Most funeral packages in Singapore are sold by the number of days the wake runs. The two you will see most often are three days and five days. The price gap between them can be large, and families often choose in a hurry, on the first night, while still in shock.
No law in Singapore says how long a wake must last. So the choice is yours. This guide shows what changes between the two lengths and what makes the price go up. It also shows why the last day of the wake often depends on when a cremation or burial slot is free.
What a law does say about timing
There is one timing rule families do meet. The Environmental Public Health Act says a body may not be kept for more than 48 hours after death unless it is embalmed or placed in a sealed coffin. So a wake that runs past two days needs one of the two, and most families choose embalming so the casket can stay open. Our article on embalming in Singapore explains that choice.
After that, the length of the wake is a family decision. Faith, custom, the number of relatives flying in, and money all play a part.
What a longer wake adds to funeral packages in Singapore
A funeral package is a bundle. When the wake grows from three days to five, some parts of the bundle stay the same and some grow with each extra day.
The parts that usually stay the same:
- The casket, and the embalming.
- The hearse to the crematorium or cemetery.
- The permit applications and the booking of the cremation or burial.
The parts that usually grow with each day:
- The venue. A funeral parlour hall is charged by the day. A void deck wake also needs the Town Council’s approval for the period you use it.
- Tentage, tables, chairs, lights and fans at a void deck.
- Food and drinks for visitors.
- Staff on site.
- Religious rites. Buddhist and Taoist families often book a monk or priest for chanting on more than one night.
So the extra cost of a five-day wake is mostly the venue, the food and the rites for two more days. No authority publishes these prices, and they differ a lot between providers. Ask for a quote that shows the daily items on separate lines. Then you can see what two extra days really cost.
The nights matter more than the days
Most visitors come in the evening, after work. So a five-day wake is really two more evenings of visitors, food, and staff on duty late. That is where the cost adds up.
A few rules apply every night, whatever the length. Guidelines from NEA and the Association of Funeral Directors Singapore limit light-emitting wreaths to 10 at each wake. They must be switched off from 10pm to 7am. If the wake is at a void deck, neighbours are close by, so a longer wake also means more nights of noise to manage. Some families shorten the wake for this reason alone.
Why the cremation slot often decides the length
Many families pick the length first and book the cremation second. In practice, it often works the other way.
A wake ends with the funeral procession to the crematorium or the cemetery. The funeral director books that slot with the National Environment Agency (NEA), and the wake runs until that day. If the slot you want is taken, the wake may need to be a day longer, or shorter, than planned.
NEA is adding capacity for this reason. Its new Mandai North Crematorium opened on 15 August 2025. NEA said it would start with four cremation services a day and ramp up over the following months. NEA also expects annual resident deaths to rise from about 25,000 in 2024 to around 40,000 by 2040. More deaths each year means more demand for each slot.
So before you agree on three days or five, ask the funeral director which cremation dates are open. Then fit the wake to the slot.
When three days is enough
A three-day wake suits many families well. It often fits when:
- Most relatives live in Singapore and can come on the first or second night.
- The family wants a smaller, quieter wake.
- Money is tight and the family would rather spend on the niche or the rites.
- The person who died asked for something simple.
Three days is also a common choice for families who plan a direct cremation later, or who will hold a memorial after the cremation instead.
When five days makes sense
A five-day wake gives more time, and time has real value in some cases:
- Close relatives are flying in from overseas and need a day or two to arrive.
- The family is large, and many visitors are expected over several nights.
- The faith or the family custom calls for more nights of prayer.
- The cremation or burial slot is simply further away.
Many Chinese families keep an odd number of days, such as three, five or seven. If your family follows this custom, a four-day wake may feel wrong even if the slot allows it. Tell the funeral director early.
Questions to ask before you choose
Take these to any provider, and ask for written answers. It is fine to ask two or three providers the same questions on the same night. A good provider will not rush you, and a clear written quote makes the family talk much easier.
- What is the total for three days, and for five days, with each daily item listed?
- Which cremation or burial dates are open now?
- Is the embalming included, and is it priced the same for both lengths?
- How many nights of chanting or prayer are included?
- If we add one day later, what does that day cost?
The last question matters more than it looks. Wakes often run a day longer than planned, and a price agreed in advance saves an argument on the last night.
For a closer look at how packages are put together, see the funeral packages page. If you are also deciding where to hold the wake, our Chinese article on void deck and funeral parlour wakes compares the two. To plan a wake of any length, start with funeral services in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does a funeral wake last in Singapore?
No law sets the length of a wake. Three and five days are the most common lengths in funeral packages. The end date is often set by when a cremation or burial slot is free.
Is a 5-day funeral package much more expensive than a 3-day one?
It usually costs more, because the venue, food, staff and nightly rites are charged by the day. The casket, hearse and permits usually cost the same. No authority publishes these prices, so ask for a quote with daily items listed.
Does the body need to be embalmed for a 3-day wake?
In most cases, yes. The Environmental Public Health Act does not allow a body to be kept for more than 48 hours after death unless it is embalmed or in a sealed coffin.
Can we change the wake from 3 days to 5 days after it starts?
Often yes, if the venue is free and a later cremation or burial slot can be booked. Ask the funeral director what each extra day costs before the wake begins.
Why do many Chinese wakes last an odd number of days?
Many Chinese families keep wakes to an odd number of days, such as three, five or seven, as a matter of custom. It is a family tradition, not a legal rule.
The 48-hour rule is from the Environmental Public Health Act. The Mandai North Crematorium details and the death projection are from the National Environment Agency’s news release of 28 July 2025.
