There is no official average funeral cost for Queensland. The Australian Government's Moneysmart website says funerals can cost from $8,000 to around $20,000 depending on the type of funeral you choose, and in Queensland every funeral director must publish their prices, including their least expensive option, so you can compare before you commit.

This guide explains what makes up the cost, what Queensland law says a funeral director must tell you, some real council fees as an example, and where to turn if the cost is out of reach. All figures were checked in October 2026 against the official sources listed at the end.

What a funeral in Queensland can cost

Moneysmart, run by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, gives a national range of $8,000 to around $20,000. Where a funeral falls in that range depends mostly on a few choices:

Because each funeral director must show the price of their least expensive package, the simplest way to know what a funeral will cost near you is to look at two or three local price lists. Many are on the funeral director's website.

Comparing quotes? The budget tracker in a free Remember Well• account lists common Australian funeral costs, so you can enter quotes as they arrive and see a running total.

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What Queensland law says about funeral prices

The Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation 2022 started on 1 July 2022. It applies to funeral directors and other businesses that arrange burials or cremations in Queensland. In plain terms:

If you feel a funeral provider hasn't followed these rules, you can contact the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.

Worth knowing

You don't have to decide on the day you first call. Asking for the price list and taking time to read it is reasonable, and the law is designed to support it.

What goes into the cost

The regulation lists the kinds of items a Queensland funeral director's price information must cover. They are a useful checklist when you read a quote:

Celebrant fees, flowers, venue hire and catering may appear as extras or disbursements depending on the provider. Ask which items are optional.

Cemetery and crematorium fees: a Brisbane example

Cemetery and crematorium fees are set by whoever runs the cemetery or crematorium, often the local council. As one example, Brisbane City Council's published fees (checked October 2026) include:

These are council charges only. They don't include the funeral director's fees, the coffin or anything else. Other councils and private cemeteries set their own fees, so check with the cemetery you have in mind, or ask your funeral director to list them as disbursements.

Ways to keep costs manageable

If the family can't pay for a funeral

The Queensland Government's Funeral Assistance Scheme is run by the Department of Justice through the Coroners Court of Queensland. It can arrange a basic funeral when the person died in Queensland and has no known next of kin willing or able to meet the cost. It covers local transport, a basic coffin, a simple service where family and friends can speak, and registration of the death. Cremation is the default, and you can't choose the funeral director or location.

One important point: apply before you sign anything with a funeral company. The scheme's page says applications are declined if a contract for funeral services has already been signed. If you need help with the application, the scheme suggests contacting your nearest Magistrates Court.

Separately, a bereavement payment from Services Australia may be available if the person who died was receiving certain payments. Our guide to the Centrelink bereavement payment explains who can apply.

Questions to ask a funeral director about cost

Our guide on how to choose a funeral director has more questions, and understanding funeral costs in Australia covers the national picture.

Common questions

How much does a funeral cost in Queensland?

There is no official Queensland average. The Australian Government's Moneysmart website says funerals can cost from $8,000 to around $20,000, depending on the type of funeral you choose (checked October 2026). Every Queensland funeral director must publish the price of their least expensive option, so you can compare real prices.

Do Queensland funeral directors have to publish their prices?

Yes. Since 1 July 2022, the Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation 2022 requires funeral directors to prominently display itemised prices at each place of business and on any public website they run, including the price of their least expensive burial or cremation.

What help is there if a family can't pay for a funeral in Queensland?

The Queensland Government's Funeral Assistance Scheme, run by the Department of Justice through the Coroners Court of Queensland, can arrange a basic funeral when the person died in Queensland and no relative is willing or able to pay. Apply before signing any contract with a funeral company, as applications are declined once one has been signed.

Keep every cost in one place

The Remember Well• budget tracker starts with common Australian funeral cost items, so you can enter quotes as they arrive and see a running total. It sits alongside The Farewell planner.

Free accounts include First Steps, the guides and the basics. Attaching quotes and printing in the budget tracker are part of Remember Well• Access, $149 paid once.

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Sources

This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Prices change, so always confirm current fees with the provider.