereavement counsellor. |
Bereavement advice book |
THE SELECT PLAN
| Price if you pay monthly with life insurance, depending on your age If you are looking for lower, fixed monthly payments, you can pay for your funeral by taking out a life insurance policy. |
£28.27 to £66.18 per month* |
| Price if you pay in one go If you have the money right now, paying it off in a single payment gives you the reassurance that your Funeral Plan is paid for so you can get on with your life. |
£3,650 |
| The funeral director’s services
This covers all the funeral arrangements for a burial or cremation that the funeral director makes on behalf of your loved ones. Your funeral director will provide guidance on all aspects of the funeral arrangements and help your loved ones to complete the certification and registration of the death and other related documents. |
|
| The coffin
Your funeral director will provide your loved ones with a range of quality coffins to choose from, which also includes a personalised name plaque. |
High quality coffin |
| Transport of the deceased
Your funeral director will arrange the transportation of the deceased to a suitable resting place within 15 miles of your address. |
|
| Care of the deceased and chapel of rest
Your funeral director will arrange for the care of the deceased before the burial or cremation. This does not include embalming. This feature also covers the use of a chapel of rest or service rooms. |
|
| Family viewing
If included in your plan, your loved ones will be able to view the deceased in the chapel of rest, rest rooms or service rooms, during normal office hours. |
|
| Hearse and limousine
All plans cover the cost of the hearse and attendants. Each limousine can seat up to 7 people. |
Hearse plus one limousine |
| Allowance towards service at crematorium or cemetery, including attendance of clergy or an officiant
Our plans include an allowance towards the cost of a service at a local cemetery or crematorium, and also fees for clergy or an officiant to attend the service. These costs are out of our control but to help towards covering these fees, we increase this allowance every year. But depending on the cost of these services at the point of claim, there may be a shortfall which would need to be met by your next of kin. |
|
| Advice about bereavement counselling
If included in your plan, your funeral director will provide your loved ones with confidential advice and resources about bereavement. This would also include a recommendation for a local bereavement counsellor. |
|
THE PREMIER PLAN
| Price if you pay monthly with life insurance, depending on your age
If you are looking for lower, fixed monthly payments, you can pay for your funeral by taking out a life insurance policy. |
£30.20 to £70.69 per month* |
| Price if you pay in one go
If you have the money right now, paying it off in a single payment gives you the reassurance that your Funeral Plan is paid for so you can get on with your life. |
£3,899 |
| The funeral director’s services
This covers all the funeral arrangements for a burial or cremation that the funeral director makes on behalf of your loved ones. Your funeral director will provide guidance on all aspects of the funeral arrangements and help your loved ones to complete the certification and registration of the death and other related documents. |
|
| The coffin
Your funeral director will provide your loved ones with a range of quality coffins to choose from, which also includes a personalised name plaque. |
Superior coffin |
| Transport of the deceased
Your funeral director will arrange the transportation of the deceased to a suitable resting place within 15 miles of your address. |
|
| Care of the deceased and chapel of rest
Your funeral director will arrange for the care of the deceased before the burial or cremation. This does not include embalming. This feature also covers the use of a chapel of rest or service rooms. |
|
| Family viewing
If included in your plan, your loved ones will be able to view the deceased in the chapel of rest, rest rooms or service rooms, during normal office hours. |
|
| Hearse and limousines
All plans cover the cost of the hearse and attendants. Each limousine can seat up to 7 people.Allowance towards service at crematorium or cemetery, including attendance of clergy or an officiant |
Hearse plus two limousines |
| Allowance towards service at crematorium or cemetery, including attendance of clergy or an officiant
Our plans include an allowance towards the cost of a service at a local cemetery or crematorium, and also fees for clergy or an officiant to attend the service. These costs are out of our control but to help towards covering these fees, we increase this allowance every year. But depending on the cost of these services at the point of claim, there may be a shortfall which would need to be met by your next of kin. |
|
| Advice about bereavement counselling
If included in your plan, your funeral director will provide your loved ones with confidential advice and resources about bereavement. This would also include a recommendation for a local bereavement counsellor. |
|
Learn about funeral planning
Try our funeral costs calculator for free
Find out the average funeral cost in your area using this interactive tool. It’ll only take a couple of minutes.
Calculate funeral costs nowMake your funeral wishes known
Record your funeral wishes ready for when the time comes - it’s simple and it’s FREE.
Start planningWhat does a funeral cost where you live?
Use our funeral cost calculator to see how much the average funeral costs in 2017 in your area.
Funeral Cost Calculator
Learn about Funeral Planning
- A simple guide to popular funeral hymns
- Popular funeral flowers and arrangements
- Sympathy card and funeral flower messages
- Bereavement poems and poems for funerals
- What to wear to a funeral
- Funeral planning - why it matters
- The rise of alternative funerals
- Time to talk about funeral arrangements
- 9 non-religious funerals and farewells
- 15 weird and wonderful funeral requests
- What is a direct cremation
- 5 reasons why a funeral plan is a good idea
Frequently asked questions
Terms and conditions
The information you have been provided does not contain advice regarding whether these funeral plans are suitable for you. Therefore it's very important that you read and understand the terms and conditions.
Please print and/or save these documents and keep them for future reference. If you do not have access to Adobe Reader, you can download the software by clicking the following link:
- Read and understand these terms and conditions, including the policy summary
- Make sure you’re eligible for the plan
- Make sure you know what is and isn't covered by the plan
- Keep hold of these terms and conditions, so you can refer to them in the future
- Check these terms and conditions (including the policy summary) from time to time to make sure the plan is still right for you
Get a Funeral Plan quote
The smallest print
This website contains information on how these funeral plans work. It does not contain advice, so you need to be satisfied this type of funeral plan meets your needs. If you are unsure and need advice, please visit unbiased.co.uk to find an Independent Financial Adviser in your area (you may have to pay for the financial advice provided). If you have any questions about the plan, you can call us on 0800 904 7674.