How Many Flowers Should You Send for a Funeral?

There’s no fixed rule for how many flowers to send to a funeral - the right amount depends on your relationship to the person who died, the kind of tribute you’re sending, and sometimes the family’s own wishes.

Check the Family’s Wishes First

Some notices ask for “flowers only,” others request donations to a charity instead. If the notice says “no flowers,” a card or a donation in the person’s name is the more appropriate gesture.

It’s About the Tribute, Not a Stem Count

Funeral flowers aren’t usually ordered by counting individual stems the way you might for a birthday bouquet. Instead, people choose a type of tribute sized to their relationship:

• Small posy or spray - colleagues, acquaintances, distant relatives

• Medium bouquet or vase arrangement - friends, extended family

• Large wreath or casket spray - immediate family, very close friends

• Standing wreath or floral tribute for the service itself - immediate family, or pooled contributions from a group

Sending as a Group

If several people want to send flowers, coordinate one larger tribute instead of several small ones arriving separately. It reads as more considered, costs each person less, and avoids crowding the service or the family’s home with duplicate arrangements. Nominate one person to place the order and note everyone’s names on the card.

What About Multiple Family Members at One Service?

It’s common for children, siblings or close friends to each send their own tribute if they want individual recognition, even at the same service. Funeral directors are used to coordinating several arrangements for one service - just share the service details so deliveries are timed correctly.

Budget Guidance

• Colleague or acquaintance: modest posy or spray, roughly $70-120

• Friend or extended family: bouquet or vase arrangement, roughly $120-200

• Immediate family or very close friend: wreath, casket spray or larger tribute, $200

These are guides, not rules - a smaller, well-chosen arrangement is always more appropriate than an oversized one that doesn’t match your relationship.

When One Beautiful Arrangement Is Better Than Several Small Ones

If you’re unsure, it’s almost always better to send one thoughtful arrangement than to worry about quantity. Funeral homes and chapels have limited display space, and a single well-designed tribute usually has more impact than several small ones competing for room.The Flower Crew designs funeral wreaths, casket arrangements and sympathy tributes for services across Sydney, with delivery coordinated directly with funeral homes and chapels. Explore our Funeral Flowers page.