How to choose a funeral director
Last checked September 2026 by Naomi Jackson
Short answer
Ask two or three funeral directors for their standardised price list, which every UK firm must publish under the CMA's Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021. Compare the total including disbursements, check whether the branch is independent or part of a chain, and ask who will care for the person and where they will be kept.
- Price list
- Legally required, in branch and online
- How many to ask
- Two or three, prices vary widely locally
- Trade bodies
- NAFD and SAIF
- Must you use one?
- No, it is optional
- Who pays
- Usually the estate; banks often release funds for the invoice
You are allowed to take your time, compare prices and say no. Nothing has to be decided on the first phone call.
Start with the price list
Since 2021 every UK funeral director must display a standardised price list, in a set format, in the branch and on their website. It shows the attended funeral price, the unattended (direct cremation) price, and the additional items. Because the format is fixed, you can genuinely compare two firms line by line. If a firm cannot produce one, walk away.
Get your next steps in order
A few answers give you a checklist for your situation. Free to start.
Get my checklistQuestions to ask before you commit
Ask these on the phone, before anyone visits.
- What is on your standardised price list, and can you email it to me?
- Is this branch independent, or part of a group?
- Where will they be cared for, at this branch or a central hub, and how far away?
- Can we visit, and is there a charge for a viewing?
- What is included in your fee, and what are the disbursements on top?
- Can we use our own coffin, our own celebrant, or fewer cars?
- What is the total, in writing, and when is payment due?
Fees versus disbursements
A quote has two parts. The funeral director's own fee covers their staff, the coffin, the hearse and their time. Disbursements are what they pay out on your behalf: the crematorium or burial fees, the celebrant or minister, and the doctors' fees where they apply. Disbursements are largely fixed by third parties, so the part you are really comparing is the director's own fee.
Red flags
Any of these justify getting a second quote.
- No standardised price list, or reluctance to send it
- Pressure to decide today, or to upgrade the coffin 'for their sake'
- A single all-in price with no breakdown
- Payment demanded in full up front with no invoice
- Discouraging you from a direct cremation when that is what you asked for
You can also arrange it yourself
There is no legal requirement to use a funeral director anywhere in the UK. You can deal directly with the crematorium or burial ground. Most people do not, because of the transport, storage and paperwork, but it is a genuine option and some councils and natural burial grounds will help you through it.
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Frequently asked questions
Do funeral directors have to publish their prices?
Yes. Under the CMA's Funerals Market Investigation Order 2021, all UK funeral directors must display a standardised price list in a set format, both on their premises and on their website.
How much do funeral directors' fees vary?
A lot, even within one town. Differences of £1,000 or more between firms for an equivalent funeral are common, which is why comparing the standardised price lists is worth the half hour it takes.
Can we pay the funeral bill from the estate before probate?
Usually yes. Most banks will release money from the deceased's account to pay a funeral invoice directly to the funeral director before probate is granted, on sight of the bill and the death certificate.
What if we cannot afford a funeral at all?
Check whether you qualify for the Funeral Expenses Payment, or the Funeral Support Payment in Scotland. If nobody is able to pay and there are no relatives who can, the local council or hospital must arrange a public health funeral.
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Estimate the costMore guides in this series
Funeral costs UK: what a funeral costs in 2026
A simple attended funeral averages £3,828 in 2026 and a direct cremation £1,628. UK funeral costs by type and region, and the choices that change the total most.
Funeral options compared: costs and what's included
Direct cremation, simple, traditional, burial, natural burial and celebrations of life, with average UK costs and what each includes.
Funeral Expenses Payment, who qualifies and how much
Funeral Expenses Payment helps with the cost of a funeral if you're on a low income. Covers burial or cremation fees and up to £1,000 of other costs.
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Probate explained
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