How Long Does a Cremation Take?

Cremation is an increasingly popular choice, and families have more options than ever before. There are three accepted types of cremation in North America, though only one is widely available. With the process of traditional flame cremation, the timeline can vary greatly. Typically, arranging a direct cremation, also called a simple cremation, is quicker than arranging a cremation for which a funeral or memorial is timed conveniently for family members.

How long a cremation takes, from death until the family gets their loved one’s ashes back, greatly varies.

With that in mind, below are the steps of planning a cremation. Each one can take a few days to a week or more.

Step 1: The death certificate is filed/certified, and the funeral home or crematory gets a cremation permit.

After someone dies, local and state laws require filing a death certificate with the health department before a funeral home or cremation provider can proceed with any kind of service. The funeral home or cremation provider usually collects the required information and submits the death certificate application for the family; a doctor must sign/certify the document. In some states, a medical examiner must approve a loved one's cremation. That can take additional time. If the state requires it, the funeral home will also get a disposition permit.

Step 2: The family identifies the loved one and signs a contract that specifies their wishes. The funeral home or cremation provider gets permission from the family to cremate.

At this point, the funeral home will either bathe and dress the loved one for the family to identify, or the family can provide a photograph for the funeral home to use to identify the loved one. Additionally, at least one person must sign a contract for cremation and other services. The person with the right to authorize cremation under state law must also give written permission.

Step 3 (optional): Embalming takes place and a visitation and/or funeral service with the loved one present is held.

Many families who choose cremation skip this step, but a more traditional family might want to have a loved one embalmed and hold a visitation and funeral. This is an opportunity for the family to gather with friends and honor their loved one before the cremation takes place.

Step 4: The loved one is cremated.

The time between step 2 or 3 and step 4 may be a few days, depending on the proximity of the funeral home to the crematory and the crematory’s schedule. Some crematories allow a family to attend or participate in the cremation process; coordinating family members' schedules may delay the cremation if several people want to attend. The actual cremation takes two to three hours, with additional time required for the processing of ashes.

Step 5: The loved one’s ashes are returned to the family.

After cremation, the ashes are placed in a container of the family's choice, and the funeral home or cremation provider makes arrangements to return them to the family. The time required for return of the ashes to the family depends on the delivery option a family chooses. Some funeral homes will take the loved one's ashes to the family at home or send them by mail if requested. A family member might pick up the ashes at the funeral home, and sometimes a family opts to gather for a small reception at the time of pickup.

Step 6 (optional): A cremation memorial or celebration of life takes place.

Though a cremation may not include a service of any kind, many opt for some kind of ceremony after the cremation. Whether small or large, formal or casual, a traditional funeral or celebration of life brings people together to remember their loved one, connect over the good times, comfort one another and begin the healing process. End-of-life ceremonies are an important part of the grieving process, and the significance of joining with others in grief shouldn't be overlooked. A cremation provides flexibility in this area that traditional burial does not, as a cremation funeral can take place weeks to months after a person's death.

Step 7 (optional): The family chooses a place of remembrance.

Though many consider cremation the "opposite" of burial, many families find selecting a permanent resting space comforting. Just as cremation offers more flexibility for memorial services, it also offers the most cemetery options.