Understanding what is meant by a ‘direct cremation’.
A ‘direct cremation’ – also known as a simple or unattended funeral – is a funeral without a crematorium or church ceremony. But here’s why it’s not a pure cremation.
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Do you need to arrange a pure cremation now?
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With the original pure cremation being so popular, in recent years many funeral providers have begun to offer what they call a ‘direct cremation’ – a simple, no fuss cremation without a funeral.
These direct cremations have some similarities with a pure cremation, but there are some important differences you should be aware of.
With a pure cremation, when someone dies, the family will call us ‘direct’. Which means they don’t need a funeral director – and they don’t have to pay any funeral director fees.
Instead, we collect the person who has died in a private ambulance and bring them into our care. We have all our own state-of-the-art facilities, so someone can rest at peace until their cremation, which takes place at our own crematoria set in peaceful parkland.
Family can still have a service with a pure cremation
Family can hire the Ceremony Hall at our crematoria if they wish, to hold a service, but usually they choose to arrange a separate send-off at a time and place of their own choosing.
So, because there are no funeral director fees and no crematorium ceremony, a pure cremation is much more affordable than a traditional funeral – on average, saving over £2,000.
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With Pure Cremation, families can arrange any send-off, funeral service or celebration of life they wish
‘Direct cremations’ may cut corners
The ‘direct cremations’ that many funeral providers now offer are not the same as a pure cremation.
For one thing, many of these direct cremations are offered by funeral directors – so you’re not actually going ‘direct’, and you’ll still have to pay a funeral director’s fee.
Instead, to be as cheap as possible, a ‘direct cremation’ often cuts costs in areas that you may not be comfortable with.
For instance, most direct cremation providers will say ‘simple coffin’ or ‘suitable coffin’, but if you ask what it is actually made of, you’ll discover it’s a cheap, veneer coffin that may have plastic handles (and isn’t environmentally-friendly).
Whereas, at Pure Cremation, everyone gets their own, brand-new, solid wood coffin (usually cedar) that is sustainably sourced.
Most direct cremations also return ashes back to family in a ‘temporary ashes container’ – which is their language for something made of cardboard. Whereas at Pure Cremation, we use a permanent (but environmentally-friendly) urn that family can keep.
Check if everything you need is included
Finally, one more thing to look out for is that some ‘direct cremation’ providers advertise a low price… that may not include everything you need.
With a Pure Cremation funeral plan, everything you need for a dignified, respectful cremation is included (we call it the Pure Price Promise). Other companies may charge the family extra costs, for instance to collect someone from their home (instead of a hospital) or for a larger coffin, or to return jewellery. Some, like Co-op Funeralcare, don’t deliver the ashes back to a family's home; the ashes can either be scattered or family must collect them (whereas we will bring them back to families, at their home, personally and by hand in the urn).
So, a ‘direct cremation’ is not the same as a pure cremation. And we’re very proud of that fact.
Is a pure cremation an 'unattended' funeral?
The term ‘unattended’ means family don’t attend a ceremony at the crematorium (though with us, they can arrange one if they want).
A pure, cremation only funeral doesn’t mean there is no-one in attendance at the cremation – the professionals who work at the crematorium will be there, ensuring that a respectful, dignified cremation takes place.
In fact, at Pure Cremation, our experienced, award-winning staff bow to each person in their care, before the cremation.
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We visit every family personally, to give them their loved ones' ashes in a proper urn
Does a ‘direct cremation’ mean someone goes ‘direct’ to the funeral provider?
No, it doesn’t – that may have been how it was first meant, but now many funeral directors offer ‘direct cremations’, which means they will collect the person who has died, and often keep them at their own premises, rather than a climate-controlled, secure mortuary.
What’s more, many of the companies you might see selling ‘direct cremation funeral plans’ don’t provide the funeral themselves, because they don’t own any facilities. Which means they may collect the deceased but then transport them to someone else’s crematorium for that other company to perform the cremation.
How can I arrange a pure cremation?
If someone has died and you need help arranging a direct cremation funeral, you can call us at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year – there’s always a friendly, helpful specialist waiting to support you.
Just call us free on 0800 160 18 81.
Here’s what you can then expect:
- We’ll collect the person who has died in a private ambulance and bring them into our care
- You’ll speak to the same person from our Care Support team throughout, so you don’t have to repeat yourself to different people or ask the same question twice
- You will have some forms to sign and send to us
- We will perform a dignified, respectful cremation in our own crematoria set in beautiful parkland
- We will then hand-deliver the ashes back to you in an urn, or if you prefer,
they can be scattered in our Garden of Remembrance.
How can I get a pure cremation funeral plan?
It’s easy to get a free quote from Britain’s most popular funeral plan. Just visit our plan page to find out more. Or, you can call us free on 0800 160 18 81 – our friendly, UK team will be delighted to help you.
Our experienced team treat families like family and work to the highest standards
What are the biggest benefits of a pure cremation?
A pure cremation may be chosen by someone who doesn’t have family to attend a ceremony. But it is also often chosen by people who have lots of friends and family, so there is no restriction on who can attend a separate service.
Pure cremations are also popular with people who want a non-religious funeral – although we also have many customers who are religious, and whose faith is honoured in the service their family arrange for them, singing hymns and saying prayers.
The five main advantages are:
1. Avoids the unnecessary expense of a hearse, flowers, minister and so on
2. Takes pressure off family having to make difficult choices
3. Guarantees the highest standards of care and service that you might not get from a direct cremation
4. Allows family to arrange any send-off they wish, wherever they want
5. Can be less than half the price of a traditional funeral
Get a free Pure Cremation funeral plan quote:
Five facts about pure cremation
1. A pure cremation is a caring, respectful choice made with love and care
While some believe a direct cremation is for people who don’t care, the reality is often the opposite. A traditional funeral includes a service that you may not get much say in, for example it will be at the crematorium, there will be a time limit and a limit on who can come and what you can do. With a pure cremation, family can arrange any service or send-off they wish. And the advantage is, there are no difficult decisions to make about coffin handles or which flowers, whether to have a limousine and so on.
Plus, people who’ve bought a plan from us – which is much more affordable than a traditional funeral – have said they chose us because, ‘I’d rather my money went to my family, rather than a funeral director’.
With Pure Cremation, families can arrange any send-off, funeral service or celebration of life they wish
2. Everyone has their own new, high quality, solid-wood coffin
There is a common misconception that you don’t get a coffin with this service, but that is not true. At Pure Cremation, everyone has their own, solid wood, environmentally-friendly coffin which they are placed in as soon as they are in our care.
They rest peacefully in their coffin at our mortuary until the cremation, and then they are given a unique ceramic disc which survives the cremation and guarantees the identity of their ashes.
Someone arriving into our care, where they will rest peacefully until their cremation
Someone arriving into our care, where they will rest peacefully until their cremation
2. Everyone has their own new, high quality, solid-wood coffin
There is a common misconception that you don’t get a coffin with this service, but that is not true. At Pure Cremation, everyone has their own, solid wood coffin which they are placed in as soon as they are in our care.
They rest peacefully in their coffin at our mortuary until the cremation, and then they are given a unique ceramic disc which survives the cremation and guarantees the identity of their ashes.
3. Our team really care about what they do
Because direct cremation is sometimes called an "unattended cremation," some believe there is no one there. However, it doesn’t mean there’s no-one at the crematorium, it just means family don’t have a service there. Our professional staff are always in attendance, performing the cremation with the utmost care and respect.
In fact, in a traditional funeral, although the coffin may go behind a curtain during the ceremony (known as the ‘committal’), the cremation doesn’t usually happen there and then – it may be performed several days later. In that regard, a traditional funeral is no different from a direct cremation – family aren’t there during the actual cremation.
Pure Cremation also offers family the option to have a service in our own crematoria, whether in our chapel or dedicated rooms, if they wish.
Staff at our Charlton Park Crematorium, with its own Garden of Remembrance in 10 acres of parkland
Our viewing gallery, for families who wish to witness the committal just before the cremation
4. A pure cremation can include personal touches
On collection of a loved one, families provide us with personal items to place with them, and we can even arrange for families to witness the start of the cremation if their faith requires it.
Because you aren't restricted to a ceremony at a crematorium, you have the freedom to arrange a send-off in a location and style that is much more personal to the individual.
4. A pure cremation can include personal touches
Families ask us to place personal items with their loved one, and we can even arrange for families to witness the start of the cremation if their faith requires it.
Because you aren't restricted to a ceremony at a crematorium, you have the freedom to arrange a send-off in a location and style that is much more personal to the individual.
One of our biodegradable urns with its ceramic disc for complete peace of mind
5. We help families remember loved ones their way
Cremations are far more common than burials nowadays, which means you’re not likely to have a gravestone, but there will be an urn containing the person’s ashes. This could be kept at a family member’s home, or in a columbarium (typically a room in a church or cemetery building with ‘niches’, which are cubbyholes for holding urns).
At Pure Cremation, we return the ashes in a biodegradable urn, which means that it can be buried and a memorial stone could be placed there, or a tree planted to remember the deceased.
In addition, Pure Cremation gives everyone in their care an individually-numbered unique ceramic disc. Because it is ceramic, it survives the cremation intact and is used to guarantee the identity of the person’s ashes. This is included with the urn when it is returned to loved ones, as another token to remember them by.
One of our biodegradable urns with its ceramic disc for complete peace of mind
Frequently asked questions
What is a direct cremation plan?
A direct cremation funeral plan simply means a funeral plan for a direct cremation, so there’s no ceremony at the crematorium and the price is likely to be much lower than a traditional funeral.
Can I have a direct cremation near me?
You can – although local funeral directors typically don’t have their own crematorium, so although the cremation might be reasonably close to where you live, it won’t actually be performed by the funeral director.
Wherever you live in mainland Britain, you can have a pure cremation. We will collect someone from anyone in mainland Britain and bring them into our care, performing the cremation at our own crematoria.
We then return the ashes, personally and by hand to loved ones, so they never have to travel anywhere – and of course they can arrange a send-off nearby, perhaps in a place that was meaningful to the person who has died.
What is the cheapest direct cremation?
A direct cremation may be less than half the price of a traditional funeral.
It’s always best to look at several companies and decide who you trust to provide the funeral you want – and if you’re buying a plan so that family don’t have to pay anything or make any arrangements, choose a plan that includes everything you need.
At Pure Cremation, our funeral plans come with the ‘Pure Price Promise’ that means family will never be asked to pay anything more for the cremation – we make all the arrangements and there’s nothing for families to pay.
How do I arrange a direct cremation?
You can arrange a direct cremation with your local funeral director if you wish. However, bear in mind that’s not ‘going direct’ as they are unlikely to have their own crematorium and will charge funeral director fees to make the arrangements.
Or, if someone has died and you’d prefer a pure cremation, you can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We can help relieve pressure and immediate stress by ensuring that the deceased has a dignified direct cremation at our highly-regarded crematoria, set in beautiful parkland.
Need help arranging a funeral now? Call 0800 160 1881
What is it meant by unattended?
9 out of 10 pure cremations are unattended at Pure Cremation, which means there are no mourners present for a funeral service at the crematorium or at the cremation itself. Our experienced cremation technicians will carry out the process with utmost respect and without anyone present – whether that is family or friends.
Do you need a coffin for a direct cremation?
Yes. In the UK, cremations will include a coffin, and that includes direct cremations. At Pure Cremation, everyone in our care has their own solid wood coffin (usually cedar). Some other providers only offer ‘wood veneer’ coffins, but all direct cremations do have a coffin.
Which coffins are best for cremations?
A wide range of coffins can be used – wood (solid or veneer), wicker, bamboo or even cardboard coffins. At Pure Cremation we only ever use solid wood coffins (usually cedar). Ideally, a coffin will not include metal parts that would not be cremated. Environmentally-friendly coffins are also a key consideration, and at Pure our coffins are sustainably sourced.
How much does a direct cremation cost?
A Pure Cremation costs over £2,000 less than a traditional funeral. Our Cost of Funerals Index 2026 shows the average cost of a traditional funeral is £4,713.
Because there’s no hearse, funeral director fees or ceremony at the crematorium, having a direct cremation may mean more money for family or for the send-off.
You can get a quote for a pure cremation if you need to arrange a funeral for someone now. Or you can buy a plan (for yourself or for someone else) that means we will make all the arrangements when the times comes. Our plans can be bought in a single go, or to make them even more affordable, we also have lower monthly instalment options.
Once arranged, you do not need to pay anything else. With other providers, it is worth checking their small print, as they may have additional costs that mean you could pay more than their published prices depending on your circumstances.
Does Pure offer a direct cremation near me?
Yes. We collect someone when they have passed away – from their home or a hospital – anywhere in Britain. We then take them into our care and perform the committal in one of our crematoria. Afterwards, we return the ashes to next of kin, personally and by hand.
The family can arrange a service that’s near them, perhaps somewhere that was a favourite of the deceased.
What do I need to do when someone dies?
When someone dies, there are some practical steps that need to be taken, including things you need to do immediately.
Our free guide on ‘what to do when someone dies’ will tell you everything you need to know and has links to other online useful resources.
How long does the cremation take?
The actual cremation, typically takes around 90 minutes, but may take up to two and a half hours.
The whole service we provide, from collection of the deceased to returning the ashes by hand, typically takes around three weeks.
A local funeral director will usually take longer, because they do not have their own crematorium and so have to book in the cremation with a third party.
The exact length of time the whole service takes will depend on how quickly the paperwork is provided by the medical examiner’s office, which is needed before the cremation can take place.