Funeral Costs in Dorset 2026

Independent, transparent pricing from 19 funeral directors in Dorset, SOUTH WEST. Compare costs, understand your options, and make informed decisions.

19 Funeral Directors
£2,636 Avg Cremation
£1,712 Avg Burial

Dorset Funeral Market Insights

🏢 Market Structure

High competition

8 independent funeral directors
14 chain branches (64%)

Largest provider: Funeral Partners Limited (5 branches)

💰 Price Competition

Wide pricing gap

Price range: £1,380 - £4,070

A £2,690 price spread (194.9% variation) suggests varied pricing across providers

Good coverage: 17 of 22 local funeral directors verified (77%)

Average Funeral Costs in Dorset

Attended Cremation

£2,636

Range: £1,380 - £4,070

Based on 19 funeral directors

Unattended Cremation

£1,842

Range: £1,445 - £2,135

Based on 19 funeral directors

Attended Burial

£1,712

Range: £1,270 - £1,955

Based on 19 funeral directors

Note: Prices shown are for the funeral director's professional services only. Additional costs such as crematorium/burial fees (typically £800-£1,000) and flowers are not included.

Funeral Directors in Dorset

Funeral Director Location Attended Cremation Unattended Cremation Attended Burial
A G Down (Dignified Professional Caring Funeral Directors) Bridport £2,890 £1,955 £1,955
AE Jolliffe & Son Funeral Directors Dorset £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
Albert Marsh Funeral Directors Dorset £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Gillingham (Dignity Funerals Limited) Gillingham £2,895 £1,545 £1,545
Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Gillingham (Dignity Funerals Limited) Gillingham £2,895 £1,545 £1,545
Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Sherborne (Dignity Funerals Limited) Sherborne £2,895 £1,745 £1,745
Bracher Brothers Funeral Directors, Sherborne (Dignity Funerals Limited) Sherborne £2,895 £1,745 £1,745
Co-op Funeralcare, Dorchester (The Co-operative Funeralcare) Dorchester £2,350 £1,445 £1,445
Co-op Funeralcare, Ferndown (The Co-operative Funeralcare) Ferndown £2,350 £1,445 £1,445
Dignified Professional Caring Funeral Directors Dorset £2,890 £1,955 £1,955
Douch & Small Funeral Directors Dorset £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
Harry Tomes Dorset £2,495 £1,685 £1,685
Higher Ground Family Funerals Dorchester £1,380 £1,720 £1,270
Ives & Shand Funeral Service in Poole Dorset £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
James Smith Funeral Directors Dorset £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
Lesley Shand Funeral Service, Blandford Blandford Forum £2,474 £2,135 £1,850
Matthew Lucas Funeral Directors (Dignified Professional Caring Funeral Directors) Dorchester £2,890 £1,955 £1,955
Nicholas O'Hara Funeral Directors, Head office (Funeral Partners Limited) Wimbourne £4,070 £1,995 £1,700
Weymouth Funeral Directors (The Co-operative Funeralcare) Weymouth £2,350 £1,445 £1,445

All prices are published by funeral directors in compliance with CMA regulations. Last updated: February 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of a funeral in Dorset?

Based on our analysis of 19 funeral directors in Dorset, the average cost of an attended cremation funeral is £2,636. This is the funeral director professional fee only and does not include crematorium fees, burial fees, doctor's fees, or celebrant fees, which typically add £1,000-£3,000 to the total cost.

What's included in the funeral director fees shown for Dorset?

The prices shown are for funeral director professional services only. This typically includes: collection of the deceased, care of the deceased, provision of coffin, funeral arrangements meeting, hearse and bearers for the funeral service, and coordination with third parties. These are the fees charged by the funeral director for their services.

What costs are NOT included in the Dorset funeral prices?

The prices shown do NOT include third-party costs (disbursements): Crematorium fee (typically £800-£1,000), Burial plot and interment fees (typically £1,500-£3,000), Doctor's fees for cremation certificates (£164), Celebrant or religious minister fees (£150-£300), Flowers, catering, memorial stones, newspaper notices, or additional vehicles.

What is the price range for funerals in Dorset?

For attended cremation funerals in Dorset, funeral director fees range from £1,380 (lowest) to £4,070 (highest) based on our analysis of 19 funeral directors. The wide range reflects differences in service levels, coffin quality, and included extras. Always request a detailed price breakdown to understand what each funeral director includes.

How many funeral directors are there in Dorset?

Our database includes 19 funeral directors serving Dorset with approved, CMA-regulated pricing. This gives bereaved families meaningful choice and the ability to compare costs and services. We only include funeral directors with published Standardised Price Lists to ensure transparency.

How do I choose a funeral director in Dorset?

When choosing a funeral director in Dorset, consider: (1) Price transparency - do they have a clear Standardised Price List? (2) Service reviews from previous families. (3) Location and availability. (4) Personal rapport - you should feel comfortable with them. (5) Professional accreditation (NAFD, SAIF, or independent). Always meet with them before committing and request a detailed written estimate.

What are CMA Standardised Price Lists?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requires all funeral directors to publish Standardised Price Lists showing their prices for common funeral services. This allows families to compare costs easily across different funeral directors. All prices on this page are sourced from these CMA-regulated price lists for funeral directors in Dorset.

How often are Dorset funeral prices updated?

We update our funeral pricing data for Dorset regularly from CMA Standardised Price Lists published by funeral directors. Prices shown are current as of February 2026. Funeral directors can update their prices at any time, so we recommend always requesting a written quotation before proceeding with arrangements.

Cemeteries & Crematoria in Dorset

These are the cemetery and crematorium fees in addition to funeral director costs. Total funeral cost = Funeral Director + Facility Fee.

Godlingston Cemetery

Cemetery

Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1QQ

Burial: £400

Higher Ground Meadow

Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0PA

Malcombe Regis Cemetery

Cemetery

Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0AR

Burial: £879

Poole and Wimbourne Woodland Burial Ground

Wimbourne, Dorset, BH21 2RG

Portland Cemetery

Cemetery

Portland, Dorset, DT

Burial: £800

Stranger's Cemetery

Cemetery

Portland, Dorset, DT5 1AU

Burial: £800

Weymouth Cemetery

Cemetery

Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0RR

Burial: £879

Weymouth Crematorium

Crematorium

Quilbo Lane, Weymouth, Dorset

Cremation (Attended): £951
Cremation (Unattended): £600

Wyke Regis Cemetery

Cemetery

Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9QS

Burial: £879

💡 Understanding Total Funeral Costs

The total cost of a funeral includes both the funeral director's fee (shown above) and the cemetery or crematorium fee. For example, if a funeral director charges £2,500 and a crematorium charges £850, the total cost would be £3,350.

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