Compare direct cremation costs and features
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.
Exceptional service
Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
Experience you can trust
Over 74,000 cremations a year
Expert funeral care
Supporting families for over 30 years
Best cremation providers
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 planning 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 compared the best direct cremation providers in the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (not including extras) | £1,299 | £1,495 | £1,145 |
| Collection from a hospital or coroner's mortuary* | |||
| Out of hours collection** | +£250 | +£250 | +£250 |
| Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | |||
| Provision of standard coffin | |||
| No charge for oversized coffin | +£250 | ||
| Transport of deceased | |||
| Notification of the date of cremation | |||
| Crematorium fee included | |||
| Owns own mortuary and crematorium facilities | |||
| Personal return of ashes included | +£100 | +£100 | |
| Ashes returned within 14 days | +£175 |
| Direct Cremation Product Feature | Price (not including extras) | Collection from a hospital or coroner's mortuary* | Out of hours collection** | Removal of pacemaker, medical implants or artificial limbs | Provision of standard coffin | No charge for oversized coffin | Transport of deceased | Notification of the date of cremation | Crematorium fee included | Owns own mortuary and crematorium facilities | Personal return of ashes included | Ashes returned within 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,299 | +£250 | +£100 | |||||||||
| Pure Cremation | £1,495 | +£250 | ||||||||||
| Memoria | £1,145 | +£250 | +£250 | +£100 | +£175 |
* Weekdays 8am - 6pm, mainland Great Britain only
** Collection outside office hours or from a location other than a hospital or coroner's mortuary
All information correct as of 18/07/2025
Average direct cremation costs
Distinct Cremations cost
£1,299
UK Average direct cremation
£1,597**
UK average cremation funeral
£3,980**
UK average burial funeral
£5,198**
Average funeral cost
£4,285**
The average cost of a direct cremation in the UK is £1,597. This is on average £2,688 cheaper* than a traditional funeral with a service.
* Saving of £2,688 is based on the cost of a traditional funeral at £4,285 vs direct cremation funeral at £1,597 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs) ** Average direct cremation, cremation, burial and funeral costs in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
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About direct cremation costs
Direct cremations offer a compassionate farewell, whilst being more cost-effective than traditional funerals. A direct cremation prioritises simplicity, affordability, and respect, ensuring that families can focus on cherishing memories rather than financial worries.
Here's why direct cremation costs are lower.
Fewer traditional elements
They omit additional elements, such as embalming, viewings and elaborate ceremonies, which significantly drive up expenses.
Removing burial expenses
Cremation providers offer a simple, sustainable casket, eliminating fees for expensive caskets, burial plots and headstones.
A personal remembrance
Families can celebrate their loved one's memory in more meaningful ways, such as memorial services or personalised tributes, at a time and place that suits their needs.
Pre-paid funeral plan
From £1,899
or £19.79* per month
Get the funeral you want with a prepaid funeral plan. Planning in advance takes the cost and stress away from your loved ones and protects against rising prices. Acceptance is guaranteed with protection for your money and no medical questions.
* Price is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,374.80 and includes admin fees.
Start funeral plan quoteArrange a funeral
From £1,299
If your loved one has passed away or is in the final stages of life, our team is here 24/7 to assist you. Your loved one is brought into our care and prepared for cremation at our mortuary, whilst we support you with all the necessary paperwork and arrangements before carrying out the cremation.
Why choose a direct cremation?
Choosing a direct cremation offers a compassionate and dignified farewell for a loved one, while allowing families to focus on celebrating their loved one's life in a meaningful and personalised way.
Direct cremations provide a simple and respectful alternative without the financial burden or logistical complexities associated with traditional funerals. 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.
Paying in advance
Paying in advance for a funeral plan offers many benefits for both you and your loved ones. A plan provides peace of mind and relieves your family of the financial burden and stress at an already difficult time.
With a funeral plan, you can also financially protect yourself or your loved ones against rising funeral costs. A funeral plan locks in today's prices and avoids inflation.
Plus, prepaid funeral plans allow you to specify your preferences and make personalised arrangements so that your wishes are respected and followed.
Find the right funeral plan for you
Our affordable funeral plans offer the choice of a funeral service at the crematorium or a direct cremation without mourners present.
Answer the quick and simple questions below for an instant quote tailored to your wishes.
Want more information or have questions? Give our compassionate Customer Service Specialists a call on 01543 211997.
Why choose us
Whichever cremation services you choose, your loved one will have a dignified and caring send-off. Our dedicated teams and trusted partners deliver all of the services for our affordable direct cremations and simple funerals.
Babworth Crematorium and grounds
Our cremations offer:
Professional and well-equipped facilities
We use our own private ambulances, mortuary and crematoriums. Looking after your loved one personally guarantees the highest quality of care.
Leading mortuary care
Our team meticulously prepare your loved one for cremation and care for them daily at our state-of-the-art mortuary.
A respectful farewell at the crematorium
Your loved one is brought into the crematorium. At a direct cremation, your chosen music is played and a moment of remembrance is observed.
Ashes returned or scattered
The individually identified and tracked ashes can be personally returned to you within 14 days or scattered at the crematorium.
Caring and attentive team
Here for you 24/7
Outstanding facilities
With 41 crematoriums nationwide
Dedicated funeral arranger
Personally supporting you throughout
Cremation service reviews
We’re proud to offer five-star service. Read our recent verified reviews to see how cared for and supported families feel, whether planning for the future with a pre-paid funeral plan or arranging a respectful send-off for a lost loved one.
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FAQs about our direct cremation services
See our FAQs for answers to our commonly asked questions. If you still have queries about our funeral services or prepaid funeral plans, please get in touch. Our compassionate team of experts is here to support you.
How does a direct cremation differ from a traditional cremation?
A direct cremation is a worry-free, affordable alternative to a traditional cremation, without a procession, service, mourners and viewing of the deceased. Though the cremation is unattended, the deceased is still treated with the highest level of care from beginning to end. A direct cremation is also the least expensive funeral option costing just £1,299 with Distinct Cremations. A traditional cremation on average costs £3,980.*
* The average cost of cremation in 2024 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2025, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Can I attend a direct cremation?
Our direct cremations are unattended cremations which take place without mourners present. However, we do offer a Funeral Service with a choice of a 30 or 60 minute service. You can also choose to have the service led by the family or a professional celebrant.
What happens to the ashes after a direct cremation?
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.
Can you prepay for a direct cremation?
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.
What support is available for planning the funeral?
Our knowledgeable team will assist with all of the essential funeral arrangements. The cremation itself, transport of the deceased, support filling out the required paperwork and arrangments for the funeral service are all included in the price of the plan.
We can also offer additional services at the time of need like printed service stationery. However, these additional extras are not included in the Funeral Service price.
Could a direct cremation be the right option for me?
A direct cremation is the most straightforward and simple way to say goodbye. If you're looking for a fuss, worry and tradition-free funeral, with little stress and low expense, then a direct cremation may be the perfect solution for you.
Get in touch with us for personalised guidance on how a direct cremation could be the right choice for your needs. Call us on 01543 211997 today.
Why should I choose Distinct Cremations ahead of other providers?
At Distinct Cremations, we offer cost-effective direct and funeral services, without cutting any corners. Respectful care for your loved one is prioritised throughout.
We deliver all of the services ourselves including transport, care at our mortuary, cremation at one of our crematoriums and the scattering or return of the ashes. Our caring team is there to offer support throughout with both paperwork and making the arrangements.
As part of the Westerleigh Group, we are one of the UK’s largest cremation service providers. We have 41 crematoriums nationwide and facilitate over 74,000 each year.
What are the benefits of direct cremation?
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:
- Families have flexibility over the farewell process so a loved one's life can be remembered in a personal and unique way.
- Direct cremations are a cost-effective alternative to traditional funerals, allowing families to invest more in the farewell event with the money saved or prioritise their finances elsewhere.
- Families of faith can hold a separate spiritual service instead of a traditional funeral.
- A celebration of life event can be postponed until a later date when everyone involved is emotionally ready.
- Busy and geographically scattered families have additional time to coordinate a gathering.
Arrange a direct cremation
If you need to organise a funeral now, we are open 24/7 and will make all the arrangements from taking the deceased into our care to completing all the paperwork.
Your dedicated Customer Service Specialist will liaise with you to make arrangements for the cremation and keep you updated.
