Mandai Crematorium: a guide for families

The National Environment Agency (NEA) runs two crematoria there: Mandai Crematorium, part of the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex, and the newer Mandai North Crematorium. There are also private crematoria in Singapore (check with your funeral director which are currently operating), but this guide covers the government ones.

The two crematoria

Mandai Crematorium opened in 2004 at 300 Mandai Road, Singapore 779393. The same complex holds the Mandai Columbarium and an ash collection centre. See our Mandai Columbarium guide if you are placing ashes there.

Mandai North Crematorium began operating on 15 August 2025 at 30 Mandai Avenue, Singapore 778782. NEA built it to add capacity as the number of deaths each year rises. It is designed for six service halls and 18 cremators; when it opened, three halls and nine cremators were in use, with more to be fitted out. Coffins are moved from the hearse to the service hall by automated vehicles, and the ash collection centre has a self-help system. The Garden of Serenity, an inland ash scattering garden, sits next to it.

The two sites are close together. NEA notes the Garden of Serenity at Mandai North can be reached on foot from the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium complex.

Getting there

• Bus 138 (from Ang Mo Kio Interchange) stops at the “Mandai Crematorium” and “Opp Mandai Crematorium” stops on Mandai Road.
• Bus 171 (from Yishun Interchange) stops outside Mandai North Crematorium on Mandai Avenue, at the “Mandai Crematorium & Columbarium” stops.
• By car: Mandai North has a basement carpark (Basement 2). NEA has a video guide on its Mandai North page.

Plan your trip with the MyTransport.SG app. Check which crematorium your booking is at, since they have different addresses.

Booking a cremation

1. Permit to Cremate. This is needed before a slot can be booked. Your funeral director can apply for it.
2. Book a slot through the NEA ePortal, by phone on 6554 5655, or in person at the Mandai Crematorium counters, Monday to Sunday, 8.30am to 4.30pm (closed 1pm to 2pm). The ePortal also shows cremation schedules.
3. Documents. NEA asks for the digital death certificate (or another accepted confirmation of death), the Permit to Cremate, identification for the next-of-kin and applicant, and a letter of authorisation if the applicant is not next-of-kin.
4. Payment by NETS, cash card or credit card.

Changes or cancellations must be made in person at the counter by the applicant or next-of-kin, with the documents.

Fees

At the time of writing, NEA’s cremation fee is $100 for an adult and $50 for a child under 10. It covers use of the service hall, the cremation and collection of the ashes. Your funeral director’s charges are separate.

On the day

• Arrive on time. NEA asks that the cortege arrive within 15 minutes of the start of the booked slot.
• Service hall. Families can hold a short prayer or farewell in the service hall before the cremation. Some families skip the wake entirely and hold only this; see direct cremation in Singapore.
• Leave valuables out of the coffin. Jewellery and other items will not survive, and NEA does not guarantee anything can be recovered.
• Joss paper. Do not place joss paper on top of the coffin or its handles, and do not overload the inside. Do not burn anything on the grass or grounds.
• Coffin size. The coffin must not exceed 210cm long, 60cm wide and 56cm high, or it cannot be accepted. Your funeral director will know this.
• Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.
• Take perishable offerings with you after the service.

Collecting the ashes

• Mandai Crematorium: cremation before 12 noon, collect from 3pm the same day. After 12 noon, collect the next day.
• Mandai North Crematorium: cremation before 11am, collect from 3pm the same day. After 11am, collect the next day.

The ash collection centre at Mandai Crematorium is open Monday to Sunday, 8.30am to 4.30pm (closed 1pm to 2pm). Ashes must be collected within 14 days, or NEA may dispose of them.

What happens to the ashes

Families usually choose one of these:

• A niche in a columbarium. NEA has niches at Mandai and Choa Chu Kang, and there are many private columbaria. See columbaria in Singapore.
• Inland ash scattering at the Garden of Serenity at Mandai North or the Garden of Peace at Choa Chu Kang. Both gardens are open 9am to 5.30pm daily. The NEA booking fee is $320 at the time of writing, and only fine ashes may be scattered.
• Sea scattering at the designated site off Raffles Lighthouse.
• Keeping the ashes at home.

If your family is still deciding, read cremation or burial in Singapore. A funeral director will usually handle the permit, booking and transport; you can find a funeral director in our directory.