Process
What happens at a cremation? The process, step by step
By Peter Langdon FCA · Last updated 9 June 2026
Quick answer
At a UK cremation the coffin is committed to a cremator and cremated on its own — never reused and never combined with another — taking roughly 90 minutes to three hours. The ashes are recovered, processed and returned to the family within a few days. The process is identical whether or not there is a service: an attended cremation adds a chapel service, while a direct (unattended) cremation, which has a median UK price of £1,595 (3,018 published CMA price lists), has no service at all.
Before the cremation
The funeral director collects the deceased, completes the legal paperwork required before a cremation can take place, and prepares a coffin. The deceased is then transported to the crematorium for the booked slot. For an attended funeral this is a procession to the crematorium chapel; for a direct cremation the deceased is taken straight to the crematorium with no mourners present.
At the crematorium
If there is a service, mourners gather in the crematorium chapel for a slot that is usually 30 to 45 minutes long. At the end of the service the coffin is committed — sometimes behind a curtain, sometimes lowered or moved out of view. The coffin is then taken to the cremator. There is no requirement for the cremation to happen immediately; it takes place at the next available point in the crematorium’s schedule, always on the same day or shortly after.
What happens to the coffin
The coffin is cremated with the deceased inside it. Under the Code of Cremation Practice followed by UK crematoria, the coffin and its contents are cremated together, only one cremation takes place in a cremator at a time, and the coffin is not opened or reused. The cremation typically takes 90 minutes to three hours depending on the cremator and the deceased.
How ashes are recovered
After the cremation the remains are left to cool, then any metal — such as coffin fittings or surgical implants — is removed. The remaining bone fragments are processed into the fine, uniform ash that families recognise. An identity card travels with the deceased throughout, so the ashes returned belong to one individual. Ashes are usually ready to collect within a few days, after which families decide what to do with them.
Attended versus direct cremation
The cremation itself is the same in both cases. The difference is the service. An attended cremation includes a service at the crematorium with mourners present and is priced accordingly; a direct cremation is unattended, with no service or procession, which is why its median UK price of £1,595 sits well below an attended cremation funeral. Many families choose a direct cremation and hold a separate memorial later, on their own terms.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a cremation take?
The cremation itself usually takes around 90 minutes to three hours depending on the cremator and the deceased, after which the remains cool before the ashes are processed. An attended cremation service at the crematorium chapel is typically booked as a 30- to 45-minute slot. Ashes are usually available to collect within a few days.
Is the coffin cremated with the body?
Yes. In the UK the coffin is cremated with the deceased; it is not reused. The Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities Code of Cremation Practice requires that the coffin and its contents are cremated together and that only one cremation takes place in a cremator at a time, so the ashes returned are those of one individual.
Do you get the right ashes back?
Yes. Under the Code of Cremation Practice followed by UK crematoria, each cremation is carried out separately and the ashes are identified throughout the process using an identity card that travels with the deceased, so the ashes returned to a family are those of their relative.
What is the difference between an attended cremation and a direct cremation?
An attended cremation includes a service at the crematorium with mourners present; a direct cremation is unattended, with no service or procession. The cremation process is the same — only the service differs. Based on 3018 published CMA Standardised Price Lists, the median UK direct cremation costs £1,595, well below a typical attended cremation funeral.
Can you watch the cremation?
Some crematoria allow a small number of family members to witness the coffin being committed to the cremator on request, a practice common in some faith traditions. This should be arranged in advance with the crematorium and funeral director, as not all sites can accommodate it.
Compare cremation prices near you
Search by UK postcode or browse cities to compare published direct and attended cremation prices from funeral directors in your area.
Price figures are aggregated from each provider’s published CMA Standardised Price List, most recent capture 9 November 2026. Process details follow the Code of Cremation Practice used by UK crematoria. Always confirm specifics with the crematorium and funeral director.