Top 5 cremation providers in the UK

Right now, the cost of conducting a funeral is high than ever before. In the last two decades, the cost has been rising at a rapid rate, and a growing number of families are struggling to pay. The average cost of a cremation is significantly lower compared to burial. This is the reason why cremation is more popular, accounting for over 80% of funerals in the UK.

The total funeral cost comprises of the director fees, third party costs, the cost of cremation or burial, and other associated services. In this article, we will look at how cremation funerals are conducted in the UK, where they are conducted, and more.

Top 5 cremation providers in the UK

Avalon- Best overall cremation plan

Avalon has been in the industry for more than 25 years, working with local and independent funeral directors across the UK. It is a viable option because it is regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), which ensures it abides by the code of practice and set rules.

Recently, Avalon introduced the Avalon Promise that ensures that the funeral expenses will be covered even if you pass away before completing the monthly installments. The only caveat is that you need for your payments are paid when due and have paid at least 12 months.

Here are the main funeral plans offered by Avalon

Cremation only plans- This is also known as the direct cremation plan and does not include a service or a facility for family and friends to attend. It is the cheapest plant at £1,895 or £17.16.
Cremation with a service plan- It features simple family-led service at the local crematorium. It cost £2,645 or £25.6 per month
Balmoral service plan- This is the standard plan that covers transportation of the body anywhere within the UK, a simple coffin, hearse, and a funeral service. It cost £3,645 (£35.06 monthly) and offers you the choice between burial and cremation with the funeral director’s services.
Highgrove funeral plan- Comes with funeral director services, transportation, quality veneered coffin, chapel of rest, hearse and one limousine. It cost £3,995 or £38.52 and you can choose between burial or cremation funeral.
Windsor Way funeral plan- This the premium plan that includes all the elements in the above plans together with a quality veneered coffin a hearse and two limousines. It cost £4,245 or monthly installments of £40.99.

In all of the plans, Avalon includes a £1000 contribution towards third party costs which means that you or your family will cover for any additional fees.

Pros

Numerous pricing levels to fit different requirements
Regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority
Payments can be made as a whole or in monthly instalments

Cons

Poor customer service

Dignity funeral plans- largest single operator of crematoriums

Dignity is one of the biggest and most established funeral services provider in the UK with a large number of funeral directors. It is regulated by the Funeral Planning Authority and clients’ funds are held in independent trust fund. Although it is the largest single operator of crematoriums across the UK, plans can be carried out at any crematorium close to you.

The company offers a wide range of plans that include;

Limited plan- This is the most affordable plan that starts at £2,895 if you pay the lump sum amount upfront. It features a cremation funeral service all the necessary elements including a £1,220 contribution for third party costs. However, it comes with certain limitations. For instance, you will be assigned a small number of funeral directors and restrictions on the day and time of the funeral service.
Amber plan- This plan cost £3,295 and does not have the limitations imposed on the limited plan. It comes with a cremation funeral option, transportation of the body, a wood effect coffin, funeral directors services and care of the body prior to cremation.
Pearl plan- It starts at £3,650 and includes all the features included in the Amber plan as well as a quality wood effect coffin, a hearse, one limousine. Also, it offers complimentary thank you cards and allows the family to make viewing appointments.
Diamond plan-This is the most premium plan that starts at £3,895. It features everything on the Pearl plan plus two limousines and a high quality veneer coffin.

Pros

Registered and regulated by the FPA
Guarantee cremation and officiator fee in all the plans
Highest allowance of £1,200 towards third party costs

Cons

Does not cover certain services such as certificate fee or embalming

Co-op funeral plans- Best for all cultures and faiths

Co-op Funeralcare is a reputable funeral service provider with over 1000 funeral homes across the UK. It offers a wide range of plans that are designed such that you or your family does not need to pay anything during mourning time.

Every plan guarantees a transportation of the body up to 50 miles from the place of the death to the nearest Co-op funeral home where the body will be prepared. Also, the doctor’s fee for the certification, a coffin and all the cost associated cremation are included in all of the plans.

Co-op funeral plans include;

Simple plan- This is the most affordable plant starting at £3,295 if you pay the whole amount up-front. It comes with funeral director services, chapel of rest, a simple coffin and hearse. The only limitation is that you or your family cannot determine the time and date of the cremation funeral service.
Bronze plan- It is slightly expensive than the simple plat at £3,595 and does not have any restrictions. This plan also features funeral director services, chapel of rest. Embalming, a wood effect coffin, hearse and the opportunity to choose day and time and even the procession route.
Silver plan- This plan includes everything offered on the bronze plan. On top of that, it includes two limousines and the coffin is upgraded to rosewood or cherry wood. Also, the family can visit the chapel of rest at any time.
Gold plan- Features everything on the silver plan plus two limousines, ability to choose the procession route and a light oak wood veneer coffin. However, it is does not come cheap at £4,199.

Note that if you choose to pay the plan in instalments, you will incur an instalment fee on each payment. Even if the monthly instalments are lower, it can significantly increase the overall cost. For instance, if the simple plan cost is spread over 25-years period, you will end up paying £6,255 as opposed to the original price of £3,295.

Pros

A choice between cremation and burial
Operates over 1000 funeral homes across the UK
All the plans cover third-party costs

Cons

The basic plan limit visitation on weekends and holidays.

Perfect Choice

Perfect Choice is a subsidiary of Ecclesiastical, one of the biggest financial services companies in the UK. It offers four levels of prepaid plans that are tailored to suit your requirements. This company is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and registered by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA).

Here are the available plans on Perfect Choice

The basic plan- It cost £2,535 and includes the funeral director services, a hearse and simple coffin. However, it does not account for third party costs such as cremation which might leave a substantial amount to be paid.
Simple plan- It cost £3,605 and includes the funeral director services, a simple coffin and hearse. Unlike the basic plan, it comes with a £1,200 contribution to cover cremation fees.
Traditional plan- At £3,915, it features everything in the simple plan together with a high quality veneered coffin, chapel or rest and one limousine and £1,200 contribution to third party costs such as cremation.

Pros

Registered by FPA and a member of NAFD
30-day money-back guarantee
Clients funds are paid into insurance policy

Cons

Contribution style plans

Golden leaves- Best flexible funeral plans

Golden leaves have made a name for itself in the funeral industry in the UK by offering the widest choice of prepaid plans. Although it offers a wide range of plan levels to cater to different needs, it is a bit confusing what is offered at each level.

Here are Golden Leaves plan levels

Copper plan- This is also known as the direct cremation plan and cost £1644 to include the cremation process without a service.
Bronze plan- Cost £2,394 to only cover the funeral director’s fee with no allowance for cremation
Zinc plan- it is available at £2,859 to cover for the funeral director’s fee with limitations to choose the time and day of cremation.
Silver plan- It is the standard plan that costs £3,364 to cover for the funeral director fees, a basic coffin, hearse, and cremation fees.
Gold plan- It cost £3,719 to cover everything on the silver plan plus an upgraded coffin and one limousine.
Platinum plan- Cost £3,969 to include everything featured on the Gold plan together with a high-quality coffin and two limousines.

Pros

Wide range of plans
Registered by the FPA
Rebate feature on fixed monthly payment

Cons

Two of the plans does not include cremation fees

What is a cremation funeral in the UK?

Since cremation is more flexible and affordable than the traditional burial option, its popularity has risen significantly in the recent past. Despite the practice being around for more than 2000 years, most people don’t fully understand it and whether it is a viable option.

Cremation is the method of disposing the body instead of the traditional burial in a coffin or casket. Today’s crematoriums feature industrial furnaces that reduce the body into basic chemical compounds, also known as cremains. The cremains poses no health risk and can be kept in an urn, interred at a cemetery, or disperse them in a memorable site or special ceremony.

The whole creation process takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete, though it may take longer to collect the cremains. According to the regulations set by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), only one body should be cremated at a time where an effective labelling system is used for identification throughout the process.

Before the body is put in the cremation chamber, all the jewelry is taken off, and any medical devices such as prosthetics, pacemakers, and silicon implants are removed. The cremation chamber temperature is increased to approximately 1400^o F (760^o C) to 1800^o F (980^o C), and after a couple of hours, the organics matter will be consumed by the heat. The bones fragments are processed into fine particulate that looks like ash and collected in a temporary container or urn.

Compared to traditional burial funeral, cremation is significantly less expensive. This may be the reason why there has been a steady increase in the number of cremations in the UK, accounting for over 80% of all funerals.

Apart from the price, there are other factors that may be influencing the growing popularity of cremations. First, there is the argument that cremations are environmentally friendly because they don’t include embalming, coffin materials, and land use. Second, cremations offer the flexibility to choose the final resting place. For example, the ashes can be scattered in a specific place that was special to the deceased.

Cremation costs

The overall cremation cost will depend on whether you will seek the services of a funeral director, or you will arrange the funeral yourself. Although funeral directors ease the burden of planning a cremation funeral, their fee makes the overall cost to increase.

At the moment, the average cost of cremation in the UK is about £3,250, which includes the funeral directors fee, crematorium’s fee, the minister/celebrant fee, and associated paperwork. If the deceased did not live in the district or borough in which the crematorium operates, there could be an additional fee.

In most cases, the cost will also include transportation of the body, embalming, a funeral procession, pallbearers, hearse, and even a limousine depending on the plan level. Some plans also include a coffin and the opportunity of family and close friends to view the body.

When assessing the overall cremation cost, it is worth bearing in mind elements such as flowers, memorial, catering, limousine hire, and venue hire. The addition of these elements can inflate the overall cost by almost £2,000 or more.

How to reduce the cremation cost?

Consider a direct cremation plan

A direct cremation is a simple way to conduct a cremation funeral, and it is the fastest-growing Choice for UK families because it is more affordable. Depending on the region you live, the cost for a direct cremation plan can be in the hundreds rather than thousands, like in the standard plans. However, these types of plans come with some limitations such as no viewing of the body, no service, no embalming, and the process is conducted at odd hours such as evenings or weekends.

Transportation

It is considered traditional to have hearses and limousines leading the procession to the funeral service. However, this is not a necessity, and you can reduce the overall cost by cutting down on transport. Depending on where the memorial or service is held, you can ask family and friends to use their cars instead of hiring limousines.

The wake

There are certain ways you can cut the cost if you are considering to hold a memorial service or wake after the funeral. There is no right or wrong memorial service or wake, and you can hold it within your means. For example, you can hold a wake in your home rather than hiring a large venue. Also, responsibilities like food can be shared among guests.

Crowdfunding

This is a modern way of reducing funeral costs. Instead of one family member bearing the whole financial responsibilities, friends and family can contribute to cover the expenses. This is also a good way of bringing together those who knew the deceased. Donating something, no matter how little, often gives a sense of greater involvement. Nowadays, there are numerous online crowdfunding platforms that allow friends and families to not only contribute but also share photos, videos, and stories.

Choose the funeral director wisely

While funeral directors are responsible for providing expertise and support throughout the process, their fees form a large part of the overall cremation cost. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the right director that fits your needs. He/she should arrange everything and coordinate with third parties in the management and coordination of the funeral service.

Skip embalming

Preservation through embalming is a traditional practice that is optional and not a necessity. It is mainly done to slow down the natural decaying process for a more life-like appearance for public viewing. If viewing the body is not essential for you, you can arrange for the cremation immediately after death, which is a great way to cut on cost. Alternatively, you can choose refrigeration, which is also a bit cheaper.

Cremation vs. burial

Cost

The major difference between a cremation funeral and a burial funeral is the cost. While the average cremation cost is around £3,500, the average burial cost is £4,500. The cremation cost is even lower when you choose the direct cremation plan, which can be even below £1,000. However, one thing that can inflate the cremation cost is what you decide to do with the ashes. Although burying the ashes in a cemetery offers a great place to visit, it can cost up to £400 or more while scattering them is free.

Environmental consideration

There are various environmental factors to consider when choosing between a cremation and burial funeral. According to Guardian, a single cremation consume up to 15kWh of electricity and 285kWh of gas on average. This is the average monthly energy consumption of some homes. The main reason that has contributed to the increased popularity of cremations is that burial spaces are limited. Recent research indicates that all UK cemeteries could run out of space with the next 20 years.

Pollution is also a critical consideration. During the cremation process, a significant amount of mercury from dental fills is released into the air. In fact, cremations contributed 16% of all mercury emissions in the UK. However, most crematoriums have added filters to limit the emission. On the other hand, the use of formaldehyde during embalming and in some coffins can sip into the groundwater.

Flexibility

Compared to burial funeral, cremation is more flexible, allowing you to choose whether to hold a service at the crematorium or later. Also, there are options when it comes to the cremated ashes. You can bury them at a cost or choose free alternatives such as scattering them in a favorite spot, wear in a piece of jewelry, or even in fireworks. In addition, the ashes can be shared among family members and friends.

Pros and cons of cremation

Pros

More cost-effective
Environmental friendly
Simpler and quicker process
A wide array of memorial options
Ashes can be memorialized further

Cons

The process requires the use of fossil fuel
Implanted devices can result in dangerous explosions

Conclusion

Cremation funeral is increasingly becoming a preferred method because it is cheaper than the burial funeral. Since there are numerous funeral services providers, it can be challenging to choose the right funeral plan for your needs. We hope that this article has helped you narrow down your choices.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do with the cremated ashes?

In most cases, cremains are scattered or buried in the grave or garden of remembrance. Note that you have to seek permission from relevant authorities and obey local rules to scatter the ashes elsewhere.

How is a cremation arranged?

There are several arrangements that have to be made following death. It is the responsibility of the nearest surviving relative to contact a funeral director to help with some of the tasks. A reliable funeral director should make all the necessary arrangements, such as collecting the body, obtaining medical certificates, etc.

What happens at the crematorium on a funeral day?

Normally, mourners are expected to arrive earlier than the slated time and gather in the crematorium waiting room. The funeral director, accompanied by the principal mourners arrive with the hearse. The crematorium chapel attendant will receive the coffin, confirm the body and transfer the coffin from the hearse to the trolley to be conveyed to the chapel. After the casket is placed on the catafalque, the funeral directors will direct other mourners to their seats.

What are the service arrangements at a crematorium?

It is possible to hold a religious service at the crematorium within the allowed time. Alternatively, the service can be held at a separate venue, followed by a brief ceremony at the crematorium. You can arrange for a particular minister or celebrant to conduct the service or ask the funeral director to secure a suitable officiator.

Can the coffin be cremated with the body?

Cremation regulations require the coffin to be placed in the chamber as it was received with all the fittings. Note that floral attributes are not included with the coffin during cremation.