A will in England and Wales can cost anything from nothing to several hundred pounds. Which?'s 2025 survey found people paid £287 on average. Through a solicitor the average was £328, and through a will-writing firm around £234 (Which?, September 2025). The right price depends on how straightforward your wishes are, not on who holds the pen.
Key Takeaways
- People who used a solicitor paid an average of £328 in 2025, and those using a will-writing firm around £234 (Which?).
- Most wills are straightforward and don't need a solicitor, as long as an experienced will writer checks them.
- Mirror wills for couples usually cost less than two separate single wills.
- "Free" wills often come with conditions, such as a request to leave money to charity.
- A will is only as good as its signing: two witnesses must be present at the same time.
This guide covers wills made under the law of England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, so costs and requirements there can differ.
What does a will cost with each type of provider?
The price of a will mostly reflects how much one-to-one time is involved. Which? surveyed 2,132 people in May 2025, including 437 who had made a will in the previous three years. The average spend was £287, and one in ten paid nothing at all (Which?, 2025).
| Route | Typical cost | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY will kit | A few pounds | Blank forms and guidance notes | Nobody checks your wording or signing |
| Free will schemes | £0 (a donation is often suggested) | A simple will drafted by a solicitor | Limited dates, simple wills only, and a request to remember a charity |
| Online will service | Varies widely by provider | A questionnaire that produces your will | Checking varies; some services don't check at all |
| Will-writing firm | Around £234 on average (£245 with a review) | A will drawn up by a professional will writer | Price depends on the firm and whether it visits you |
| Solicitor | Around £328 on average | Face-to-face advice and drafting | Highest cost, often for the same result on a simple will |
Source for averages: Which?, 2025.
The gap between the cheapest and dearest routes is large, but the legal result can be identical. A will is valid when it is in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses who are present at the same time (Wills Act 1837, section 9). That applies whoever prepared it. Our guide to signing and witnessing your will explains the rules step by step.
What makes a will cost more?
A will costs more when it needs more drafting time or more personal contact. These are the most common reasons a quote goes up:
- Two wills instead of one. Couples often choose mirror wills: two near-identical wills, usually leaving everything to each other and then to the same people. They cost less than two separate wills because most of the drafting is shared.
- Trusts. A trust holds money or property for someone, such as a child, until conditions are met. Trusts for tax planning are more involved and can need specialist input.
- Business assets or property abroad. These need extra clauses and sometimes advice in another country.
- Home visits or appointments. Paying for someone's time in person adds to the price.
- Printing, binding and storage. Some providers include these and others charge separately.
- VAT. Some quotes are shown without VAT at 20%, so ask for the full price.
In our experience, most people's wills are straightforward. They want to leave everything to a partner and then to their children. They also need to name executors (the people who carry out the will) and guardians (who would look after children under 18). Since 1997 we've met many clients who had previously paid hundreds of pounds for a will no more complicated than one we'd prepare for £49.99.
Are "free" wills really free?
Free wills cost you nothing up front, but they usually come with conditions. That doesn't make them bad value. It does mean you should know what you're signing up to.
- Charity schemes. Free Wills Month runs in March and October for people aged 55 and over. Will Aid runs each November with a suggested donation of £120 to £200 to its partner charities (Which?, 2025). Both cover simple wills only. Charities fund them in the hope that you'll leave them a legacy, meaning a gift in your will.
- Upselling. Some providers offer a free basic will to start a conversation about more expensive services, such as trusts.
- Your personal details. In our experience, some free or very cheap providers' terms allow them to share customer details with other companies, such as financial firms. Read the privacy policy before you start.
We never sell or pass on your details. You pay a clear, fixed price, and that's the end of it.
What does a will cost with Downloadawill?
A Single Will costs £49.99 and a pair of Mirror Wills £79.99, and our Will Team checks every will, normally within 48 hours. You complete a simple online questionnaire in your own time. Your will comes with a free Will Commentary explaining each clause in plain English. Find out more about our Single Will.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Single Will (checked, supplied as a PDF) | £49.99 |
| Mirror Wills (pair) | £79.99 |
| Will instructions taken over the phone | from £100 |
| Superior upgrade: printed, bound and posted (Single Will) | £20 |
| Superior upgrade (pair of Mirror Wills) | £35 |
| Will storage, per year (Single / pair) | £30 / £50 |
| Changes within 60 days of purchase | Free |
If your will needs a trust or other specialist clauses, contact us before you start and we'll tell you what's involved. See our full price list for everything else. Prices are correct as of October 2026.
When is it worth paying more?
Paying more makes sense when your circumstances are unusual, not simply because a will feels important. We deal with most complex will situations ourselves. For anything out of the ordinary, we take guidance from the Society of Will Writers' technical team. If your situation needs a solicitor, we'll tell you honestly.
The real cost to avoid is a will that fails. Over the years we've seen home-made and kit wills let families down because they weren't signed or witnessed correctly. In other cases a beneficiary (someone who inherits under the will), or their spouse or civil partner, acted as a witness. That cancels their gift (Wills Act 1837, section 15). Sorting that out after a death can cost far more than having the will checked in the first place.
Having no will at all can be more costly still, because the law then decides who inherits. Read what happens if you die without a will.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mirror wills cost?
Mirror wills usually cost less than two single wills, because the second will repeats most of the first with the names swapped. See our prices above.
How much does it cost to change a will?
Small changes can be made with a codicil, a short document that amends your will and must be signed and witnessed in the same way. For most changes it is safer to make a new will. We make changes free within 60 days of purchase, and charge £20 to check a re-written will after that. Marriage or a civil partnership normally cancels an existing will (Wills Act 1837, sections 18 and 18B), so you'll usually need a new one.
Is an online will legally valid?
Yes. An online will is valid as long as it's printed and signed by you in front of two witnesses present at the same time. The witnesses should ideally be independent adults who don't inherit anything under the will. Electronic signatures are not accepted for wills.
How much does a Lasting Power of Attorney cost?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you can't. Our fee is £75 per LPA, or £140 for both types together. The Office of the Public Guardian also charges a £92 registration fee for each LPA, with reductions for people on low incomes.
The bottom line
For most people, a will doesn't need to cost hundreds of pounds. What matters is that it says what you want and is checked by someone who knows the rules. If you'd like to talk through your situation first, our Will Team is happy to help: contact the Will Team.
About this guide
This guide was written and checked by the Downloadawill Will Team. Downloadawill is a trading style of Direct Wills, a member of the Society of Will Writers. We've been writing wills for people in England and Wales since 1997. Read more about us.
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