Funeral cost planner

Add up the costs of a funeral and keep track of what has been paid.

Funeral costs

Use this to plan ahead or to track costs. The amounts below are examples to replace, not typical prices.

Costs usually end up higher than the estimate.

Still to pay, including extra for surprises

R 74 800

Estimated cost
R 68 000
Extra for surprises
R 6 800
Total budget
R 74 800
Paid so far
R 0
Save each month
Due now

Estimates only. Not financial advice.

Where the money goes

Item by item

Estimate and amount left to pay for each item
ItemEstimatePaidLeft
Undertaker and coffinR 25 000R 0R 25 000
Venue, tent, chairsR 6 000R 0R 6 000
Catering for the gatheringR 15 000R 0R 15 000
Transport and hearseR 5 000R 0R 5 000
Tombstone or unveilingR 12 000R 0R 12 000
Flowers, programmes, travelR 5 000R 0R 5 000
TotalR 68 000R 0R 68 000

How the funeral cost planner works

Last updated 10 November 2026

Funerals come with many costs at a hard time. A list helps families see the total and what they can cover.

How it works

  • Each item has an estimate and what is paid. The allowance for surprises is added to the total.
  • Compare the total with cover using the cover gap check.

Worked example

With the starting figures:

  1. The estimates total R 68 000 and R 74 800 with the allowance.
  2. R 74 800 is still to find.

Why plan for a funeral

Funerals bring many costs at a hard time, and they often have to be paid quickly. A list helps a family see the total and decide what they can cover. The planner suits a family getting ready for a funeral, or a household planning ahead.

What the list covers

  • The funeral parlour's services, a coffin or casket and the hearse
  • Burial or cremation costs and the cost of a grave or niche
  • Catering for the family and guests
  • Transport for the family, including travel from other towns
  • Tombstone or memorial, flowers and printed programmes
  • Mourning clothes and other family costs

How the totals work

Each line has an estimate and what has already been paid. The planner adds the estimates, adds an allowance for surprises that you set and subtracts what is paid. The result is what is still to find. Many families also keep track of contributions from relatives, which you can add as lines or in the paid column.

Get quotes

Prices differ a lot between funeral parlours, towns and traditions. Ask for itemised quotes in writing and compare them line by line. The starting amounts in the planner are examples to show how the tool works, not prices or averages. Replace them with real quotes.

Related tools

To compare the total with the cover you have, use the funeral cover gap check. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. Print or save the plan before you close the page.

Things to watch

  • Ask funeral parlours for itemised quotes.
  • Family members may be able to share costs. Agree this early.

Check your cover with the funeral cover gap check. Read the full disclaimer.

Like every tool on MoneyMzansi, this one runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored, so download your data if you want to keep it.

Questions people ask

Where do the starting amounts come from?

They are examples to show how the tool works. Replace them with your own quotes, receipts or school fee schedule.

Can I use it to plan ahead?

Yes. Set the months to the time you have to save, or leave it at 0 if the costs are due now.

Funeral and burial cover gap checkCompare what a funeral could cost with the cover that pays out.Emergency fund calculatorHow much to keep aside, and how long it takes to build.Savings goals plannerSeveral goals at once, with progress and the monthly amount for each deadline.

Estimates only. Not financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.