Arranging a basic funeral

At Simplicity, we understand that when a loved one passes away, some families may wish to keep things simple, or just keep costs down, which is why we provide a range of basic funerals. Whether you are looking for an unattended direct cremation or a larger funeral with a family-led service, we can help.

Our basic funerals cost from just £995 and are available throughout the whole of mainland Great Britain.

 

What are basic funerals?

A basic funeral is a simpler, often lower cost alternative to a traditional funeral.

A traditional funeral can be an expensive occasion, which can take a lot of time to arrange. At Simplicity, we offer a range of basic funerals that provide all of the essential elements of a funeral without the often unwanted, ceremonial elements.

By choosing a basic, no frills funeral, you’ll be able to say goodbye in a way that suits the needs and budget of your family without compromising on high standards of care.

 

How much does a basic funeral cost?

In the UK in 2020, the average basic funeral cost £4,184, an increase of 1.7% from the previous year. The average basic funeral cost is the combined average cost of a basic cremation at £3,885 and a basic burial at £5,033*.

There are a number of things that will affect the cost of a basic funeral, including the location within the UK where the funeral will take place and the type of funeral arrangements you make.

At Simplicity, we can help you to arrange a respectful and dignified funeral, without spending thousands of pounds. Our basic funerals cost up to 76%^ less than the average basic funeral, starting at just £995. Plus, unlike many funeral providers, our prices remain the same no matter where in mainland Great Britain your loved one is resting.

 

What does a basic funeral include?

The cost of a basic funeral will usually cover the services of a Funeral Director (often including a coffin, a hearse and care of your loved one) and disbursements including doctor’s fees (where required), officiate fees and the cost of the cremation or burial, although what is included will vary between providers.

The key differentiation between a basic funeral provided by Simplicity and a basic funeral from other funeral providers is that a Simplicity Cremation is arranged with no face-to-face interaction with a Funeral Director.

Funeral Directors put a lot of time and effort into arranging every funeral they conduct, and for this reason, their fees tend to make up the biggest cost of a basic funeral.

Removing the need for several meetings with a Funeral Director allows us to provide substantial savings versus the cost of the average basic funeral. Instead of visiting your local Funeral Home, all of the arrangements are made over the telephone by our team of funeral professionals.

At Simplicity, our basic funerals include everything you will need for a basic cremation, with or without a funeral service, including:

- Cremation fees
- Doctor's fees
- Provision of a simple coffin
- Care in our professional mortuary facilities
- Transportation of the deceased in our specialised vehicles
- Arrangements by our telephone-based funeral arrangers, who are available to assist you 24/7

 

Choose a basic funeral package

We offer three basic cremation packages, which will allow you to commemorate your loved one’s life in a way that is right for you:

Unattended Funeral from £995 – provides a direct cremation without a funeral service or any mourners present. 

A completely no frills funeral, this is the most basic cremation option available in the UK. A direct cremation allows the opportunity to separate the cremation itself from a memorial service or celebration of life afterwards.

Intimate Funeral from £1,395 – allows a short time for reflection in the crematorium chapel and to say a few words for up to 12 people.

Some families prefer to be present at the crematorium but do not see the value in a funeral service; so this basic cremation option is most suited to small families who would like to be present at the funeral to pay their respects, but do not want to arrange a formal service.

Family Led Funeral from £1,895 – provides a cremation with a funeral service arranged by the family.

You and your family will have the freedom to arrange the ceremonial format, music, readings, visual tributes and the presence of a minister or celebrant, as you would with a traditional funeral. We’ve put together a guide on how to plan a funeral service to give you ideas on what you may like to arrange, and you will also have access to our team of telephone-based arrangers who can help you organise the day.

What we’ve removed is the procession with a hearse, limousines and pallbearers, or ‘pre-ceremony’ beforehand. If you choose the Intimate or Family Led Funeral, your loved one will be resting in the chapel before you enter the chapel.

View our funeral prices for more information on our basic cremation packages.

 

A basic cremation shouldn't mean compromising on care

Just because our no frills funerals are a lower cost option, it does not mean substandard care.

From the moment your loved one is collected and brought into our care to when the ashes are returned to you or respectfully scattered in our gardens of remembrance, we carry out every step of the process with dedication, expertise and the highest degree of compassion.

Our nationwide network of crematoria, facilities and vehicles, teamed with our experienced professionals, ensures consistently high standards of service. Unlike many providers, we have our own mortuary facilities, allowing us to care for your loved one until the day of cremation.

Unfortunately, not all no frills funeral providers will operate to the same high standards, so it’s important to know what to look for when choosing a funeral provider.

 

Basic funeral plans

If you are looking to plan ahead for your own funeral, our basic funeral plans start from £1,495, or as little as £15.97 per month for a direct cremation plan.

Not only does a funeral plan allow you to protect your family from stressful funeral arrangements but you are also relieving them of any financial burden when the time comes. Plus, regardless of how the price of funerals may increase in the future, the cost of your funeral will be frozen at today's prices, with no more to pay for the services covered in your plan when the time comes.  Learn more about the benefits of a prepaid funeral plan. 

For more information on our range of basic funeral plans, download our free brochure.

 

To arrange a basic funeral for a loved one, or to plan ahead for your own no frills cremation in the future, contact us today. Our expert team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

*The average cost of a basic funeral in the UK is currently £4,184, SunLife (2021) Cost of Dying Report, https://www.sunlife.co.uk/costofdying2021
^Compared to the average cost of a basic funeral in 2020