Planning a funeral in the UK? Here's the current picture, drawn from the Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland, NISRA, the Cremation Society of Great Britain and industry surveys — with sources noted throughout.
How many people die in the UK each year?
662,062 deaths were registered across the UK in 2023 — 581,363 in England & Wales, 63,455 in Scotland and 17,254 in Northern Ireland. England & Wales deaths rose 0.7% on 2022, with dementia and Alzheimer's the leading cause, accounting for roughly 11.5% of deaths (66,876). Provisional 2025 figures for England & Wales show 570,988 deaths, with the age-standardised mortality rate at its lowest since records in this form began in 1994.
UK cremation rates in 2024
80.25% of funerals across the British Isles involved cremation in 2024 — the highest rate ever recorded, based on 522,733 recorded cremations. The national picture varies sharply:
- England & Wales: 82.4%
- Scotland: 71.7%
- Northern Ireland: around 23%, reflecting the region's religious heritage
That gap matters for printing: cremation services are typically shorter and more likely to centre on a single order-of-service booklet, while regions with lower cremation rates see a different mix of ceremony printing. For the history behind this shift, see our history of funeral printing in the UK.
Direct cremation and funeral choices
Direct cremation, with no attended ceremony, now accounts for roughly one in five UK funerals. What families spend on a funeral varies enormously by region and by the type of funeral chosen, so ask your funeral director for a written estimate.
How much does an order of service cost to print?
Printed stationery is a small line item against the total cost of a funeral. The cost depends on quantity, paper weight and finish, with most families ordering 50–100 copies, and the cost per copy falls as quantity increases. There's no single standard price for funeral printing — it varies supplier to supplier, so message us on WhatsApp with your quantity for a quote.
Religion and funeral practice in the UK
The 2021 census (England & Wales) recorded 46.2% of the population as Christian, 37.2% with no religion, 6.5% Muslim, 1.7% Hindu, 0.9% Sikh, 0.5% Jewish and 0.5% Buddhist. Religion strongly shapes what gets printed for a funeral: Christian services tend to be printing-heavy, with orders of service built around hymns, liturgy and photographs, while Islamic funerals are typically printing-light, reflecting a tradition of rapid, simple burial. Humanist and non-religious ceremonies — an estimated one in five UK funerals, delivered partly through Humanists UK's network of 550+ accredited celebrants — tend to be highly personalised and photograph-led rather than following a liturgical template.
The UK printing industry at a glance
The wider UK printing industry that funeral stationers operate within turned over £13.7bn in 2024, across an estimated 6,800–7,200 companies employing 93,000–98,000 people (figures vary slightly by release and methodology). Notably, roughly three-quarters of UK print companies employ fewer than ten people — this is very much an industry of small, specialist businesses rather than a few large printers, which is exactly the landscape a family or funeral director is choosing from when they order.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of UK funerals are cremations?
80.25% across the British Isles in 2024 — the highest rate ever recorded — though this varies from around 82% in England & Wales to roughly 23% in Northern Ireland.
Do funeral costs vary across the UK?
Yes — what families spend varies widely by region and by the type of funeral chosen, so ask your funeral director for a written estimate.
How many orders of service should I order?
Most families order based on expected attendance plus a margin of spares — commonly 50 to 100 copies for a typical service, though this varies with venue size and how many guests are expected.
Is direct cremation becoming more common?
Yes — it's now estimated at around one in five UK funerals, a trend that has knock-on effects for funeral printing, since a direct cremation typically has no attended ceremony, though families often hold a separate memorial event afterwards.
Making sense of the numbers when you are the one arranging
Statistics describe millions of families, but you are dealing with one. The sections below add practical context about how funeral costs are presented, what help exists, and how to ask the right questions. They are drawn from public sources named in the text, and we have deliberately not listed prices for printing here.
Funeral directors must publish a price list
Following a market investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority made an order requiring funeral directors to display a Standardised Price List, both at their premises and online. The list must show the headline price of a funeral, the price of each item that makes up that funeral, and the price of certain additional products and services. The requirement applies from 16 September 2021.
In practical terms, you can ask any funeral director for this list and compare it with another. It breaks a funeral into parts, which helps you see what is included and what is optional. Printed items such as orders of service are often arranged separately, so it is reasonable to ask the director whether they supply them, whether you may arrange your own, and who is responsible for proofreading.
Help with paying for a funeral
Some people qualify for support from the government. On gov.uk, the Funeral Expenses Payment is described as help for people who receive certain benefits and are arranging a funeral. It can contribute towards certain costs, but it usually will not cover the entire cost, and the amount depends on other money available, such as insurance or the estate. In Scotland, it has been replaced by Funeral Support Payment, which is run by Social Security Scotland.
Eligibility rules and amounts change, so check the current conditions on the official pages before relying on them. Charities such as Marie Curie also publish plain-language guidance on this subject.
Pre-paid funeral plans are now regulated
Pre-paid funeral plans came under Financial Conduct Authority regulation in July 2022. If a relative bought a plan, find the paperwork early and ask the provider what it covers. Plans commonly pay for the core arrangements but may not include extras such as printed stationery, flowers or a memorial gathering, so those can still fall to the family.
Questions worth asking before you commit
- Is this the full price, or are there fees paid to third parties, such as the crematorium or the minister, on top?
- Which printed items are included, and in what quantity?
- Who will check names, dates and hymn titles on proofs?
- What is the cut-off date for printing before the service?
- Can we arrange stationery or photographic displays separately?
Ask for answers in writing, and keep them with your other paperwork. Bereavement leaves little room for small print, so a clear list helps everyone.
A note about the figures on this page
Statistics here and above come from official sources and trade bodies, and different organisations count in slightly different ways, such as by registration date or occurrence date. Use the figures to understand the broad picture, and rely on your funeral director or local registrar for anything that affects your own arrangements.
More questions
Where can I find the Standardised Price List?
Funeral directors regulated by the order must have it available at their premises and on their website. If you cannot find it, ask for a copy by phone or email.
Does help with funeral costs cover printing?
It depends on the scheme and your circumstances. Check the current official guidance, or ask the organisation administering the scheme, before assuming that a printed item is included.
What should I do if money is tight?
Speak early to the funeral director, your local council, or a bereavement charity, and be honest about your budget. Simple printed pieces and a smaller number of copies can still be dignified. When you request a quote from us, tell us your deadline and order early, and we will talk through the options without pressure.
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Continue reading
Read the history of funeral printing in the UK, or check what you can legally print — hymns, poems and photographs each have different copyright rules.
See our order of service printing and memory board printing services, or return to the Funeral & Memorial Printing hub.
Sources: Office for National Statistics; National Records of Scotland; NISRA; Cremation Society of Great Britain; House of Commons Library / ONS 2021 census; British Printing Industries Federation; Humanists UK. Industry figures are estimates captured in 2026 and may change.