Arranging a funeral can be emotionally and practically demanding and one aspect which can make a big impact on costs is burial and cemetery fees, which are charged in addition to the Funeral Director’s fees shown in their Standardised Price List. These charges are set locally by councils and vary depending on where the burial takes place, whether the deceased was a local resident, and the type of grave or memorial involved. 

Each council authority acts as the burial authority for its area, setting fees for things like the Exclusive Right of Burial, interment (the burial), burial of cremated remains and additional services such as memorial approvals or weekend burials. 

How Burial Fees Work 

Most burial costs consist of a combination of: 

• Exclusive Right of Burial (EROB) which is the right to use a grave for a set number of years 

• Interment fee, which is the cost of the burial taking place 

Additional charges may include: 

• Burial of cremated remains 

• Re-opening an existing family grave 

• Weekend or bank holiday surcharges 

• Fees for oversized coffins 

• Costs for memorial permits and installation 

Many councils apply higher fees for non-residents, so always check eligibility for resident rates. If a council doesn’t publish a full fee list online, they will usually provide one if you contact them directly. 

South East of England: Councils, Cemeteries & Official Burial Fee Links 

Kent 

• Ashford Borough Council – Cemetery fees, regulations and application forms. 
  https://www.ashford.gov.uk/outdoor-spaces/cemeteries-burials-and-memorials/cemetery-fees-regulations-and-application-forms/ 

• Bromley - https://www.bromley.gov.uk/deaths-funerals-cremations/cemetery-fees 

• Canterbury City Council – Burial & memorial fees for city cemeteries (Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable). 
  https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-ceremonies/cemeteries/burial-and-memorial-fees 

• Dover - https://www.dover.gov.uk/Community/Burials-Cemeteries/Cemetery-Charges.aspx 

• Folkestone & Hythe https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/cemeteries-burials-memorials/hawkinge-cemetery/3 

• Gravesham - https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/neighbourhood-safety/deaths-funerals/7 

• (Halstead) Bluebell Cemetery and Crematorium  https://www.bluebellcemetery.com/forms-fees/ 

• Kent & Sussex Crematorium (Tunbridge Wells) https://kentandsussexcrematorium.com/our-services/fees-charges/ 

• Maidstone - https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/burials-and-cremations/maidstone-cemetery-prices  

• Medway - https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200157/deaths/49/cemetery_and_crematorium_fees/2  

• Swale - https://swale.gov.uk/your-council/performance-and-transparency/burial-fees  

• Thanet - https://www.thanet.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Complete-fees-and-charges-2022-2023.pdf 

Sussex 

• Adur & Worthing - https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/cemeteries-and-crematorium/fees-and-charges/ 

• Arun District Council – https://www.arun.gov.uk/cemeteries-fees-and-charges  

• Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground - https://www.claytonwood.co.uk/our-prices/  

• Cuckfield - https://www.cuckfield.gov.uk/media/documents/policies/2023-Cuckfield-Cemetery-Fees.pdf  

• Horsham - https://www.horsham.gov.uk/community/cemeteries-and-burials  

• Kent and Sussex Crematorium - https://kentandsussexcrematorium.com/our-services/fees-charges/  

• Lewes and Eastbourne - https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/media/261/Cemetery-fees-and-charges-in-Lewes-and-Seaford/pdf/Lewes_and_Seaford_Cemetery_Fees_and_Charges_August_2025.pdf?m=1759941849877  

• Rother - https://www.rother.gov.uk/births-marriages-and-deaths/cemetery-and-funeral-services/cemetery-charges/  

• Surrey and Sussex Crematorium - https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/6507/cd-118-surrey-and-sussex-fees-2019.pdf 

Surrey 

• Ash Parish Council - https://www.ashpcsurrey.gov.uk/cemetery-fees/ 

• Brookwood Cemetery - https://brookwoodcemetery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Price-Guide-Reservations.pdf 

• Elmbridge - https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-03/Cemeteries%20fees%20and%20charges%202024-2025.pdf 

• Epsom and Ewell - https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/residents/environmental-services/2024%20-%202025%20Fees%2C%20Charges%20and%20Regulations%20-%20SW%20Edits.pdf  

• Mole Valley District Council - https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/community/cemeteries-burial-sites/  

• North East Surrey Crematorium - https://nescrematorium.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/memorial_prices_2024.pdf  

• Oxted Parish Council - http://oxted-pc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/burial-ground-fees-2020.pdf  

• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council - https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/info/20221/cemeteries/1157/cemetery_fees_and_charges 

• Send Cemetery - https://sendparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Send-Cemetery-burial-fees-19-20.pdf  

• Spelthorne Borough Council  https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/page/810/cemetery-fees 

• Surrey and Sussex Crematorium - https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/6507/cd-118-surrey-and-sussex-fees-2019.pdf 

• Tandridge District Council - https://www.tandridge.gov.uk/Business-support-and-licensing/Doing-business-with-the-council/Cemeteries-and-crematoria  

Essex 

• Basildon Crematorium & Cemetery - https://www.basildoncrem.co.uk/prices.php 

• Braintree District Council - https://www.braintree.gov.uk/advice-environment/cemetery-fees  

• Brentwood Council - https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/cemeteries-and-funerals  

• Colchester Cemetery & Crematorium - https://colchestercrematorium.co.uk/cemetery/fees-charges/ 

• Chelmsford City Council - https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/cemetery-and-crematorium/fees-and-charges-for-the-cemetery-and-crematorium/burial-fees/ 

• Epping - https://eppinguplandparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Burial-Ground-Fees-Jan-2025.pdf  

• Greenacres (Epping) - https://www.greenacresgroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AN_Prices_Jan2025_EPPING_web6.pdf  

• Maldon District Council - https://www.maldon.gov.uk/info/20081/cemeteries_and_memorials/9921/cemetery_and_memorial_fees  

• Old Park Meadow Natural Burial Ground - https://oldparkmeadow.co.uk/burial-costs/ 

• South Essex Crematorium - https://southessexcrematorium.co.uk/prices/  

• Southend-on-Sea City Council  
  https://www.southend.gov.uk/funeral-information/burial-cremation/3 

• Thurrock City Council - https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/deaths-burials-and-cremations/fees-and-charges  
    

What to Check When Comparing Burial Fees 

When reviewing burial charges from council websites: 

• Resident vs non-resident prices 

• Duration of the Exclusive Right of Burial lease 

• Fees for re-opening existing graves 

• Costs for burial of cremated remains 

• Weekend and urgent interment surcharges 

• Memorial permits and installation charges 

If fees aren’t clearly listed, you can always call the council or ask your funeral director to provide a full schedule. 

Planning Tips 

• Confirm which council cemetery will be used before finalising costs. 

• Ask whether the deceased qualifies for resident rates. 

• Request a written breakdown of all burial fees. 

• Consider whether burial of cremated remains might be a more affordable option. 

• Keep all burial rights and deed documents safe for future reference. 

Burial and cemetery fees across the South East of England vary depending on council area, residency status and the type of burial. Taking time to check official council pages early in the planning process can help you avoid unexpected costs and focus on creating a meaningful farewell. 

The Farewell Guide is here to support you, with calm, practical help when it matters most.