Quick answer
To compare funeral home prices properly, get a full itemised quote in writing from more than one provider, and make sure each quote covers the same inclusions before comparing totals.
The ACCC recommends asking which items are legally required versus optional, whether GST is included, and whether the quoted price is final with no extra fees to follow. A lower headline price isn't necessarily cheaper if it leaves out things another quote includes.
When comparing funeral quotes, remember
- Get a written, itemised quote from more than one provider
- Compare quotes only after matching what's included in each
- Ask which items are legally required and which are optional
- Confirm whether GST and third-party costs are included
- You're entitled to ask for all of this before agreeing to anything
Why funeral prices vary so much
Funeral pricing in Australia isn't standardised, so the same nominal service can carry very different price tags between providers, and even between suburbs. A large part of the gap comes down to specific choices rather than the base service itself: coffin quality, cemetery plot location, venue choice, and catering can each shift the price by thousands. This is exactly why comparing headline prices alone doesn't tell you much, it's the breakdown that matters.
What to ask every provider for
The ACCC sets out a clear list of questions consumers are entitled to ask:
- Get an itemised quote with each price listed in writing
- Ask whether the quote includes GST
- Ask if the price quoted is the total price, with no extra fees to follow
- Ask which items are legally required and which are optional
- Ask for an explanation of any fee you don't understand, such as a professional service fee
Compare inclusions before you compare totals
A quote that looks cheaper on the surface isn't always the better deal. If one quote excludes the celebrant, flowers or death certificate fees and another includes them, the lower total isn't actually lower once everything is added up. Before comparing prices between providers, line up what each quote actually includes, then compare the adjusted totals rather than the headline figures.
A right some families don't realise they have
In Australia, you're generally entitled to supply your own coffin rather than purchasing one through the funeral home. Most funeral directors will accept a customer-supplied coffin, sometimes with a small administration fee, and cannot refuse it outright. Given that coffins can carry a significant markup, this is worth asking about directly if cost is a concern.
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Price display rules vary by state
- Victoria: funeral providers are required by law to display full, itemised price lists on their website and at their premises, enforced by Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Western Australia: a funeral pricing code requires providers to display pricing information at their place of business and provide general pricing information to anyone who asks, within two business days
- Other states and territories: rules vary, so if pricing isn't clearly available, it's reasonable to ask the provider directly for a full written price list before engaging them
Sources used in this guide include
The ACCC and state consumer protection guidance (for example, WA Consumer Protection's Funeral Pricing Code).
