Funeral Fees and Prices
· Updated · 5 min read
What a funeral costs
The cost of a funeral in Finland is made up of three parts, each billed by a different party:
- Cemetery fees: the grave, the burial or cremation, and storage of the deceased. The parish union sets them in a public price list.
- Funeral home services and products: the coffin or urn, transport and preparation of the deceased, arrangements and paperwork. Prices vary from one funeral home to another.
- Other costs: the memorial reception, flowers, the death notice and later the headstone.
The cemetery fees can be known exactly in advance. According to the price lists of the Helsinki parish union and the Turku and Kaarina parish union, a local resident pays the following in 2026:
| Type of burial | Helsinki | Turku and Kaarina |
|---|---|---|
| Coffin grave (2 places, 25 years) and coffin burial | 480 + 690 = EUR 1,170 | 500 + 850 = EUR 1,350 |
| Cremation, urn grave and burial of the urn | 260 + 180 + 150 = EUR 590 | 350 + 300 + 150 = EUR 800 |
| Cremation and memorial grove | 260 + 90 + 150 = EUR 500 | 350 + 100 + 100 = EUR 550 |
For the funeral home's share, ask for an itemised quote that lists every service and product on its own line. How to compare quotes is covered in comparing funeral home prices.
Reasonable funeral costs are paid from the estate of the deceased (Code of Inheritance 18:5), so relatives do not have to pay them out of their own pocket when the estate has funds.
Grave fees
The price of a grave depends on the cemetery, the type of grave and whether the deceased lived in the parish union's area. Church membership does not affect the price. Under section 6 of the Burial Act, fees may not exceed the cost of providing the service, and they must be set on the same basis for everyone entitled to be buried in the parish cemetery. People from outside the area can be charged more.
Grave fees in 2026 (local resident / non-resident):
| Grave | Helsinki | Turku and Kaarina |
|---|---|---|
| Coffin grave, 2 places | EUR 480 / 970 | EUR 500 / 900 |
| Urn grave | EUR 180 / 310 | EUR 300 / 500 |
| Memorial grove | EUR 90 / 150 | EUR 100 / 200 |
The burial itself is charged separately. In Helsinki a coffin burial costs a local resident EUR 690, which covers opening, closing and restoring the grave. The equivalent burial service in Turku costs EUR 850. Helsinki generally allocates coffin graves to Helsinki residents only.
Both price lists grant the grave right (hautaoikeus) for 25 years. It can be extended later, and grave maintenance can be agreed with the parish under a separate contract. What the grave right includes is explained in grave rights.
Coffin, urn and cremation
The coffin and urn are usually bought from the funeral home, and their prices vary by funeral home and model. Ask for the price in advance and compare quotes. The options are described in choosing a coffin and urn options.
Cremation is charged according to the cemetery's price list. In 2026 it costs EUR 260 for a Helsinki resident and EUR 500 for a non-resident at the Helsinki parish union's crematoria, and EUR 350 and EUR 440 in Turku. Cremation of a child under one year old is free of charge in Helsinki.
Ceremony costs
The parish may charge a non-member for the use of a funeral chapel or church. In Helsinki and Turku, a local church member pays nothing for the chapel:
- Helsinki (2026): chapel fee EUR 400 on weekdays and EUR 630 on Saturdays. It is not charged to members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland or of certain sister churches.
- Turku and Kaarina (2026): non-residents and non-members pay EUR 170 for the lower chapel of the Chapel of the Holy Cross (Pyhän Ristin kappeli) and Maaria chapel, and EUR 390 for other chapels and churches.
Fees for a civil celebrant and musicians are agreed with them directly. The cost of the memorial reception depends on the venue, the number of guests and the catering, as covered in memorial reception costs and memorial reception catering.
Other costs and ways to save
Storage of the deceased can incur a fee if the funeral is several weeks away. In Helsinki, cold storage of the coffin costs EUR 50 per started week for the first three weeks and EUR 15 per day after that. In Turku, storage before the funeral service is free for up to three weeks and EUR 10 per day after that (2026 price lists).
The headstone does not need to be in place for the funeral, so its purchase can wait. The price of a death notice depends on the newspaper and the size of the notice, and the paper will quote it in advance.
The choices that affect the total most:
- Type of burial. Cremation with a memorial grove is the cheapest option in the price lists.
- The funeral home's quote. Itemised quotes from more than one funeral home show where the price comes from.
- Size of the memorial reception. The venue, catering and number of guests determine the sum.
- Ceremony. A burial without a ceremony is also possible.
If the estate cannot cover the essential funeral costs, a funeral grant (hautausavustus) is applied for from the wellbeing services county as supplementary social assistance. Kela does not pay a separate funeral grant.
Prices are from the parish unions' 2026 price lists. Check your own parish's current price list with its cemetery office or on its website.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a funeral cost in Finland?
Parish burial fees are public and differ between parish unions. In Helsinki, a local resident pays EUR 1,170 in total for a coffin grave and coffin burial, and EUR 500 for cremation with the ashes placed in a memorial grove (price list from 1 February 2026). In Turku the same totals are EUR 1,350 and EUR 550 (2026). Funeral home services, the coffin or urn, transport, the memorial reception and a possible headstone come on top, and their prices vary by provider.
Who pays for the funeral?
Reasonable funeral costs are paid from the estate of the deceased (Code of Inheritance, chapter 18, section 5). They are deducted from the estate's assets in the estate inventory (perunkirjoitus), which lowers the basis for inheritance tax. If the estate has no funds, a funeral grant can be applied for from the wellbeing services county as supplementary social assistance (täydentävä toimeentulotuki). Kela does not pay a separate funeral grant.
Do church members pay less for a grave?
Not for the grave, the burial or the cremation. Section 6 of the Burial Act (457/2003) requires the fees to be set on the same basis for everyone entitled to be buried in the parish cemetery, so a non-member pays the same as a member. The price lists distinguish by residence instead: people from outside the area pay more. The parish may charge a non-member for the use of a chapel or church, for example EUR 400 on a weekday in Helsinki (2026).
Can funeral bills be paid from the deceased's bank account?
Yes. Banks pay the deceased's bills from their account before the estate inventory, but the procedure depends on the bank. At OP the bills can be sent online, at Nordea through the online bank or Omaposti, and at S-Pankki a single estate shareholder can pay them with a payment envelope (bank instructions checked in October 2026).
Read also
Casket burial in Finland: process, casket selection, reserving a burial plot, and costs. A comprehensive guide to casket burial practices.
Cremation in Finland: the process, ash placement options, legislation, and costs. A comprehensive guide to cremation and urn burial.
Choosing a cemetery and burial plot: parish cemeteries, municipal cemeteries, prices, and practices. A guide to reserving a burial plot.