Direct cremation
Also called: Simple cremation
Cremation with no viewing, no embalming, and no formal service at the funeral home. The body goes from the place of death to the crematory. The family gets the ashes back later.
Direct cremation is the cheapest legal way to handle a body in the United States. Typical price in 2026: $800–$3,000 depending on city and provider. The funeral home transports the body, files the death certificate, performs the cremation, and returns the ashes — usually within one to three weeks.
Choosing direct cremation does not mean skipping a memorial. Most families who pick direct cremation still hold a memorial service later, on their own timeline, anywhere they want, without the funeral home involved. The body is not present at the service because it has already been cremated.
If a funeral home offers cremation, the FTC Funeral Rule requires it to list direct cremation as a separately-priced option — without making you buy a casket — and to make a plain alternative container available. Homes must also quote prices clearly over the phone. If a home won't give you a direct cremation price by phone, call somewhere else.
Some funeral homes quote direct cremation at $1,500 but then add a 'cremation container,' 'crematory fee,' and 'transportation surcharge' that double the bill. Ask for the all-in price before you commit.
- Cremation— Reducing the body to bone fragments and ash using high heat (about 1,400–1,800 °F) over two to three hours. The resulting 'cremated remains' weigh 4–8 pounds for an adult.
- Memorial service— A service to honor the person held without the body present — typically after cremation, direct burial, or body donation.
- GPL (General Price List)— The itemized price list every funeral home in the US must hand you when you ask in person. They must also answer price questions over the phone. (Federal law does not yet require them to email it or post it online — though good homes do.)
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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