Midlothian Council covers the area immediately south of Edinburgh, including Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, and Musselburgh. Fees are effective from 1 April 2026. A discounted rate applies for Tuesday to Thursday morning burials.
Midlothian Council does not charge a family for a child’s burial. Both the lair (grave plot) and the interment (burial service) are free for a stillborn child and for any child up to age 17 – there is no separate fund to apply to, the council simply does not raise a bill for either fee.
Lair purchase
| Lair type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard lair | £1,320 |
| Child under 18 | Free |
| Cremation lair | £618 |
| Woodland lair (Cockpen and Rosewell) | £2,686 |
| Baby area (Loanhead and Cockpen) | Free |
Burial and interment fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Stillborn child | Free |
| Child under 5 years | Free |
| Child age 5 up to 18 years | Free |
| Adult interment (over 18) | £1,203 |
| Discounted rate (Tuesday–Thursday, before 10:30am) | £969 |
| Cremated remains interment (casket) | £414 |
| Cremated remains interment at 4 feet or deeper | £1,203 |
| Exhumation (per individual) | £3,820 |
A 50% surcharge applies for Saturday burials, Midlothian Council public holidays, or burials after 12:00 noon on Friday. No non-resident differential is published.
Monument foundations
| Foundation size | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to and including 3 feet (900mm) | £145 |
| Over 3 feet (900mm) | £278 |
The maximum width for a headstone on a cremation lair is 550mm. A 50% surcharge applies to ground preparation for a foundation carried out on a Saturday or Midlothian Council public holiday.
Fees verified 7 August 2026, effective 1 April 2026. Source: Midlothian Council – burial ground charges.
About Midlothian burial grounds
Midlothian Council maintains cemeteries across the county, including in Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Gorebridge, and Loanhead. For burial enquiries, contact the cemeteries team at cemeteries.admin@midlothian.gov.uk or 0131 561 5280.