The cost of a will in the UK ranges from £9.99 to over £5,000, depending on how you make it and how complex your estate is. The median price paid in 2025 was £130.
Most people overpay. For straightforward estates — which covers the vast majority of UK adults — there's no reason to spend more than £50. And at CheapWills, a legally valid will costs £9.99.
Here's every option, what it costs, and what you actually get for the money.
Will Writing Costs at a Glance (2026)
| Method | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Online will service (CheapWills) | £9.99 | Simple estates, budget-conscious |
| Online will service (mid-range) | £50–£169 | Simple estates, brand preference |
| DIY will kit | £10–£30 | Very simple estates, confident writers |
| Free online (FreeWills) | Free | People who don't mind ads |
| Professional will writer | £150–£300 | Moderate estates, home visits |
| Solicitor (simple will) | £150–£500 | Regulation-conscious people |
| Solicitor (complex will) | £500–£5,000+ | Complex estates, tax planning |
| Mirror wills (CheapWills) | £14.99 | Couples with straightforward estates |
| Mirror wills (solicitor) | £250–£600+ | Couples with complex estates |
Online Will Writing Services: £9.99–£169
Online will services are the fastest-growing segment of the market. In 2025, non-solicitor services captured 51% market share for the first time.
Budget Online Services (£9.99–£20)
| Provider | Single Will | Mirror Wills | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CheapWills | £9.99 | £14.99 | Solicitor-approved templates, no ads, AI-powered |
| FreeWills | Free | Free | Ad-supported, upsells printed copies |
| ActiveWills (promo) | £14–£20 | £19–£30 | Loss leader for Honey Legal upsell. List price £99 |
At this price point, CheapWills offers the best combination of price and quality. Solicitor-approved templates, professional indemnity insurance, and no advertising or upselling for £9.99.
Mid-Range Online Services (£50–£100)
| Provider | Single Will | Mirror Wills | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LegalWills | £49.95 | ~£80 | Free unlimited updates |
| Make A Will Online | £90 | Discounted 2nd | Individual solicitor review |
| WUHLD | £99.99 | £149.99 | Includes guide documents |
| Farewill | £100 | £160 | Phone support, well-known brand |
These services cost five to ten times more than CheapWills. For straightforward estates, the core product — a legally valid will — is the same. You're paying for extras like phone support, brand recognition, or individual solicitor review.
Premium Online Services (£99–£169)
| Provider | Single Will | Mirror Wills | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which? Wills (Essential) | £99 | £156 | Which? brand name |
| Which? Wills (Guided) | £139 | £216 | Includes phone guidance |
| Which? Wills (Comprehensive) | £169 | £259 | For complex wills |
Which? trades on consumer trust. The service is solid, but the price premium is significant — especially the Essential tier at £99, which is an online-only service functionally similar to CheapWills at £9.99.
Full comparison of all providers
DIY Will Kits: £10–£30
Available from WHSmith, Amazon, and other retailers, DIY kits provide a blank form with instructions for filling in your will.
What you get: A template form, guidance notes, and sometimes extra forms for codicils (amendments).
What you don't get: Any checking, any automation, any guidance beyond the printed instructions. You're responsible for getting everything right.
The risk: DIY wills have the highest rate of errors and are the most commonly disputed type of will. Ambiguous wording, missing clauses, and incorrect execution (signing and witnessing mistakes) are all common.
Our view: For £9.99, an online service like CheapWills guides you through the process and generates a properly structured document. The £10–£30 price of a DIY kit buys you an inferior experience compared to a guided online service at a similar price.
Professional Will Writers: £150–£300
Will writers are professionals who specialise in will writing but aren't solicitors. Many offer home visits.
Typical costs:
- Simple will: £150–£200
- Mirror wills: £200–£350
- Complex will: £250–£500
What you get: A professional writes your will, usually during a home visit. They can explain options and help with moderately complex situations.
The caveat: Will writing is unregulated, so quality varies. Reputable will writers belong to the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) or Society of Will Writers (SWW) and carry professional indemnity insurance. But membership is voluntary, not mandatory.
Our view: For straightforward estates, you're paying £150+ for the same outcome an online service provides for £9.99. Home visits and face-to-face guidance have value for some people, but that value has decreased as online services have improved.
Solicitors: £150–£5,000+
Solicitors remain the most expensive option for will writing. Prices vary enormously by region, firm size, and complexity.
Typical costs for simple wills:
- London: £200–£500+
- South East: £200–£400
- Midlands: £150–£300
- North: £150–£250
- Wales: £150–£250
Typical costs for complex wills:
- Tax planning: £500–£2,000
- Trusts: £500–£1,500
- International assets: £1,000–£3,000
- Business succession: £1,000–£5,000+
What you get: SRA regulation, professional indemnity insurance, face-to-face advice, the ability to handle complex estates, and recourse through the Legal Ombudsman if things go wrong.
What's changed: 85% of will clients now pay fixed fees rather than hourly rates. This is a positive shift — you know the cost upfront. But the fixed fees remain much higher than online alternatives.
Our view: Solicitors are essential for complex estates. If you have overseas property, business assets, blended family disputes, or significant tax planning needs, pay for a solicitor. For straightforward wills, you're paying for overheads (office rent, staff, advertising) that don't improve the final document.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Update and Revision Fees
Life changes require will updates. These costs vary dramatically:
| Provider | Update Cost |
|---|---|
| CheapWills | £9.99 each time |
| FreeWills | Free |
| Farewill | £10/year |
| Co-op Legal | Pay per revision |
| Solicitors | £300+ per change |
If your solicitor charges £300 per revision and you update your will three times over 20 years, that's an extra £900. Three updates with CheapWills costs £29.97.
Storage Fees
Some providers charge for will storage. Others include it. You can store your will for free at home in a safe place, or deposit it with the Probate Service for £7.
LPA Preparation
If you also need Lasting Powers of Attorney:
| Provider | LPA Cost (each) |
|---|---|
| CheapWills | £49.99 |
| Farewill | £90 |
| Solicitors | £300–£500 |
Plus the OPG registration fee of £82 per LPA (everyone pays this regardless of provider).
The "Free" Will Trap
Some charity schemes offer free wills through campaigns like Free Wills Month. These are genuine free wills written by solicitors — but the expectation (though not obligation) is that you'll leave a gift to the sponsoring charity. The will itself is competently done, but availability is limited to certain months and you may wait weeks for an appointment.
What Affects Will Writing Costs?
Complexity
The single biggest factor. A straightforward will (everything to spouse, then children, name guardians and executors) takes minutes to generate with an online service. A complex will involving overseas property, business succession, and tax planning takes hours of solicitor time.
Provider Type
Online services have near-zero marginal costs per customer. Solicitors have offices, staff, insurance, and regulation. The overhead difference explains most of the price gap.
Location
Solicitor prices vary by region. London solicitors are the most expensive; rural areas tend to be cheaper. Online services charge the same regardless of where you live.
Additional Services
LPAs, trusts, tax advice, and estate planning all add to the cost. Bundle pricing varies — some solicitors offer discounts for will + LPA packages.
How to Decide What to Spend
Spend £9.99 (CheapWills) If:
- Your estate is straightforward
- You're married or in a stable relationship
- You want to leave everything to your partner and then children
- You need to name guardians
- You want specific gifts distributed
- You're comfortable completing an online form
Spend £50–£100 If:
- You want phone support during the process
- You prefer a well-known brand name
- You want individual solicitor review of your will
- You're willing to pay more for perceived peace of mind
Spend £150–£500+ If:
- You have property outside England and Wales
- You own a business or complex investments
- You're in a blended family
- You need inheritance tax planning
- There's a realistic risk of your will being contested
- You want face-to-face advice
Spend £1,000+ If:
- You have a genuinely complex estate
- You need business succession planning
- You have assets in multiple jurisdictions
- You need sophisticated trust arrangements
- You're dealing with agricultural or business property relief
The Median Is £130 — But You Don't Need to Pay It
The median cost of a will in the UK was £130 in 2025. That's been the standard ballpark for years, driven by solicitor pricing.
But the median is misleading. It includes:
- High street solicitors charging £300+ for simple wills
- Online services charging £9.99 for the same legal outcome
- Complex estate planning bills running to thousands
For a straightforward will, £130 is too much. CheapWills produces a legally valid will from solicitor-approved templates for £9.99. The legal validity is identical. The protection for your family is identical.
30 million UK adults don't have a will. 54% say they haven't got round to it. The cost shouldn't be a reason to delay any longer.
Make your will today for £9.99 — it takes 10 minutes.
Join the Waitlist — Wills from £9.99Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to make a will in the UK?
The cheapest paid service is CheapWills at £9.99 for a single will with solicitor-approved templates. FreeWills.co.uk is free but ad-supported with upsells for printed copies.
How much does a solicitor charge for a will in 2026?
Solicitor prices range from £150 for a simple will to £5,000+ for complex estate planning. The median was £130 in 2025. Prices vary significantly by region and firm.
Are cheap wills worth it?
For straightforward estates, yes. A £9.99 will from CheapWills meets exactly the same legal requirements as a £500 solicitor will. The Wills Act 1837 doesn't factor in how much you paid.
How much do mirror wills cost?
Mirror wills at CheapWills cost £14.99 for both. Solicitors typically charge £250–£600+. Farewill charges £160. Most other online services charge £80–£259.
Should I pay for a solicitor or use an online service?
For straightforward estates, an online service is adequate and much cheaper. For complex estates (overseas property, business assets, potential disputes, tax planning), a solicitor is worth the investment.
How often should I update my will and what does it cost?
Update your will after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of children, death of a beneficiary, or significant changes in assets. CheapWills charges £9.99 each time you make or update a will. Solicitors typically charge £300+ per revision.