Manchester City Council cemetery fees
Current burial and cemetery fees for Manchester City Council cemeteries, effective 2026. Manchester uses bundled pricing – the grave purchase and burial fee are typically quoted together rather than separately. Fees vary based on the residency status of both the grave owner and the deceased. Children’s Funeral Fund covers under-18 fees.
New grave purchase and burial
Manchester’s pricing depends on whether the plot owner and the deceased are both, one, or neither Manchester residents.
| Package | Both residents | One resident | Neither resident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch (grave and burial, no chapel service) | £2,397 | £3,172 | £4,056 |
| Beech (grave, burial and chapel service) | £2,622 | £3,464 | £4,404 |
| Private baby grave (age 4 and under) | £585 | £1,266 | £1,883 |
Burial in existing graves
| Package | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnut (reopen grave and burial) | £1,100 | £1,870 |
| Whitebeam (reopen grave, chapel service and burial) | £1,250 | £2,102 |
Pre-purchase of grave for future use
| Package | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Ash (pre-purchase with grave selection) | £1,986 | £3,440 |
Public graves
Each public grave accommodates four adult burials and is available to Manchester residents only.
| Package | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Shared grave (4 burials) | £237 | £1,870 |
| Shared grave with chapel | £369 | £2,102 |
| Unborn child (under 24 weeks), shared public baby grave | £96 | £180 |
If you want an exclusive grave for your family rather than a shared public grave, you need to buy a standard grave.
Cremations at Blackley Crematorium
Manchester City Council also operates Blackley Crematorium. Packaged prices include 30 minutes in the Side Chapel, 3 pieces of music, 1 static photograph on screen, the medical referee fee, ashes box and cremation certificate.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cremation and service, Side Chapel (Elm) | £897 |
| Cremation and service, Centre Chapel (Yew) | £1,322 per hour |
| Direct cremation (no mourners or service, weekday mornings) | £486 |
| Simplicity cremation (max 20 mourners, Side Chapel, weekday mornings) | £684 |
An environmental surcharge of £70 (for mercury abatement) is charged separately on all cremations. Digital tributes and webcasting are provided by Obitus.com and booked through your funeral director. Manchester Crematorium, next to Southern Cemetery, is a separate operator – contact 0161 881 5269 for enquiries.
Cremated remains (ashes)
| Service | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Burial of ashes in existing grave (Sycamore) | £383 | £632 |
| Strewing of ashes under turf (Walnut) | £158 | – |
| Ashes from another crematorium (Hazel) | £142 | – |
| New cremation plot, headstone and first burial (Pine – both residents) | £2,380 | £3,458 |
| New cremation plot, headstone and first burial (Pine – one resident) | £2,877 | – |
The new cremation plot (Pine) includes the headstone (up to 70 letters) and the first burial.
Memorial permits
Manchester memorial fees are not published online. Request current rates by emailing ops.cemeteries@manchester.gov.uk.
Notes on residency
Fees are based on whether the plot owner and the deceased are Manchester residents. Where only one is a resident, the middle rate applies.
Fees verified 2026-08-11, effective 2026. Source: Manchester City Council – bereavement services fees and charges, cremations and burial or strewing of cremated remains.
About Manchester City Council cemeteries
Manchester City Council manages a network of cemeteries across the city, including Southern Cemetery, and operates Blackley Crematorium. Contact bereavement services for plot availability and to arrange a burial or cremation.
Contact: Manchester City Council cemeteries – ops.cemeteries@manchester.gov.uk – www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200032/deaths_funerals_and_cemeteries
The fees above are what Manchester City Council charges for the grave, the interment or the cremation. The funeral director’s own charges are separate and paid on top. Our directory of funeral directors in Manchester lists every firm with premises inside the council area, along with the prices each one publishes.