Costs
How much does a cremation cost in the UK?
Last updated 7 June 2026 · Based on 6,115 published CMA Standardised Price Lists
Quick answer
A cremation in the UK costs one of two ways. A direct (unattended) cremation has a median all-in price of £1,545 (range £712 to £2,995 across 2,843 price lists), which already includes the cremation fee. An attended cremation funeral has a median funeral director’s charge of £2,895 (FD charges only), with the crematorium’s cremation fee — typically £800–£1,100 — paid separately on top.
What a cremation costs in the UK — at a glance
| Statistic | Direct cremation | Attended cremation (FD only) |
|---|---|---|
| Median price | £1,545 | £2,895 |
| 25th percentile (lower-cost end) | £1,240 | £2,450 |
| 75th percentile (higher end) | £1,745 | £3,265 |
| Published range | £712–£2,995 | £840–£4,700 |
| Sample size | 2,843 providers | 3,272 providers |
Direct cremation figures are all-in (they include the cremation fee). Attended cremation figures are the funeral director’s charges only — the crematorium cremation fee, doctors’ and any clergy or celebrant fees are paid separately. All figures from the most recent CMA Standardised Price List published by each funeral director.
How much does an attended cremation cost?
An attended cremation — a funeral with mourners present and a service at the crematorium — has a median funeral director’s charge of £2,895, with the middle 50% of providers between £2,450 and £3,265 across 3,272 published CMA Standardised Price Lists. That figure is the funeral director’s charges only. On top of it you pay the crematorium’s cremation fee — typically £800–£1,100, set by the crematorium — plus doctors’ fees and any celebrant or clergy fee, so a realistic all-in attended cremation usually totals around £3,500–£4,500.
The two ways to pay for a cremation
“Cremation cost” covers two quite different products. A direct cremation is an unattended cremation with no service: the funeral director collects the deceased, provides a simple coffin, transports them to the crematorium, and returns the ashes. Under the CMA Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021, its published price must include the cremation fee, so the figure you see is all-in.
An attended cremation is a traditional funeral with mourners present and a service at the crematorium. The price funeral directors publish for this is their own charges only — the professional fee, care of the deceased, a coffin and the hearse. The crematorium’s cremation fee is then added separately as a third-party disbursement.
The crematorium fee, explained
The crematorium fee is set by each crematorium — not the funeral director — and typically falls between £800 and £1,100. For an attended cremation, you pay it on top of the funeral director’s charges shown above. For a direct cremation it is already bundled into the published all-in price. This is the single biggest reason an attended cremation’s funeral director charge looks lower than the total you actually pay: the cremation fee, doctors’ fees and any celebrant or clergy fee all sit outside it.
Why cremation prices vary so much
Direct cremation is the most variable line on the Standardised Price List. National specialist operators running centralised, unattended services can publish prices well below £1,000, while traditional local funeral directors include wider collection radius, the option to view the deceased, and a chosen ash-return container — and their published prices reflect that. Attended cremation charges vary with premises, staffing, coffin specification and ownership group.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cremation cost in the UK?
A direct (unattended) cremation has a median all-in price of £1,545, including the cremation fee. An attended cremation funeral has a median funeral director’s charge of £2,895, with the crematorium’s cremation fee (typically £800–£1,100) paid separately on top.
How much does an attended cremation cost in the UK?
An attended cremation — a funeral with mourners and a service at the crematorium — has a median funeral director’s charge of £2,895, with the middle 50% between £2,450 and £3,265 across 3,272 published price lists. The crematorium’s cremation fee (typically £800–£1,100) is paid separately on top, along with doctors’ and any celebrant fees, so a realistic all-in attended cremation usually totals around £3,500–£4,500.
How much is a cremation only, or direct cremation?
A cremation only — also called direct cremation or an unattended cremation — has a median UK price of £1,545, ranging from £712 to £2,995 across 2,843 published price lists. This price is all-in and includes the cremation fee. Source: each provider’s CMA Standardised Price List.
What is the difference between the cremation cost and the crematorium fee?
The crematorium fee is the third-party charge for the cremation itself, set by the crematorium and typically £800–£1,100. For an attended cremation it is paid separately; for a direct cremation the CMA Order requires it to be included in the published all-in price.
Is cremation cheaper than burial?
In almost all cases, yes — a cremation avoids the cost of a burial plot and gravedigging. See our cremation vs burial guide for the full comparison.
Where do these cremation prices come from?
Every funeral director figure on this page is drawn from a provider’s published CMA Standardised Price List — the document each UK funeral director is legally required to display. We capture them, normalise them, and publish them on each provider’s profile page. The crematorium cremation fee range is contextual and is not part of our captured price-list data.
Where can I see cremation prices near me?
Use the UK postcode search to find providers in your area, or browse funeral costs by city.
Related guides
Find UK cremation prices near you
Search by UK postcode or browse cities to compare published prices from funeral directors in your area.
Funeral director prices on this page are aggregated from each provider’s published CMA Standardised Price List, last refreshed 20 June 2026. The crematorium cremation fee range is contextual. Always verify directly with the funeral director and crematorium before making decisions.