There are dozens of funeral plan providers in the UK and hundreds of plans to choose from. Prices range from under £2,000 for a simple direct cremation to over £5,000 for a full traditional service with all the extras. The differences between plans are not always obvious, and the cheapest option is not always the best value.
We have helped thousands of families plan for their funeral in advance, and we understand that every person is different, and every funeral different, that’s why we offer range of funeral plans. However, while each person may be different, the questions asked about plans are remarkably consistent. This guide covers those questions, explains what actually matters, and helps you work out which type of plan is right for you.
The most common mistake people make is looking at plans before deciding what kind of funeral they actually want. A plan is just a way of paying for a funeral in advance. The funeral itself is the bit that matters.
There are three main types of funeral:
Direct cremation
There is no service with this type of cremation. The deceased is simply collected, the cremation is carried out and the ashes are returned. This is the most affordable option, with plans typically costing between £1,400 and £2,100. Many families who choose this option go on to hold their own memorial or celebration at a later date, after the cremation.
Cremation with a service
This is a funeral that includes a service at the crematorium, with mourners present, just before the cremation takes place. This can be a small, intimate gathering or a larger ceremony with music, readings, and an officiant. Plans range from around £2,200 to £5,000 depending on the number of guests, time of day, and level of personalisation. This type of funeral is also called an attended cremation.
Burial
This requires a specific burial plan and usually does not cover the cost of a burial plot or headstone, which can add £2,000 to £5,000 on top of the plan price. If you want a burial, make sure you understand exactly what the plan does and does not include, and budget for the plot separately.
Check if the fees are guaranteed
This is the single most important thing to check, and the one that often catches people out. When a provider says a plan “covers” cremation or burial fees, there are two very different things they might mean.
- Fully guaranteed means the provider commits to paying whatever the cremation or burial fees are at the time of death, no matter how much they have risen since you bought the plan. Your family pays nothing extra.
- Capped or contribution-based means the plan sets aside a fixed amount towards those fees. If the actual cost at the time of death is higher than the cap, your family makes up the difference. A cap that looks adequate today could leave a shortfall in ten or fifteen years.
To put this in context, funeral costs have risen 146% since 2004, with the average cost of a simple attended funeral now at a record high (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026). A plan that only contributes a fixed amount towards fees is a gamble on future prices staying flat.
All Memoria Funeral plans fully guarantee fees. The cost of the services in your plan will not increase once purchased.
Understand what is not included in the plan
The key point here is that a plan covers the funeral itself. Everything around it (the memorial, the gathering, the flowers, the food, printed order of service) are usually separate costs. This means you and your family should budget for those extras separately if they are important to you.
Some things to look out for:
- Does the plan include hand delivery of ashes, or will your family have to collect from a crematorium?
- Is there a mileage limit on collection of the deceased?
- Is an oversized coffin included if needed, or charged as an extra?
- In the case of direct cremation, a funeral service is not included.
These details vary between providers and can add unexpected costs.
Check the plan provider is FCA-regulated
Since July 2022, all prepaid funeral plan providers in the UK must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This was introduced after several unregulated providers collapsed and families lost money.
FCA regulation means your plan money is held securely in a trust or insurance policy, not in the provider’s general business account. If the provider were to fail, you are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You also have the right to escalate any complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
You can check whether a provider is authorised by searching the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk.
Paying upfront vs spreading the cost
Paying in full is the cheapest way to buy a plan. You pay the plan price and nothing more. If that is not affordable in one go, some providers offer interest-free payments spread over 12 months, which costs the same overall.
Longer-term finance (typically 2 to 5 years) may also be available from some providers. This makes the monthly payments smaller, but interest or fees usually apply, so the total amount you pay ends up being more than the plan price. The longer you spread payments, the more you pay overall.
One thing to be wary of: some products marketed as funeral plans are actually over-50s life insurance policies. With these, you pay a fixed monthly amount until you die or reach a set age (often 90). If you live a long time, you could end up paying far more than the policy pays out. And if you cancel, you typically get nothing back.
What happens if you move house or change your mind
Before you buy a plan, it is worth checking what happens if your circumstances change.
- If you move. Can the plan be transferred to a funeral director in your new area? Providers with their own national network of sites have an advantage here. Smaller, local providers may not be able to serve you if you relocate.
Memoria Funerals operates across mainland England, Wales, and Scotland, with our own crematoria and a network of trusted providers so plans remain valid wherever you move within the UK mainland.
- If you change your mind. All FCA-regulated plans come with a 30-day cooling-off period during which you can cancel for a full refund. After that, it depends which type of plan you have chosen: for one-off payments cancelled after the cooling off period, a cancellation fee applies. Across the market, these range from around £95 to £350. For funeral plans taken over a long term customers may not be entitled to a refund once the moratorium period has lapsed. It’s worth checking with your provider when purchasing your plan so you are fully informed.
Tell your family and store the paperwork
The most common problem we see is not families choosing the wrong plan. It is families not knowing a plan exists. According to the SunLife Cost of Dying Report, less than 1% of people know all of their loved ones’ wishes, and the data also reveals that 53% don’t know whether the deceased wanted a burial or cremation.
When you take out a plan with Memoria Funerals for example, you will be asked to name a Nominated Representative. This is the person who will be sent the plan details and who acts as the point of contact when the time comes. It is usually your next of kin, but it can be anyone you trust.
Beyond the plan itself, it is worth recording any personal wishes: the music you would like, whether you want flowers, if there is a specific reading or poem that matters to you. The plan covers the logistics. Your wishes make it personal.
Keep the paperwork somewhere accessible. If you are in a care home, give the details to the staff so they know who to contact. One call from your Nominated Representative or any family member, at any time of day or night, sets the plan in motion.
* Additional costs on Personal Plan (payable at the time of need) :
- Hand delivery of ashes £100
- Larger coffin £250
- Personal Plan and Celebration of Life can also be personalised with add-on’s such as a hearse, limousine, or officiant.
For a more detailed side-by-side breakdown, see our funeral plans comparison page
How Memoria Funerals plans measure up
This table shows what is included in each Memoria Funerals plan. ‘Yes’ means the feature is included in the plan price. ‘No’ means it is not included. Features are grouped by category to make it easier to scan.
| Feature | Direct Cremation £1,595 | Personal Plan From £2,495 | Celebration of Life Plan From £3,095 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Services | |||
| Funeral directors’ fees, services and cremation fees | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quality Wood Coffin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oversize / larger coffin | Yes | No* | Yes |
| Transport of the deceased to crematorium | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Completion of all cremation paperwork | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery-operated implant removal (e.g. pacemakers) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support & Collection | |||
| 24/7 support at the time of need | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 collection from anywhere in mainland UK | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Online funeral notice | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hand delivery of ashes | Yes | No* | Yes |
| Attendance and Service | |||
| Funeral service (off-peak / early morning) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Funeral service at any other time | No | No | Yes |
| Smaller gathering for family and friends | No | Yes | Yes |
| No limitation on number of attendees | No | No | Yes |
| Flexibility & Extras | |||
| Your choice of crematorium | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewing of the deceased | No | No | No |
Talk to our Funeral Consultants about choosing the right funeral plan for your needs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest type of funeral plan?
A direct cremation plan is the most affordable option, with plans typically ranging from £1,400 to £2,100. Memoria’s Direct Cremation Plan is £1,595. There is no funeral service or mourners present, and ashes are returned to your family.
What happens if I die before finishing instalment payments?
This depends on the provider and how long you have held the plan. Most providers require the outstanding balance to be paid if death occurs within the first 12 to 24 months. After that, providers will deliver the funeral even if the balance is not fully paid. Check the specific terms before buying.
Does a funeral plan cover the cost of a burial plot?
Should I buy a funeral plan or put money in a savings account?
Can I transfer my plan if I move house?
Last reviewed: June 2026.
Industry statistics sourced from the SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026 (www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs).
