A cheap direct cremation is the simplest form of cremation, where the body is collected, cremated immediately after death, and returned as ash inside an urn or box. Some funeral services also accept requests to scatter the ashes on your behalf.
Compared to a traditional funeral, direct cremation doesn’t include a ceremony. After cremating the body, there’ll be no mourners, cortège, readings, flowers, catering, or eulogies. In addition, no one except for the cremator or funeral director is present during the body’s cremation.
As a result, it remains one of the cheapest ways to have a funeral compared to a conventional one. According to SunLife’s 2023 report, direct cremation in the UK costs an average of £1,647, while traditional burial costs around £4,927.
Aside from its affordable costs, more people choose direct cremation for its convenient arrangement and simplicity. So, if you don’t mind not having a ceremony and prefer to mourn privately, direct cremation is an ideal choice.
An inexpensive funeral shouldn’t be a low-quality service, whether you’re getting a direct cremation or a simple burial. Getting a cheaper rate means you opted for a more basic funeral service. Ultimately, it excludes additional costs such as flowers, catering, music, pallbearers, etc.
Despite getting a basic package, you’re still entitled to have experienced staff to care for the deceased person’s body, a quality coffin or urn, and an industry-standard hearse, among others.