What To Wear To A Funeral: Guide For Men Even If You Don’t Own A Suit (2025)

In This Guide

• The No Suit Option
• Traditional Funeral Suit
• Modern Funerals
• Where to Shop For Funeral Suits
• Garment Breakdown
• What Not To Wear
• Etiquette
• FAQs

The “No-Suit” Solution: How to Be Respectful with Separates

If you don’t own a suit, do not panic.

A suit is not absolutely required to show respect, especially if you are not an immediate family member or pallbearer.

The key is to assemble an outfit that is dark, clean, and conservative. Here are the components:

• Trousers: Start with dark dress pants. Black, charcoal, or dark navy are ideal. This is the most essential piece. Avoid wearing khakis or chinos if possible, as they are often considered too casual.
• Shirt: A crisp, ironed white button-down shirt is the standard.
• Tie: A conservative dark tie (black, navy, grey) is strongly recommended to elevate the formality.
• Jacket/Layer: The best option is a dark blazer or sport coat. If you don’t own a jacket and can’t borrow one that fits well, opt for trousers, a dress shirt, and a dark sweater (a simple V-neck or crew-neck) if the weather allows for it.
• Shoes: More detailed explanation later on this page, but stick to black oxfords or Venetian loafers.

The above is the absolute minimum when it comes to men’s funeral attire. Continue reading to learn about more traditional funeral menswear.

The Traditional Funeral Suit: Black vs. Charcoal vs. Navy

If you own a suit, it is the most appropriate choice. Your suit should be very dark in color, regardless of the season.

• The Black Suit: This is the most traditional, formal, and safest choice. Funerals are one of the few occasions when wearing a black suit during the day is considered appropriate.
• Can I wear a grey suit? Yes. A dark charcoal grey suit is a perfectly respectful and appropriate alternative.
• Can I wear a navy suit? Yes. A dark navy suit is also a good option and widely accepted as a respectful alternative to black. You should, however, avoid brighter or “vibrant” navy blue.

Decoding Modern Attire: “Celebrations of Life”

A solemn event such as a funeral requires more than just looking the part.

Knowing how to comport oneself and when to make exceptions to the guidelines above is hugely important.

Honor The Requests Of The Family

Many funerals are just as much a celebration of life as they are a marker of death.

The family may make a request that is inconsistent with one of our guidelines above. If that happens, do what the family asks. They may want attendees to wear something more festive (like “bright colors” or a favorite team’s jersey), for example.

If no specific dress code is mentioned, always default to the traditional, conservative attire outlined in this guide.

Where to Get a Respectful Funeral Suit (Fast & Affordable)

If you need a suit quickly for a service, or realize this is a gap in your wardrobe, here are some appropriate options that are helpful-first, not sales-first.

• Good (Affordable & Fast): Retailers like Men’s Wearhouse or SuitShop offer solid black or charcoal suits that are both appropriate and respectful, and are available for quick pickup or shipping.
• Better (Modern & Versatile): A modern performance suit, like those from xSuit, in black or dark navy, offers comfort and a sleek, respectful appearance. It can be worn again for business or other formal events.
• Best (Long-Term Investment): If this is a wake-up call, investing in a custom-made suit from a tailor like Black Lapel or Indochino in charcoal or navy will serve as a foundational piece for all future formal occasions.

Garment-by-Garment Etiquette: A Deeper Breakdown

The overall idea is to show an appropriate amount of respect for the deceased and his/her family while simultaneously not drawing attention to yourself. The phrase “This isn’t about you” applies to funerals a million times over. Keep that in mind when looking through your closet.

When in doubt, think of what you’d wear to a job interview and use that as a baseline.

Suit

Your suit should be well-fitted and in good repair. Either single or double-breasted jackets are appropriate, though our feeling is that younger men (under 45) should opt for single-breasted jackets.

An important thing to remember about your suit is its cut: even in an appropriately dark color, a super-slim or horrendously baggy suit is inappropriate, as it calls attention to yourself at a time when it’s very uncouth to do so. Here’s a quick visual refresher on proper fit:

Shirt

A simple white or blue barrel cuff shirt is appropriate. French cuffs are formal, but too flashy for a funeral.

Ensure that it’s properly ironed or steamed, fits well, and is in good condition.

How A Barrel Cuff Should Fit

Shoes

Black oxfords or even brogues are appropriate. Though they are handsome and technically appropriate with a suit, monkstraps are just a bit too stylish and don’t have a place in funeral attire.

Your shoes should always be in good repair, but this is particularly crucial at a funeral.

Accessories

In general, your accessories should be kept to a minimum. Here’s what you should wear:

• A tie in a dark color: Black, navy blue, and deep maroon are appropriate. No bow ties.   
• A white cotton or linen pocket square: Adding a tasteful finishing touch shows respect for the occasion. Also, if there’s ever going to be a time you’ll want a second handkerchief, it’s now. People around you will likely be crying (you yourself may be), and offering a handkerchief to a grieving person shows a high level of gentlemanliness.
• A watch and a wedding band: This should be the extent of your jewelry for the day under most circumstances. The watch should be simple, with a simple face and a dressy band. Unless you and the deceased were in the same graduating class in college, no one cares about your class ring.
• Sunglasses: If you will be outside for any portion of the funeral, you may wear sunglasses. Like the rest of your garb, they should be appropriately quiet and conservative. Stick to black, metallic, or tortoiseshell frames in reasonable sizes. Bold colors, oversized frames, and mirror lenses are improper in this instance and should be avoided.

What Not To Wear To Funerals

Sometimes it can be just as (if not more) helpful to know what not to wear than what to wear. We suggest avoiding:

• Too much jewelry: A funeral is not the time to adorn yourself with superfluous decoration. As we said above, keep it simple and minimal.
• Literal and figurative loud things: In the literal sense, this ties back to wearing too much jewelry. Bracelets in particular can clang together, and this can be a very unwelcome distraction. In the figurative sense, clothing that’s brightly colored, patterned, or has text on it is far too loud insofar as it draws attention to itself. This is fine for date night, but not in the presence of a grieving family.
• Too much cologne: By all means, smell nice, but don’t overdo it on the fragrances. You run the risk of making others cough, which is another distraction you want to avoid.

General Tips On Funeral Etiquette

• Don’t call attention to yourself: Again, a funeral service is not about you. You want to show appropriate respect to the deceased and his/her family, and dressing in an appropriately conservative way is how to do this. Look presentable, but not sexy.
• Be well-groomed: If you keep a beard, make sure it’s trimmed. If you don’t, make sure you’re 100% clean-shaven. Shower, brush your teeth, and make sure your hair is in order. By showing respect for yourself, you’ll naturally demonstrate respect for those around you.
• Have an umbrella: If it might rain, be prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions About Men’s Funeral Attire

What should a man wear to a funeral if he doesn’t own a suit?

If you don’t own a suit, a respectful alternative is a pair of dark dress trousers (black or charcoal), a white button-down shirt, a dark conservative tie, and a dark blazer, sport coat, or v-neck sweater.

Can I wear a navy or grey suit to a funeral?

Yes.

While a black suit is the most traditional, a dark navy or dark charcoal grey suit is perfectly acceptable and respectful for a modern funeral.

Do I have to wear a tie to a funeral?

A tie is not always mandatory, but it is strongly recommended as a clear sign of formality and respect.

An open collar can appear too casual. Opt for a solid dark color like black, navy, or grey. 

Is a suit required for funeral attire?

A suit is advisable, especially if you are close to the family, but it is not absolutely required.

Dark, formal separates (dress pants, dress shirt, tie, and a blazer or dark sweater) are an acceptable alternative.