Compare cremation only costs and how much each of the market-leading direct cremation companies charges, including any additional extras. To help you choose what's suitable for your loved one, we've collated a table of companies offering the best quality and cheapest funerals.
Compare UK average costs to find the best direct cremation service to suit your needs and budget with Distinct Cremations.
Independent customer service rating of 4.9/5 on Feefo
The UK’s largest direct cremation provider
A caring and attentive team here for you and your family 24/7
Nationwide provider operating throughout mainland GB
Independent customer service rating of 4.9/5 on Feefo
The UK’s largest direct cremation provider
A caring and attentive team here for you and your family 24/7
Nationwide provider operating throughout mainland GB
Typically, direct cremation is the cheapest option when it comes to arranging a funeral in the UK. If you’re looking for an affordable option for a loved one who has recently died or looking to plan ahead by taking out a direct cremation funeral plan, this could be the best choice for you.
Choosing and organising a funeral is never easy, especially with so many factors to consider across different service providers. To make things that bit easier for you, we've organised the best direct cremation providers into a straightforward comparison table below, helping you choose the cheapest direct cremation with the best benefits for you and your loved one.
Alternatively, if you'd like to settle your funeral arrangements early, you can compare funeral plans.
| Direct Cremation Product Feature |  |
Pure Cremation | Memoria | Simplicity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (not including extras) | £1,399 | £1,395 | £1,095 | £995 |
| Bringing deceased into care in office hours from a hospital or coroner's office |  |
|
|
|
| Collection outside office hours or from a location other than a hospital or coroner's mortuary |  £250 extra |
£250 extra |
£250 extra |
£195 - £250 extra |
| Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | |
|
|
|
| Provision of standard coffin | |
|
|
|
| No charge for oversized coffin | |
|
£250 extra |
|
| Transport of deceased | |
|
|
|
| Notification of the date of the cremation | |
|
|
|
| Crematorium fee included | |
|
|
|
| Owns own mortuary and crematorium facilities | |
|
|
|
| Personal return of ashes included | |
|
£100 extra |
£75 extra |
| Ashes return guaranteed within 14 days | |
|
£175 extra |
|
All information correct as of 09/09/2024
The average cost of a direct cremation in the UK is £1,498. This is on average £2,643 cheaper* than a traditional funeral with a service.
| Distinct Cremations cost | UK average direct cremation | UK average cremation funeral | UK average burial funeral | Average funeral cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,399 | £1,498** | £3,795** | £5,077** | £4,141** |
Direct cremations are a simplified funeral that takes place without attendees or a service. Importantly, direct cremations maintain the quality and dignity that you would expect from any funeral provider.
* Saving of £2,643 is based on the cost of a traditional funeral at £4,141 vs direct cremation funeral at £1,498 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs) ** Average direct cremation, cremation, burial and funeral costs in 2023 (Sunlife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Direct cremations offer a compassionate farewell, all whilst being more cost-effective than traditional funerals.
Here’s why direct cremation costs are lower than other types of funeral:
This lower price point offers the family flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to choose a time that suits your needs without incurring extra fees for specific dates or times.
On the whole, direct cremations provide a low cost alternative that prioritises simplicity, affordability, and respect, ensuring that families can focus on cherishing memories rather than financial worries.
At Distinct Cremations, we offer direct cremation services that prioritise simplicity and affordability, while paying tribute to your loved one's memory with dignity and respect, when you need it the most.
Pay upfront at a lower cost. Call us when the time comes and we'll conduct the funeral within 2 weeks.
Pay in monthly instalments over 1, 5 or 10 years. Call us when the time comes and we'll take care of the rest.
Choosing a direct cremation can offer a compassionate and dignified farewell for a loved one. It provides a simple and respectful way to memorialise their memory without the financial burden or logistical complexities associated with traditional funerals.
Direct cremation allows families to focus on celebrating their loved one's life in a meaningful and personalised manner, without the pressure of planning elaborate ceremonies or costly services. It offers flexibility in scheduling and arrangements, ensuring that families can say goodbye in a way that feels authentic and true to their loved one's wishes.
By choosing a direct cremation, you can allocate your resources towards celebrating your loved one's memory in ways that are meaningful and impactful.
Paying in advance for a funeral plan offers many benefits for both you and your loved ones. They provide peace of mind by allowing you to plan and pay for your own funeral in advance, relieving your family members of the financial burden and stress during an already difficult time.
By paying in advance, you can also financially protect yourself, or your loved ones, against the rising funeral costs. By locking in today's prices, you can avoid the impact of inflation on funeral expenses, ensuring that your wishes are carried out without additional financial strain on your family members.
Plus, prepaid funeral plans allow people to specify their preferences and make personalised arrangements for their funeral, ensuring that their wishes are respected and followed. This can include decisions regarding the type of service, burial or cremation, choice of casket or urn, and any special requests or cultural traditions.
With so many options to choose from, it can be confusing to compare direct cremation and attended funerals. We can help you to break down the process.
At Distinct Cremations, we offer both unattended direct cremation options and attended cremations:
We also offer funeral plans to help you set up a funeral in advance. Choose from our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan, Small Attended Cremation Plans or Simple Funeral Plan to manage your future funeral arrangements with ease.
Find out more about our funeral plans.
If you have any questions, or would like to talk through our options, you can speak to our expert team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When you're ready to organise a funeral, call us on 01543212000 and we will begin all the arrangements for you, including taking the deceased into our care and supporting you with the paperwork.
View our direct cremationOur Customer Service Specialists will liaise with you to make arrangements for the cremation and keep you updated every step of the way.
You can be assured that your loved one will be handled with the utmost care and respect. They will be transported from their place of rest to our state-of-the-art mortuary where they'll be prepared for the cremation itself.
At an unattended direct cremation, the coffin will be respectfully brought through the front doors of the chapel and rested on a raised platform whilst a piece of music of the family's choice is played or a moment of silence is observed. The cremation then takes place.
The ashes will be personally returned to you within 14 days of the cremation by a member of our team, ensuring a dignified send-off from start to finish.
We’ll take care of everything, so your family don’t need to - from collection to the paperwork and right through to cremation
We have the Distinct advantage of only investing in the best funeral and mortuary care at our state of the art facilities
Our highly experienced, attentive customer service specialists are here for you & your family 24/7. We’re here whenever you need us
No matter where you live in the UK mainland, our specialist direct cremations are available for the same price
We focus solely on direct cremations across mainland England, Wales and Scotland, offering the highest quality nationwide for the best price
Distinct Cremations leave out the funeral fuss and needless extras but leave in great service and a wonderfully caring attitude.
Sue Cook, TV Presenter
We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.
Yes, as long you are over 18 you can take out a prepaid funeral plan for a direct cremation. A prepaid direct cremation plan is an agreement set up between you and your funeral provider. The funeral can be chosen and paid for in advance, providing a straightforward way to organise your future and ensuring a direct cremation for you when the time comes.
At Distinct Cremations, we ask no medical questions and there are no screenings. You can see more on our funeral plans page.
The average cost of a direct cremation in the UK is £1,498 which is on average £2,643 cheaper than a traditional funeral with a service.* Direct cremation is the cheapest funeral option. At Distinct Cremations, the cost for a direct cremation is £1,399.
* Saving of £2,643 is based on the cost of a traditional funeral at £4,141 vs direct cremation funeral at £1,498 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
An oversized coffin is for individuals who are too big for the average coffin width of 24 inches, 76 inches in length and 14 inches in depth. If the deceased is over 22 stone or 6 ft 5 or over, then an oversized coffin will be needed.
All of our ashes are returned in a simple biodegradable container which can be upgraded to a wooden urn for an additional cost.
Our direct cremations are unattended cremations which take place without mourners present. However, we do offer a choice of small attended cremations where up to 8 mourners can attend a 10 minute service or up to 20 mourners can attend a 20 minute service.
There are many benefits to choosing a direct cremation. Direct cremations offer a respectful, uncomplicated cremation with no attendees present.
These are a few of the key benefits:
Our customer service specialises can help you understand direct cremation costs, explain how the process works and liaise with you to make your cremation arrangements.
Get in touch to arrange a dignified funeral for your loved one.
Call us on 01543 212000
Oak Tree Court, Brookfield Drive, Cannock, WS11 0JN