💀 Cost of Dying Calculator

Build your funeral wishes, see your true cost today, then compare funding options.
Already have a funeral plan? Choose "Cost of Dying Top-Up" to cover only the extras.

Step 1: Choose Your Funeral Type

⚱️
Direct Cremation
£1,595
  • ✓ Collection anywhere in UK
  • ✓ Care of the deceased
  • ✓ Cremation fee included
  • ✓ Ashes in wooden urn
  • ✓ Delivery to family
⚰️
Attended Funeral
£2,200
  • ✓ Funeral director services
  • ✓ Collection (25 miles)
  • ✓ Care of the deceased
  • ✓ Basic coffin included
  • ✓ Hearse (20 miles)
  • ✓ Bearers
📋
Cost of Dying Top-Up
I already have a plan
  • For people who already have a funeral plan but want to cover the extra costs not included:
  • • Probate & estate admin
  • • Wake & catering
  • • Flowers & memorials
  • • Cemetery/cremation fees

📋 Your Plan Summary

Select a funeral type—
Total Cost Today
£0

This is your "target number" — the amount you need to fund for full coverage.

Step 2: Optional Extras

Your direct cremation is complete at £1,595. These are optional additions.

Collection & Delivery

Celebration of Life

Ashes Remembrance

Probate & Estate

Personal Extras

Add any items not listed above

Step 2: Build Your Funeral

Coffin Selection

Cremation or Burial?

🔥
Cremation
🌳
Burial

Funeral Director Extras

Transport

Service & Ceremony

Flowers

Wake & Reception

Memorials

Probate & Estate

Personal Extras

Add any items not listed above

Step 2: What Extra Costs Do You Want Covered?

You already have a funeral plan – great! Your funeral director fees, coffin, hearse and bearers are covered. But the average family still pays £6,904 in additional costs. Select which extras you want to fund below.

Crematorium / Cemetery Fees

Many funeral plans don't include these third-party fees

Service & Ceremony

Flowers

Wake & Reception

Extra Transport

Beyond what's included in your plan

Memorials

Ashes Options

If your plan includes cremation

Probate & Estate Administration

Personal Extras

Add any items not listed above

Step 3: Project Your Future Costs

Enter your age and adjust assumptions to see how your costs grow over time.

50 years old
Years to target: 33
5.5%

Growth Rate Assumptions

3.5% (loading ONS data...)
5.5% (auto-tracks funeral inflation)

Investment Options Growth Rates

5.5% (RPI + 2.0%)
5.5% (RPI + 2.0%)
6.0% (RPI + 2.5%)
Risk Guide: 🟢 Low: RPI + 2% = 5.5% 🟡 Average: RPI + 3% = 6.5% 🟠 Medium: RPI + 4% = 7.5% 🔴 High: RPI + 5% = 8.5%
Note: Set different growth rates for each investment option to compare outcomes in Step 4. Use the risk guide above to select appropriate rates. Basic Funeral Plan growth is fixed to match funeral inflation (5.5%) as prepaid plans are inflation-linked.

Step 4: Compare Your Funding Options

Option You Invest Today Value at Age 83 Future Cost Coverage Shortfall / Surplus
⚠️ Key Notes & Warnings:
• All projections are illustrative – markets and inflation vary. Past performance is no guarantee.
• Life expectancy estimates based on ONS UK data. Male ≈ 82, Female ≈ 85, Average ≈ 83.5.
• Option 1 - Funeral Plan Only: Uses SunLife averages (£4,285 funeral vs £9,797 cost of dying). Shows the compounding shortfall over time. FCA regulated & FSCS protected to £85k since July 2022.
• Options 2-4: Based on your actual selections above – for those planning from scratch.
• Cost of Dying Top-Up (Step 1): If you already have a funeral plan, select this to calculate funding for extras only.
• FSCS Protection: All options are FSCS protected. Multi-Fund & ISA to £85k. Loan Trust + WOL Policy at 100% (life insurance, no limit). Funeral Plans to £85k (since July 2022).
• Spouse ISA: No IHT on first death. Day 1 access, no probate delay. Prior to second death, funds need to be withdrawn and utilised in paying funeral costs.
• Loan Trust + WOL: Single premium, no ongoing payments. Access retained via loan repayment.
• Data source: SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025 (covering 2024 data).
• Always consult a regulated financial adviser – this tool is educational only.