Four minute read
Every year, financial services company SunLife publishes their research report into funerals: The Cost of Dying. The 2025 report, which came out this week, doesn’t just look at costs but also at wider funeral trends.
Having this data publicly available is good news for transparency. It helps start important conversations about what matters most when organising a funeral. Knowing more about how funerals work can also assist people in making the right choices for them.
There are five things that stood out for us from this report that we wanted to share.
1. Costs have gone up (again!), but there are ways to save money
In London, the average cost of a funeral is £5,449 — up by 5.4% on last year. The report outlines exactly what this figure includes, but it covers the main costs of an attended burial or cremation including funeral director fees. The Poppy's equivalent average would be £4,990.
We know, from the report and our own experience, that many people worry about paying for a funeral. In response to this, we’ve compiled a factsheet with links to financial help with funeral costs and pooled our simple cost-saving tips for this blog. We also don’t offer packages at Poppy’s, so you only pay for the things that you want.
We’re concerned that 10% of the people surveyed by Sun Life felt that their funeral director pressured them to spend more money than they needed to. This should never happen. Your funeral director should listen to what you want and need, helping you save money if that’s important to you.
The amount you spend on a funeral has nothing to do with the amount you loved the person who has died. We all know this, but when tired, grieving and in the middle of the unfamiliar process of planning a funeral, it can be hard to hold on to. Some of the most beautiful, meaningful funerals we’ve supported our clients with have also been simple and affordable.
2. Demand for direct cremation stays steady, but problems still remain
One in five funerals in 2024 was a direct, unattended cremation without a ceremony or service, the same proportion as in 2023. Although interestingly nearly 90% of people choosing direct cremation said they’d also organised a separate ceremony, wake or informal get-together. It’s clear that we still feel a need for ritual, or gathering together when someone dies.
The report writers asked people who had organised a direct cremation if anything had surprised them about the experience. While many were positive, others expressed concerns about the lack of personal contact, not being told the time of the cremation, or the crematorium being so far away.
At Poppy’s, we try to make our direct cremations as personal as possible by caring for everyone in our on-site mortuary and by using our local crematorium in Lambeth. We’ll also always let you know the date and time of the cremation and the names of the people in our team who are looking after your person. Find out more about Poppy’s direct cremations.
3. Shopping around is on the rise, but cost isn’t the only factor
We think it’s great news that just under half (47%) of funeral directors have noticed an increase in the number of clients who are shopping around and getting quotes from different funeral directors. Get a quote from Poppy’s here.
However, while cost is an important factor, there are many other considerations too. It’s important to ask about the kind of care your person will receive, what choices you will be offered, and to think about factors like location and whether they come recommended by someone you trust. Read more tips in our blog about how to choose a funeral director.
4. There are many different kinds of funeral, find what’s right for you
As in recent years, half of all funeral services in 2024 were described as a 'celebration of life', according to those who organised them.
Religious funerals are declining, according to over two thirds of funeral directors, and more people are specifically requesting humanist funerals.
At Poppy’s, we support you whether you want a religious or secular funeral, or elements of both. For example, you can read about organising a multi-faith funeral here or find out what a humanist celebrant does here.
5. We need to get better about talking about our funeral wishes
Over half of people organising a funeral don’t know whether the person who died wanted burial or cremation, although this proportion is slightly lower than previous years. Most of us know very little about the funeral wishes of the people close to us.
We get it. These things can be difficult and emotional to talk about, so it’s easy to put off the conversation. But knowing someone’s funeral wishes can be enormously comforting for friends and family and can relieve some of the stress of planning a funeral.
In the same way, writing down your funeral wishes can be a reassuring and empowering experience. Read more about Poppy’s free 45-minute My Funeral Wishes consultations here.
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