Funeral Costs

We often get enquiries from members of the public who have been telephoning around funeral directors comparing prices. When considering funeral directors, it is possible to be misled into believing that all companies provide the same quality of products and level of service and that price should be the only determining factor in your decision. This is not the case and funeral companies will differ greatly in the quality of their products and the standard of their professional services which should be reflected in their price.

To ensure you choose a funeral company that will provide you with the quality of product and service you require you must look beyond the headline price and consider other factors such as reputation, standard of facilities and experience of staff.

The price we quote reflects the quality of our products and the service we provide which may be of a higher standard than other funeral director directors you are comparing us with. As an independent family-owned business, however, we have the flexibility to be able to tailor our pricing very much to the individual requirements of a family or to reflect the instructions or wishes left by the person who has died.

We are members of the Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and our facilities and service are monitored by them to ensure we provide the highest level of service. We would be pleased to meet with you at our premises where you can consider our facilities and meet our staff with no obligation to engage our company.

We are happy to give an estimate of the likely costs of a funeral before a commitment has been made to entrust us with funeral arrangements. We do prefer to do that following a meeting face to face as that way we have a better understanding of what your requirements are, or what your budget may be, and we can then give you all the options that are available to you to make an informed decision.

Further Information

Help with Funeral Costs

We realise that, for some, meeting funeral costs can be difficult.  In certain circumstances, those arranging a funeral may be eligible for government assistance.

To qualify, both you and anyone else who shares the same relationship with the deceased as you, must be receiving one of several benefits, including Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Working Allowance, Family Credit or Housing Benefit. Any money in the deceased’s estate will be deducted from the amount you are awarded.

Any payment made will be only a contribution towards the overall cost of the funeral and may also not be the full entitlement as it is dependent on your personal circumstances.  The balance remaining after any government payment remains the responsibility of the person who has arranged the funeral and will need to be paid in advance of the funeral. 

If you would like to talk to someone about funeral payments, get in touch with the  Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or talk to someone at an advice centre such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They will be able to advise you on the type and amount of financial help you can expect, based on your personal circumstances.

Simple Funeral

We would recommend this option when making a claim for government assistance. It is possible to add services from our standard price list if required, at the relevant additional cost.

The Simple Funeral Includes:

  • Conveyance of the deceased from place of death to our funeral home facilities within office hours and within a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh
  • Preparation, care and dressing of the deceased in a gown or their own clothes
  • Use of our funeral home for a maximum of 10 days
  • Professional fees including advice on all legal requirements including registration of death
  • Supply of  hearse, funeral director and two bearers on the day of the funeral. The hearse will leave direct from the funeral home to a Crematorium or Cemetery within a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh
  • Supply of a wood- effect Lothian coffin suitable for cremation or burial (See Coffin Brochure)

The Simple Funeral does not include:

  • Choice of day or time
  • Choice of a Crematorium or Cemetery outwith a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh
  • Bringing the deceased into our care outwith a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh (See additional charge )
  • Bringing the deceased into our care between the hours of 5pm and 9am (See additional charge)
  • Embalming
  • Viewing / visiting
  • Service or celebration before proceeding to the Crematorium or Cemetery
  • Limousines
  • Third part fees- these include Crematorium, Cemetery, Clergy, Celebrant, Humanist, Order of service or any other third-party fee

As part of our Simple Funeral, the following options are available and can be added:

  • Supply of limousine and chauffeur within a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh (£195)
  • Coffin upgraded to a real wood veneer chosen from our coffin brochure (£100)
  • Embalming for viewing/ visiting (£250)
  • Embalming for viewing  after a Post Mortem (£300)
  • Viewing outwith office hours, Monday to Friday (£100)
  • Viewing outwith office hours, Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday (£150 )
  • Bringing the deceased into our care outwith a 20-mile radius of Edinburgh (£1 per mile)
  • Bringing the deceased into our care between the hours of 5pm and 9am (£55)
  • Choice of day and time £250

Direct Cremation

What’s included?

  • Our professionally trained team to attend to all arrangements
  • Conveyance of deceased into our care within a 15 mile radius
  • Care of the deceased and use of our funeral home facilities for up to 9 days
  • Provision of a wood effect coffin
  • Provision of a suitable conveyance vehicle to the crematorium
  • Cremation fees  of the Crematorium of our choice
  • Ashes dispersed at the crematorium or returned to our office in the crematorium container for you to collect.

What’s not included?

  • Visiting the person who has died
  • It’s not possible for you to  choose the date or time of the cremation
  • Your choice of crematorium
  • No mourners to attend at the crematorium on the day of cremation
  • No extended payment terms. Payment is required in full within 1 day of the arrangements being started

What can be added?

Provision of hearse for conveyance to crematorium:
£100

Provision of flower:
P.O.R

Provision of obituary notice:
P.O.R

What if this type of service is not for me?

If you feel that this direct service is not for you, then there are other packages that may suit your requirements or alternatively you can choose a more traditional service.

Doing things for others is such a special art, and it deserves a “thank you” directly from the heart. Thank you so much for making things easier for us over the past few weeks. We really appreciate your help, kindness and guidance.

June McCulloch & Jean Rankin