Funeral costs have risen significantly in recent years and more people are looking for transparency in how funeral directors price their goods and services.  They are also wanting to minimise what can feel like unnecessarily high expenditure on things they do not want.

Our pricing is straightforward. We charge a professional fee which covers our knowledge, expertise and time. Everything else we pass on at cost. We do not charge mark-ups on any of the products or services which we buy in for you: for example, hire of vehicles, coffins, flowers, or orders of service.

A Greenwood funeral usually costs between £3,750 and £4,500.   Our prices compare favourably with other funeral directors and we will always help you keep down the funeral costs wherever possible.

As soon as they are known to us, we will give you an itemised estimate of the funeral costs.  This is a provisional calculation based on preliminary discussion.

The final bill will include the following four aspects:

• the professional fee.
• the undertaking costs linked to the care of the body.
• the disbursement costs of burial or cremation.
• the other costs relating to the choice of coffin, hire of vehicles, the celebrant, flowers, orders of service, announcements and notices.

Here is our current price list in relation to funeral costs:

Professional fee

This includes responsibility for ensuring all the necessary arrangements are put in place, the submission of the paperwork, conducting on the day of the funeral, advice and support throughout. Our usual fee is £1750.  This figure may rise if the funeral involves more than one event and/or it takes place at the week-end and/or it requires significantly more work on our part to arrange and carry out. It may also be less if our involvement is less.

Undertaking costs

This includes care and collection of the body, dressing and placing the body in the coffin and visits to the Chapel of Rest. The minimum amount tends to be about £350-£400 but can be more depending on what is required.

Crematorium costs

These are the rates for full services.  Crematoriums may offer reduced rates for shorter services at specific times or unattended and/or direct cremations where there is no funeral service.  Each crematorium will have its own policy.  Here are the links to the price guides for the three crematoriums: West Wiltshire, Mendip and Haycombe.

Pre-Covid, two doctors were required to complete forms allowing a cremation to take place. Currently only one doctor is required.  The fee for each doctor is £82.  There is no fee where the coroner has been involved.

Burial costs (including grave digging priced at £500)

Burial costs vary depending on the type of cemetery or burial ground, the cost of digging the grave and whether it is single or double depth.  Headstones or memorials are an additional cost.  For non-residents in parish cemeteries, the cost is usually doubled.  Here are the links to the price guides for Fevin Nature Reserve Burial Ground, Bath Natural Burial Meadow and Haycombe Cemetery.

Coffin costs (approx)

There are many coffin types: for example, recycled newspaper, pine, recycled/sustainable wood, soft felt/wool and willow from outside the UK.  Prices vary considerably.

Other costs

Direct or Unattended Cremation

We offer an unattended or direct funeral where we will make all the necessary arrangements for the collection and care of the person who has died, provide a simple coffin, complete and submit the required paperwork, pay the cremation fees, provide transport from our premises to the crematorium chosen by us and return the ashes.  The time of the funeral will be arranged by us and no mourners may be in attendance.  The total cost is £1,200.

Simple Cremation and Burial

We offer a basic crematorium funeral package where we will make all the necessary arrangements for the collection and care of the person who has died, provide a simple coffin, complete and submit the required paperwork, provide transport from our premises to the crematorium and return the ashes. Chapel visits are possible during office hours and we will do our best to meet with the family in their home.  The funeral service will take place before 10am and be held by one of our trained celebrants.  The total cost is £2,250.

In the case of burials, the cost will be higher depending on the price of the burial plot and the grave-digging fees.

Please note that where a doctor has been involved in the paperwork, there is an additional fee of £82 to be paid and supplements are payable for out of hours collections, collections from a private home, bariatric funerals and long-distance collections.  With the simple cremation and burial, the cost of flowers, orders of service, pall bearers and limousines are not included in the basic package.  Full account payment is due 48 hours before the funeral service takes place.