A direct cremation service is the simplest type of cremation: the person who has died is collected, cared for, and cremated without a funeral ceremony or mourners present. The cremation usually takes place at a time chosen by the provider using a simple coffin, and the ashes are either returned to the family or scattered in a garden of remembrance. Many people then hold a memorial or celebration of life later, in their own way and on their own timetable.
In this guide, you’ll find exactly how a direct cremation works in the UK, step by step; what’s included and what isn’t; typical costs; the benefits and drawbacks; and how it compares with a traditional funeral. We’ll also cover who it suits (and when it may not), what happens to the ashes, legal paperwork and timings, eco-friendly options, choosing a provider, and prepaid plans versus arranging at need. If you need to organise one today, we’ll outline the immediate steps to take next.
How a direct cremation works, step by step
A direct cremation follows a simple, dignified sequence with no service or attendees. You appoint a provider, who oversees care, paperwork and logistics from collection through to cremation, and returns the ashes or arranges scattering according to your wishes afterwards.
- Contact a provider and agree the arrangement.
- They collect from hospital, hospice, or home.
- Register the death; provider completes required forms.
- Care and preparation; a simple coffin is used.
- Unattended cremation at a time/place they choose.
- Ashes returned/delivered to you, or scattered on request.
What’s included as standard
While packages vary, a direct cremation service typically includes the essentials for a lawful, dignified cremation with no ceremony. Your provider manages care, transport and basic paperwork, arranges the unattended cremation at their chosen time, and ensures the ashes are either returned to you or respectfully scattered.
- Collection and professional care in appropriate facilities.
- Paperwork guidance and liaison with authorities.
- Simple cremation coffin and transport to the crematorium.
- Unattended cremation; ashes returned or scattered on request.
What’s not included (and common add-ons)
Direct cremation is intentionally simple, so many ‘funeral day’ extras aren’t included. Check exclusions and any fees for optional add‑ons or third‑party costs before you commit.
- No ceremony or procession: no minister, venue, hearse, limousines, pallbearers, flowers, or order of service.
- No viewing/embalming; limited choice: provider selects crematorium and time.
Common add‑ons (provider‑dependent):
- Optional limited attendance (where offered).
- Urgent/out‑of‑hours collection.
- Pacemaker/medical device removal.
- Larger coffin; upgraded urns or hand‑delivery of ashes.
Direct cremation costs in the UK
A direct cremation service in the UK typically costs around £1,500. Legal & General reports an average of £1,557 in 2024 (including crematorium, funeral director and doctors’ fees, excluding Scotland), which is significantly lower than a traditional funeral (UK average £4,706, and £5,894 for burial). Actual prices vary by provider and region, because timing and logistics are more flexible than a standard, attended service.
- Location and provider: regional fees and business model.
- Timing: unattended slots (often early) are cheaper.
- Transport needs: distance, home or out‑of‑hours collection.
- Care requirements: e.g., pacemaker/medical device removal.
- Coffin size and urn choice: simple vs upgraded options.
- Ashes arrangements: delivery vs collection or scattering.
Benefits and drawbacks of direct cremation
Choosing a direct cremation service has clear upsides—lower cost, simplicity and flexibility—but it also has trade‑offs. Because there’s no attended ceremony, you’ll want to balance the wishes of the person who has died with what grieving relatives may need. Here’s a quick, honest view to help you decide.
- Cost‑effective: around £1,500 vs £4,700+ on average.
- Simple logistics: less admin, fewer decisions.
- Flexible remembrance: memorial later, your way.
- No service: some miss shared ritual and farewell.
- Limited choice: provider sets time/place; no viewing.
- Family needs: can leave relatives feeling excluded.
How direct cremation compares to a traditional funeral
A direct cremation service removes the “funeral day” elements; a traditional funeral includes an attended service, procession and shared ritual. Both end with cremation, but the experience, cost and organisation differ markedly.
- Ceremony and attendance: Direct cremation is unattended with no service. Traditional funerals have a set ceremony with mourners present.
- Timing and location: Direct cremation uses a slot chosen by the provider (often quieter times). Traditional funerals fix a date/time to suit family and friends.
- Costs: Direct averages around £1,500 (Legal & General cites £1,557 in 2024) vs about £4,706 for a typical funeral; burial averages £5,894.
- Choices and ritual: Direct keeps choices minimal but allows a memorial later. Traditional offers viewing, readings, flowers and pallbearers.
- Logistics: Direct simplifies paperwork and decisions. Traditional involves more arrangements and on‑the‑day coordination.
Who a direct cremation is right for (and when it might not be)
A direct cremation service suits people who value simplicity, privacy and lower cost—especially if the person who died wanted “no fuss”, you plan a personalised memorial later, or relatives live far apart and need time to gather. It feels right for non‑religious families, or when organising a funeral would be overwhelming. It may not be a good fit if relatives need an attended ceremony, viewing or religious rituals on the day; direct cremation is unattended and keeps choices minimal.
Can anyone attend a direct cremation?
Usually, no. By definition a direct cremation is unattended, with no service and no mourners present; the provider selects the time and place. This simplicity helps keep costs down and avoids the pressure of organising a funeral day.
A few providers offer limited attendance for a small number of people (typically for an extra fee), but even then there’s no ceremony or eulogies. If being present matters, plan a memorial or celebration of life afterwards.
What happens to the ashes and your options afterwards
After a direct cremation service, the ashes are placed in a simple container and either returned to you, delivered to your address, or respectfully scattered in a garden of remembrance on request. Providers will advise when the ashes are ready. You can then choose the most meaningful way to remember your loved one, in your own time.
- Keep at home: in the supplied container or an urn.
- Scatter somewhere meaningful: or at the crematorium’s garden.
- Inter the ashes: in a cemetery or memorial plot.
- Hold a memorial later: a personalised celebration when family can gather.
Legal paperwork and practical requirements in the UK
In the UK, a cremation can’t go ahead until the death is registered and the legal/medical paperwork is complete. With a direct cremation service, the provider usually guides you through each step. The applicant (executor or nearest relative) authorises the cremation and gives instructions for the ashes. If a coroner is involved, forms and timings may differ slightly.
- Register the death: obtain the death certificate from the local Registrar.
- Medical certification: provider liaises with doctors and the crematorium for required forms.
- Authorisation: applicant signs the cremation application and ashes instructions.
- Checks and safety: ID verification; consent to remove any pacemaker/implanted device.
Timing and logistics: how long it takes from death to ashes
For a direct cremation service, the journey from death to ashes depends on the admin and logistics. First, the death must be registered and the required medical or coroner paperwork completed. Your provider then schedules an unattended cremation at a suitable slot. After the cremation, ashes are prepared and either delivered to your address or respectfully scattered, according to your signed instructions. Your provider will confirm expected timings at each stage.
Environmental impact and eco-friendly choices
A direct cremation service can be a lighter‑impact choice because there’s no funeral procession, venue setup or floral displays, and providers use a simple coffin with no embalming. While cremation still consumes energy, you can make practical, eco‑minded tweaks that reduce materials and travel.
- Choose a simple, eco coffin or shroud: where accepted, avoid elaborate materials.
- Keep ashes arrangements simple: use the included container or scatter locally.
How to choose a direct cremation provider
Choosing a direct cremation provider is about trust, clarity and practical reach. Before you commit, ask for precise details on care, logistics, timing, and how your wishes for the ashes will be followed.
- Transparent pricing: itemised inclusions/exclusions; clear fees for urgent collection, medical device removal, larger coffin, upgraded urns or hand‑delivery.
- Coverage and availability: 24/7 support and collection across mainland England, Scotland and Wales.
- Care standards: private ambulances, professional mortuary facilities, simple eco‑friendly coffin, trusted crematoria.
- Paperwork help: guidance with registering the death, medical/coroner forms, and ashes instructions.
- Ashes choices: return, personal delivery, or respectful garden‑of‑remembrance scattering, with timings confirmed.
- Attendance policy: confirm if limited attendance is possible and any extra cost.
- Complex cases experience: ability to handle coroner involvement, organ donation or overseas factors.
Prepaid direct cremation plans vs at-need arrangements
A prepaid direct cremation plan lets you arrange and pay in advance, often locking in today’s price and easing admin for your family later. At‑need arrangements are made after a death, using the provider’s current price. With any plan, check exactly what’s included, any third‑party fees, and refund/transfer terms.
- Choose prepaid if planning ahead on a fixed budget and want price certainty.
- Choose at‑need if you need immediate help or prefer full flexibility now.
What to do now if you need to arrange a direct cremation today
If someone has just died and you need a direct cremation today, pause. A reputable provider can act quickly, collect your loved one, and guide the paperwork while you make a few key decisions. Any memorial can happen later, when family are ready.
- Call a provider (24/7): give location, contacts, coroner/devices.
- Register the death: they’ll coordinate medical and cremation forms.
- Authorise and choose ashes: name the applicant, sign instructions, confirm add‑ons/payment.
Key takeaways
Direct cremation is a simple, unattended cremation that keeps decisions, logistics and costs to a minimum while still ensuring dignified, professional care. It suits families who prefer to grieve privately now and gather later for a memorial on their own terms, with ashes returned or respectfully scattered by arrangement.
- Unattended by design: no ceremony; provider selects time and place.
- Lower cost: typically around £1,500, with fewer moving parts.
- Essentials included: collection, care, simple coffin, paperwork help, cremation, ashes.
- Exclusions to note: no procession, viewing or on-the-day service; add‑ons vary.
- Flexibility later: hold a personalised memorial or scattering when you’re ready.
If you’d like clear pricing, 24/7 support and UK‑wide coverage, speak to the team at Go Direct Cremations for compassionate help today.