diff --git a/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/boolean.rs b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/boolean.rs
index 654c2c492c678..4e32c82dad7c2 100644
--- a/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/boolean.rs
+++ b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/boolean.rs
@@ -1,86 +1,98 @@
 use arrow::array::{Array, BooleanArray};
 use arrow::bitmap::MutableBitmap;
 
-use super::UniqueKernel;
-
-fn bool_unique_fold<'a>(
-    fst: &'a BooleanArray,
-    arrs: impl Iterator<Item = &'a BooleanArray>,
-) -> BooleanArray {
-    // can be None, Some(true), Some(false)
-    //
-    // We assign values to each value
-    // None        = 1
-    // Some(false) = 2
-    // Some(true)  = 3
-    //
-    // And keep track of 2 things
-    // - `found_set`: which values have already appeared
-    // - `order`:     in which order did the values appear
+use super::RangedUniqueKernel;
 
-    #[inline(always)]
-    fn append_arr(arr: &BooleanArray, found_set: &mut u32, order: &mut u32) {
-        for v in arr {
-            let value = v.map_or(1, |v| 2 + u32::from(v));
-            let nulled_value = if *found_set & (1 << value) != 0 {
-                0
-            } else {
-                value
-            };
-
-            *order |= nulled_value << (found_set.count_ones() * 2);
-            *found_set |= 1 << value;
-
-            if *found_set == 0b1110 {
-                break;
-            }
-        }
+const fn to_value(scalar: Option<bool>) -> u8 {
+    match scalar {
+        None => 1,
+        Some(false) => 2,
+        Some(true) => 3,
     }
+}
 
-    let mut found_set = 0u32;
-    let mut order = 0u32;
+impl RangedUniqueKernel for BooleanArray {
+    type Scalar<'a> = bool;
+    type Range<'a> = ();
 
-    append_arr(fst, &mut found_set, &mut order);
-    for arr in arrs {
-        append_arr(arr, &mut found_set, &mut order);
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn to_value<'a>(scalar: Option<Self::Scalar<'a>>, _: Self::Range<'a>) -> u8 {
+        to_value(scalar)
     }
 
-    let mut values = MutableBitmap::with_capacity(3);
-    let validity = if found_set & 0b10 != 0 {
-        let mut validity = MutableBitmap::with_capacity(3);
-        while order != 0 {
-            values.push(order & 0b11 > 2);
-            validity.push(order & 0b11 > 1);
-            order >>= 2;
-        }
-        Some(validity.freeze())
-    } else {
-        while order != 0 {
-            values.push(order & 0b11 > 2);
-            order >>= 2;
+    fn unique_fold<'a>(fst: &'a Self, others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>, _: Self::Range<'a>) -> Self {
+        const ALL_FOUND: u32 = 0b1110;
+
+        // We keep track of 2 things
+        // - `found_set`: which values have already appeared
+        // - `order`:     in which order did the values appear
+
+        #[inline(always)]
+        fn append_arr(arr: &BooleanArray, found_set: &mut u32, order: &mut u32) {
+            if arr.len() == 0 {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            let null_count = arr.null_count();
+
+            if arr.len() == null_count {
+                *found_set |= 1 << to_value(None); // None
+                *order = (*order << 2) | u32::from(to_value(None));
+                return;
+            }
+
+            for v in arr {
+                let value = u32::from(to_value(v));
+                let nulled_value = if *found_set & (1 << value) != 0 {
+                    0
+                } else {
+                    value
+                };
+
+                *order |= nulled_value << (found_set.count_ones() * 2);
+                *found_set |= 1 << value;
+
+                if *found_set == ALL_FOUND {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
         }
-        None
-    };
 
-    let values = values.freeze();
+        let mut found_set = 0u32;
+        let mut order = 0u32;
 
-    BooleanArray::new(fst.data_type().clone(), values, validity)
-}
+        append_arr(fst, &mut found_set, &mut order);
+        for arr in others {
+            append_arr(arr, &mut found_set, &mut order);
+        }
 
-impl UniqueKernel for BooleanArray {
-    fn unique_fold<'a>(fst: &'a Self, others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>) -> Self {
-        bool_unique_fold(fst, others)
-    }
+        let mut values = MutableBitmap::with_capacity(3);
+        let validity = if found_set & 0b10 != 0 {
+            let mut validity = MutableBitmap::with_capacity(3);
+            while order != 0 {
+                values.push(order & 0b11 > 2);
+                validity.push(order & 0b11 > 1);
+                order >>= 2;
+            }
+            Some(validity.freeze())
+        } else {
+            while order != 0 {
+                values.push(order & 0b11 > 2);
+                order >>= 2;
+            }
+            None
+        };
+
+        let values = values.freeze();
 
-    fn unique(&self) -> Self {
-        Self::unique_fold(self, [].iter())
+        BooleanArray::new(fst.data_type().clone(), values, validity)
     }
 
-    fn unique_sorted(&self) -> Self {
-        Self::unique_fold(self, [].iter())
+    fn unique<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> Self {
+        Self::unique_fold(self, [].iter(), range)
     }
 
-    fn n_unique(&self) -> usize {
+    fn n_unique<'a>(&'a self, _: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize {
         if self.len() == 0 {
             return 0;
         }
@@ -106,8 +118,8 @@ impl UniqueKernel for BooleanArray {
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn n_unique_non_null(&self) -> usize {
-        self.n_unique() - usize::from(self.null_count() > 0)
+    fn n_unique_non_null<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize {
+        self.n_unique(range) - usize::from(self.null_count() > 0)
     }
 }
 
@@ -122,7 +134,7 @@ fn test_boolean_distinct_count() {
                 <Option<Vec<bool>>>::map($validity, |v| Bitmap::from_iter(v));
             let arr =
                 BooleanArray::new(ArrowDataType::Boolean, Bitmap::from_iter($values), validity);
-            assert_eq!(arr.n_unique(), $dc);
+            assert_eq!(arr.n_unique(()), $dc);
         };
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/mod.rs b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/mod.rs
index 30e6770943d4b..22b8d2d5cb1c4 100644
--- a/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use arrow::array::Array;
 
-/// Kernel to calculate the number of unique elements
-pub trait UniqueKernel: Array {
+/// Kernel to calculate the number of unique elements where the elements are already sorted.
+pub trait SortedUniqueKernel: Array {
     /// Calculate the set of unique elements in `fst` and `others` and fold the result into one
     /// array.
     fn unique_fold<'a>(fst: &'a Self, others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>) -> Self;
@@ -10,8 +10,24 @@ pub trait UniqueKernel: Array {
     /// `self`.
     fn unique(&self) -> Self;
 
-    /// Calculate the set of unique elements in [`Self`] where `self` is sorted.
-    fn unique_sorted(&self) -> Self;
+    /// Calculate the number of unique elements in [`Self`]
+    ///
+    /// A null is also considered a unique value
+    fn n_unique(&self) -> usize;
+
+    /// Calculate the number of unique non-null elements in [`Self`]
+    fn n_unique_non_null(&self) -> usize;
+}
+
+/// Kernel to calculate the number of unique elements
+pub trait HashSetUniqueKernel: Array {
+    /// Calculate the set of unique elements in `fst` and `others` and fold the result into one
+    /// array.
+    fn unique_fold<'a>(fst: &'a Self, others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>) -> Self;
+
+    /// Calculate the set of unique elements in [`Self`] where we have no further information about
+    /// `self`.
+    fn unique(&self) -> Self;
 
     /// Calculate the number of unique elements in [`Self`]
     ///
@@ -22,4 +38,34 @@ pub trait UniqueKernel: Array {
     fn n_unique_non_null(&self) -> usize;
 }
 
+/// Kernel to calculate the number of unique elements where elements are in a small range of
+/// values.
+pub trait RangedUniqueKernel: Array {
+    type Scalar<'a>;
+    type Range<'a>;
+
+    fn to_value<'a>(scalar: Option<Self::Scalar<'a>>, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> u8;
+
+    /// Calculate the set of unique elements in `fst` and `others` and fold the result into one
+    /// array.
+    fn unique_fold<'a>(
+        fst: &'a Self,
+        others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>,
+        range: Self::Range<'a>,
+    ) -> Self;
+
+    /// Calculate the set of unique elements in [`Self`] where we have no further information about
+    /// `self`.
+    fn unique<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> Self;
+
+    /// Calculate the number of unique elements in [`Self`]
+    ///
+    /// A null is also considered a unique value
+    fn n_unique<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize;
+
+    /// Calculate the number of unique non-null elements in [`Self`]
+    fn n_unique_non_null<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize;
+}
+
 mod boolean;
+mod primitive;
diff --git a/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/primitive.rs b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/primitive.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..1b7477dee79d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/polars-compute/src/unique/primitive.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+use std::ops::{Add, Sub, RangeInclusive};
+
+use arrow::array::PrimitiveArray;
+use arrow::bitmap::MutableBitmap;
+use arrow::types::NativeType;
+use num_traits::FromPrimitive;
+// use polars_utils::total_ord::TotalOrd;
+
+use super::RangedUniqueKernel;
+
+const SEEN_ALL: u128 = !0;
+const SEEN_NONE_MASK: u128 = 1;
+
+fn append_arr<T: NativeType>(arr: &PrimitiveArray<T>, seen: &mut u128, range: (RangeInclusive<T>, bool))
+where
+    T: Add<T, Output = T> + Sub<T, Output = T> + FromPrimitive
+{
+    for v in arr {
+        *seen |= 1 << <PrimitiveArray<T>>::to_value(v.copied(), range.clone());
+
+        if *seen == SEEN_ALL {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T: NativeType> RangedUniqueKernel for PrimitiveArray<T>
+where
+    T: Add<T, Output = T> + Sub<T, Output = T> + FromPrimitive
+{
+    type Scalar<'a> = T;
+    type Range<'a> = (RangeInclusive<T>, bool);
+
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn to_value<'a>(scalar: Option<Self::Scalar<'a>>, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> u8 {
+        // debug_assert!({
+        //     (*range.0.end() - *range.0.start()).to_le_bytes()[0] < 128 + u8::from(range.1)
+        // });
+        // debug_assert!({
+        //     let mut is_zero = true;
+        //     for b in (*range.0.end() - *range.0.start()).to_le_bytes().as_ref().iter().skip(1) {
+        //         is_zero &= *b == 0;
+        //     }
+        //     is_zero
+        // });
+        //
+        match scalar {
+            None => {
+                debug_assert!(!range.1);
+                0
+            },
+            Some(v) => {
+                // debug_assert!(<T as TotalOrd>::tot_le(&v, range.0.end()));
+                // debug_assert!(<T as TotalOrd>::tot_ge(&v, range.0.start()));
+
+                (v - *range.0.start()).to_le_bytes()[0] + u8::from(range.1)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn unique_fold<'a>(
+        fst: &'a Self,
+        others: impl Iterator<Item = &'a Self>,
+        range: Self::Range<'a>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let mut seen = 0u128;
+
+        append_arr(fst, &mut seen, range.clone());
+        for arr in others {
+            if seen == SEEN_ALL {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            append_arr(arr, &mut seen, range.clone());
+        }
+        
+        let num_values = seen.count_ones() as usize;
+        let mut values = Vec::with_capacity(num_values);
+
+        let (values, validity) = if range.1 && seen & SEEN_NONE_MASK != 0 {
+            let mut validity = MutableBitmap::with_capacity(num_values);
+
+            values.push(T::zeroed());
+            validity.push(false);
+            seen >>= 1;
+
+            let mut offset = 0u8;
+            while seen != 0 {
+                let shift = seen.trailing_zeros();
+                offset += shift as u8;
+                values.push(*range.0.start() + T::from_u8(offset).unwrap());
+                validity.push(true);
+
+                seen >>= shift + 1;
+                offset += 1;
+            }
+            
+            (values, Some(validity.freeze()))
+        } else {
+            seen >>= u8::from(range.1);
+
+            let mut offset = 0u8;
+            while seen != 0 {
+                let shift = seen.trailing_zeros();
+                offset += shift as u8;
+                values.push(*range.0.start() + T::from_u8(offset).unwrap());
+
+                seen >>= shift + 1;
+                offset += 1;
+            }
+
+            (values, None)
+        };
+
+        PrimitiveArray::new(fst.data_type().clone(), values.into(), validity)
+    }
+
+    fn unique<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> Self {
+        Self::unique_fold(self, [].iter(), range)
+    }
+
+    fn n_unique<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize {
+        let mut seen = 0u128;
+        append_arr(self, &mut seen, range.clone());
+        seen.count_ones() as usize
+    }
+
+    fn n_unique_non_null<'a>(&'a self, range: Self::Range<'a>) -> usize {
+        let mut seen = 0u128;
+        append_arr(self, &mut seen, range.clone());
+        seen &= !SEEN_NONE_MASK;
+        seen.count_ones() as usize
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/polars-core/src/chunked_array/ops/unique/mod.rs b/crates/polars-core/src/chunked_array/ops/unique/mod.rs
index af351e02ca736..90f3cda53fda2 100644
--- a/crates/polars-core/src/chunked_array/ops/unique/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/polars-core/src/chunked_array/ops/unique/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use std::hash::Hash;
 
 use arrow::bitmap::MutableBitmap;
+use num_traits::FromPrimitive;
 use polars_utils::total_ord::{ToTotalOrd, TotalHash};
 
 use crate::hashing::_HASHMAP_INIT_SIZE;
@@ -120,6 +121,23 @@ where
                 }
             },
             IsSorted::Not => {
+                let md = self.metadata();
+                match (md.get_min_value(), md.get_max_value()) {
+                    (Some(min), Some(max)) => {
+                        if *max - *min <= <T::Native as FromPrimitive>::from_u8(127).unwrap() {
+                            let mut iter = self.downcast_iter();
+                            let fst = iter.next().unwrap();
+                            let chunk = <PrimitiveArray<T::Native> as polars_compute::unique::RangedUniqueKernel>::unique_fold(
+                                fst,
+                                iter,
+                                (*min..=*max, self.null_count() > 0),
+                            );
+                            return Ok(Self::with_chunk(self.name(), chunk));
+                        }
+                    },
+                    _ => {},
+                };
+
                 let sorted = self.sort(false);
                 sorted.unique()
             },
@@ -244,7 +262,7 @@ impl ChunkUnique for BooleanChunked {
             ));
         };
 
-        let unique = polars_compute::unique::UniqueKernel::unique_fold(arr, iter);
+        let unique = polars_compute::unique::RangedUniqueKernel::unique_fold(arr, iter, ());
 
         Ok(Self::with_chunk(self.name(), unique))
     }