An unattended cremation (often called a direct cremation) is a simple cremation carried out without a funeral service or mourners present. The funeral director arranges the paperwork, collects and cares for the person who has died, provides a simple coffin, and the cremation takes place at a set time. Afterwards, the ashes are either scattered in a garden of remembrance or returned to the family, who can then hold a private memorial or celebration of life whenever and wherever they choose. It’s a dignified option that removes ceremony and cuts the cost.
This guide sets out the real cost of an unattended cremation in the UK in 2025. You’ll find a clear explanation of how it works, the current average price, the cheapest headline deals from well‑known providers, and exactly what’s included (and what isn’t). We’ll flag hidden extras to watch for, regional availability, ways to pay, essential paperwork and the coroner’s role. We’ll also cover low‑cost options if you wish to attend, a quick buyer’s checklist, who this option suits, and greener choices—plus a brief look at Go Direct Cremations. Let’s start with the basics.
How an unattended cremation works
With an unattended cremation, everything essential happens quietly behind the scenes. After you appoint a provider, they collect your loved one (typically from a hospital or coroner’s mortuary), complete the necessary paperwork, and care for them in professional facilities. A simple coffin is provided and a cremation date is set; many providers can let you know the exact time so you can mark it privately. At the crematorium, the coffin is taken into the chapel and placed on the catafalque for a brief committal (often under 15 minutes), then the cremation proceeds. Ashes are either scattered in a garden of remembrance or returned.
- You contact a provider: Arrange over the phone, 24/7 in many cases.
- Collection and care: Transfer into care; preparation and a simple coffin.
- Paperwork handled: Forms and, where needed, doctor’s certification arranged.
- Unattended committal: Quiet, short chapel committal before cremation.
- Ashes options: Scattering in gardens or return to family in a simple container.
Average UK prices in 2025
In 2025, most unattended cremations bought at the time of need cost roughly £900–£1,500, varying by provider and any extras. For context, SunLife’s 2021 data put the UK average direct cremation at £1,554, while a cremation with a service averaged £3,765. Today’s published tariffs show a clear low‑cost tier and a cluster around £1.2k–£1.4k.
- Co-op Funeralcare: £1,395 (England, Wales, Scotland).
- Simplicity: from £1,149.
- DirectCremation.co.uk: £895 (claims lowest in England & Wales).
- Lincolnshire Co-op: from £1,495.
- Charles Stephens: £2,000.
Note: prepaid plan prices (often £1,885–£1,995) cover future services rather than today’s at‑need fees—compare like for like.
Cheapest providers and headline prices
If you’re chasing the lowest unattended cremation cost, the cheapest widely published at‑need price we can verify is £895 from DirectCremation.co.uk (which they claim is the lowest in England & Wales). Most national options sit between about £1,149 and £1,495. Some providers headline very low “from” figures or sell prepaid plans, so make sure you’re comparing like‑for‑like at‑need prices with cremation fees included.
- DirectCremation.co.uk: £895 (at‑need; England & Wales)
- Simplicity: from £1,149 (includes cremation fees and simple coffin)
- Co‑op Funeralcare: £1,395 (England, Wales, Scotland)
- Lincolnshire Co‑op: from £1,495
- Respect Direct Cremations: adverts “from £450”; Basic Adult Cremation Fee £995 (includes FD charges and cremation fee)
- Charles Stephens: £2,000 (Unattended Cremation package)
Note: plan prices such as £1,885–£1,995 are prepaid and not directly comparable with today’s at‑need fees.
What’s included and what’s not
What’s covered in an unattended cremation cost varies by provider, so read the small print. Most packages include the essentials needed for a dignified, unattended cremation, but several common extras can move the final price up. Use the lists below to check what you’re actually buying.
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Typically included:
- Basic paperwork and guidance through formalities
- Collection from a hospital or coroner’s mortuary and professional care
- A simple coffin
- Cremation fees
- Ashes scattered in a garden of remembrance
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Often not included or charged extra:
- Collection from home, hospice or care home (e.g., £250)
- Out‑of‑hours collection (e.g., £195)
- Doctor’s certification (included by some; charged by others, e.g., £82)
- Pacemaker removal (e.g., £100) and larger/bespoke coffin (e.g., £250)
- Personal delivery/return of ashes (e.g., £91–£100) and upgraded urns
- Viewing/embalming, chapel visits, hearse, limousines, venue or officiant
Cost factors and hidden fees to watch for
Headline prices rarely tell the whole story. The final unattended cremation cost depends on where the person is resting, timing, clinical needs and how you want the ashes handled. Small line items can add up quickly. Check quotes for the following common add‑ons and conditions so you’re comparing like‑for‑like.
- Collection location: Home/hospice vs hospital often costs extra (e.g., £250).
- Out‑of‑hours collection: Typical surcharge (e.g., £195).
- Doctor’s certification: Included by some; others charge (e.g., £82).
- Implanted devices: Pacemaker removal (around £100).
- Coffin size/bariatric care: Larger/custom coffin (e.g., £250). Simplicity won’t charge extra for bariatric coffins.
- Ashes handling: Scattering usually included; personal delivery/return often £91–£100; upgraded urns extra.
- Mileage/region: Some add mileage; others have flat mainland pricing.
- Payment terms: Upfront or tight deadlines (e.g., pay within 48 hours at Co‑op).
Regional coverage and availability
Coverage varies by provider. National options include Simplicity (mainland Great Britain) and Co-op (England, Wales, Scotland). DirectCremation.co.uk collects from any hospital or mortuary in England and Wales; home/hospice pickups cost extra. Go Direct Cremations offers hospital collection across mainland England, Scotland and Wales. Regional funeral homes (e.g., Lincolnshire Co-op) serve local areas. Check for mileage limits or flat mainland pricing—both can shift your unattended cremation cost.
Paying for an unattended cremation
Payment terms differ by provider, so confirm them upfront. For at‑need unattended cremations, many require settlement before the cremation: Simplicity takes debit/credit card over the phone and must be paid in advance, while Co‑op requires full payment within 48 hours. Some advertise no upfront deposit (e.g., DirectCremation.co.uk). If you qualify for the UK Funeral Expenses Payment—usually £1,000 plus the cremation fee—it can cover most or all of a low‑cost direct cremation with providers that accept it. Prepaid plans allow instalments for a future funeral, not an immediate need.
Legal paperwork, doctor’s fees and the coroner
Your provider will guide you through the essentials: registering the death, cremation paperwork, and arranging any required medical certification. Where the death is straightforward, a doctor’s cremation certificate is needed; some providers include this, while others charge (for example, DirectCremation.co.uk lists £82 for doctor’s certification, a BMA‑set fee). If the death is referred to the coroner, cremation waits until the coroner releases the person, so timescales may change. Some include collection from a coroner’s mortuary in the base price—for instance, DirectCremation.co.uk includes hospital or coroner collection in its £895 fee.
Alternatives if you want to attend
If you’d prefer to be present, look for pared‑back attended options that keep costs low while allowing time in the chapel. For example, Simplicity’s Intimate Funeral is £1,395 for a short chapel time for up to 12 people, and their Family Led Funeral starts at £1,895 for a full‑length service at a CMG crematorium. Both include the return of ashes at no extra cost.
How to compare providers: a buyer’s checklist
To get the best unattended cremation cost, insist on a like‑for‑like, itemised at‑need quote and ask what could change the final price. Use this quick checklist to compare essentials, common extras, and terms before you decide.
- At‑need vs prepaid: Today’s service or a future plan?
- Cremation fee included: Yes/No.
- Doctor’s certification: Included or charged (around £82).
- Collection location: Hospital included; home/hospice often extra (about £250).
- Out‑of‑hours pickup: Surcharges (e.g., ~£195).
- Coverage & mileage: Nationwide flat price or limits/fees.
- Coffin size/bariatric: Any additional charges.
- Implanted devices: Pacemaker removal fee.
- Ashes return: Scattering included; delivery/urn costs (£90–£100 typical).
- Payment terms: Deposits, pay‑by deadlines (e.g., 48 hours), methods.
- Timescales & updates: Will you get the cremation date/time?
- Support & facilities: 24/7 contact; own mortuaries/crematoria or partners.
- Benefits accepted: UK Funeral Expenses Payment?
Who an unattended cremation is right for (and when it isn’t)
An unattended cremation suits families who want simplicity, lower cost, and freedom to hold a personal memorial later; it’s also right where the person didn’t want fuss, or distance/timing makes attendance hard. It may not suit those needing a service with mourners present, religious rites, viewing or procession, or when family conflict requires a shared ceremony for closure.
Environmental impact and sustainability choices
An unattended cremation typically carries a smaller footprint than a full funeral or burial: no cortege, venue or limousines, fewer materials, and no grave. Many providers supply simple, eco‑conscious options—DirectCremation.co.uk includes an environmentally friendly wooden coffin and sustainably sourced wooden urns, and scattering in gardens of remembrance avoids land use. To minimise impact further, opt for simple containers, limit travel where possible, and keep add‑ons to a minimum.
Go Direct Cremations at a glance
Go Direct Cremations provides a dignified, unattended cremation with clear, transparent pricing and compassionate 24/7 support. They handle the essentials end‑to‑end so families can plan a personal memorial in their own time, without the pressure or cost of a traditional service. Service spans mainland England, Scotland and Wales, with hospital collection included.
- Nationwide hospital collection: across England, Scotland and Wales.
- Professional care: paperwork, washing and mortuary facilities handled.
- Eco options and ashes: eco coffin, simple container; scatter or personal delivery.
Conclusion
An unattended cremation keeps things simple, dignified and affordable, letting you mark the moment privately and plan a memorial in your own time. In 2025, realistic at‑need prices sit roughly between £900 and £1,500 (e.g., £895–£1,495 among major providers). The smart move is to compare like‑for‑like: check whether cremation and doctor’s fees are included, where collection is covered, any out‑of‑hours or ashes‑delivery charges, regional limits, and payment terms.
If you want clear pricing and caring, round‑the‑clock support, Go Direct Cremations handles everything essential—national hospital collection, paperwork, professional care, eco‑conscious coffin, and flexible ashes options—so you can focus on what matters. For straightforward guidance and a no‑pressure quote, visit Go Direct Cremations.
