An unattended cremation is a great choice for those looking for a low cost direct cremation without the formality of a traditional funeral. Unattended cremations take place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed throughout.
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
At Distinct Cremations, we offer a respectful and affordable alternative to traditional funerals with our unattended direct cremation service. Starting from £1,199, this service is designed for those who prefer a simple farewell for their loved one, without a formal ceremony.
Our unattended cremation funeral service is one of the best value unattended cremations in the UK. If your instinct is Distinct, your loved one will receive the highest quality care without any hidden costs.
You can also plan ahead with our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan, allowing you to choose and pay for the funeral in advance.
If you wish to be present to say a final goodbye, we also offer attended cremation services.
See what’s included with our unattended cremation service below, or contact us for more details.
Our experienced team is here to help
you arrange an unattended cremation
Wooden ashes casket - £50 Beautifully made and long-lasting solid wooden caskets to safely and meaningfully house your loved one's ashes.
Witnessed ashes scattering - £150 Attend the scattering of your loved one's ashes at the peaceful and scenic grounds of the crematorium.
View our price list for a full breakdown of everything that's included and not included as well as a list of all optional extras.
Alternatively, view our CMA standardised price list. For further details, please read our terms & conditions.
To arrange an unattended direct cremation straight away, call our experienced and caring customer service specialists.
If your loved one is near to death and you would like more information before making funeral arrangements, you can also download a free guide to our funeral services.
Call us on 01543212000If our Unattended Cremation doesn't fit your funeral preferences or budget, you may be interested in one of our other funeral services. All of our funeral options are also available to be paid for in advance with a funeral plan.
Our small attended cremations offer a 10 min service for up to 8 mourners or a 20 min service for up to 20 mourners.
Small attended cremation >>Protect yourself from rising funeral costs by choosing and paying for a funeral in advance with one of our funeral plans.
Funeral plans >>One of the main benefits of choosing an unattended, direct cremation is that gives you and your family the flexibility to commemorate or celebrate a loved one's life in whatever way you'd like.
You may decide upon a large gathering of family and friends at the local community hall. You may opt for something more intimate like a family gathering at a loved one's home.
With an unattended, direct cremation, you can choose to commemorate your loved one whenever, wherever and however you please, to give your loved one the most personal and special farewell.
Whichever funeral option you choose, we’ll give your loved one a compassionate send-off that respects their dignity. We are experts in direct cremations and simple funerals, all of which are caringly delivered by dedicated professionals.
Complete end-to-end service delivered by our teams
We use our own private ambulances, mortuary facilities and crematoriums. This means we look after your loved one personally at every stage to guarantee quality service.
State-of-the-art mortuary care
Our team meticulously prepare your loved one for cremation and care for them on a daily basis using the best mortuary technology.
A respectful farewell at the crematorium chapel
At all services, an attendant or funeral operative is present whilst your loved one is brought into the chapel to your choice of music.
Ashes returned or scattered at no extra cost
The individually identified and tracked ashes will be hand delivered back to you at home within 14 days or scattered at the crematorium.
Our optional extra can be added for £100 and includes:
Distinct Cremations leave out the funeral fuss and needless extras but leave in great service and a wonderfully caring attitude. That’s why my instinct is Distinct.
Sue Cook, TV Presenter
Our attended cremation services offer a dignified and respectful way to say goodbye together with your nearest and dearest.
With an 8 min service for up to 10 people, a 20 min service for up to 20 people or a full-length service, our attended cremations can take place at any of our 40 crematoriums across the UK.
View attended cremationWe 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.
These are the steps in the process you can expect when you choose our unattended direct cremation service for your loved one.
Call us to begin getting your arrangements in place
Our team care for your loved one at our professional mortuary
The ashes will be personally returned within 14 days of cremation
We will collect your loved one and bring them into our care
The cremation will take place at one of our UK crematoriums
You’re free to visit any of our crematoriums, within their opening hours, to view the grounds and facilities ahead of time.
Upon arranging a funeral, once you’ve agreed the type of service that you’d like, one of our Customer Service Specialists will take the payment in full, which can be made by credit or debit card.
For those planning ahead, we offer funeral plans that can be paid for upfront or in monthly instalments, allowing you to arrange and pay for your funeral in advance.
There are lots of things you can do with the ashes. Many people scatter ashes in a place that was special to the deceased, some keep them in an urn as a keepsake and others have recently started to have ashes turned into jewellery or glass.
Last year, 24% of all funerals were unattended funerals without mourners present. 4% of funerals were direct burials and 20% of funerals were direct cremations. Direct cremations especially have risen in popularity in recent years as in 2019 they accounted for just 3% of funerals.[1]
[1] In 2023, 20% of funerals were direct cremations and 4% of funerals were direct burials. In 2019, 3% of funerals were direct cremations. (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.
While we can’t arrange the celebration for you we can provide funeral guidance if needed.
You can, and it can make things easier and less stressful for when the time comes. If a loved one is suffering from a life limiting ailment, the dying person may want to be involved in their own funeral arrangements. Or a funeral can be planned when you're healthy with a funeral plan. We're happy to talk through your options 24/7 on 01543 211997.
We’ll keep the deceased dressed in the same clothes they were wearing when they entered our care unless otherwise requested. If you’ve got a specific outfit you’d like them to wear, just let us know and provide it prior to the cremation.
For some, the lower cost of an unattended funeral makes it a more affordable or attractive option. Others simply prefer to have a more low-key send off. Or for people who don't want to follow traditions, an unattended cremation gives families the freedom to hold a personal and unique celebration of life event. See our celebration of life ideas for inspiration around locations, themes, dress codes and more.
You have a choice. You can either have the ashes personally hand delivered within 14 days or scattered in the garden of rememberance at the crematorium.
With Distinct Cremations, it will take approximately 2-4 weeks to arrange the funeral. This includes the completion of the necessary paperwork and the cremation itself. Once the cremation has taken place, the ashes will be personally returned by our team within 14 days.
Learn more in our guide to arranging a funeral.
Oak Tree Court, Brookfield Drive, Cannock, WS11 0JN
