Glossary
Cremation
Cremation is the use of intense heat to reduce a body to bone fragments, which are then processed into cremated remains and returned to the family. It is an alternative to burial and can be paired with a funeral, a memorial, or no service at all.
In flame cremation, the body is placed in a combustible container and exposed to high heat for a few hours. The remaining bone is cooled and processed into the coarse material families receive.
Cremation can be arranged many ways: a simple direct cremation with no ceremony, or a full service with a viewing beforehand. Costs vary by region and by how much service you add around it.
Cremated remains can be kept, buried, scattered, or placed in a columbarium niche. Some families divide them among relatives or place a portion in keepsake jewelry.
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Common questions
- How much does cremation cost?
- It depends heavily on how much service you add. A simple direct cremation with no ceremony is the lowest-cost option, often in the low thousands of dollars, while a full service with viewing beforehand costs more. Prices vary by region and provider.
- Can I have a funeral or viewing with cremation?
- Yes. Cremation can be paired with a full funeral, a viewing beforehand, a later memorial, or no service at all. Choosing cremation does not mean giving up a ceremony.
- Is cremation cheaper than burial?
- Cremation is generally less expensive than a traditional burial, mainly because it can skip embalming, a casket, a vault, and a cemetery plot. The gap narrows if you add a full service. Comparing itemized prices is the clearest way to see the difference.
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.