People choose cremation for its affordability, flexibility, and simplicity compared to traditional burial. Cremation reduces the deceased to bone fragments using heat or water-based processes. 

This guide answers “How does cremation work?” and explains exactly what happens, from doing the paperwork to receiving the urn.

Do you have more questions about what happens during a cremation? Our team at After is here to guide you through your options with transparency, care, and zero pressure. You can call us 24/7 at 1-844-717-5170.

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What Is Cremation?

Cremation reduces a deceased body to bone fragments. The process uses high heat or water-based chemicals in licensed facilities called crematories. Professionals transform the body into fine powder that families receive in urns.

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Cremation converts the body to remains that families can keep, scatter, or bury. This gives families more options for honoring their loved one instead of a traditional burial, which places the intact body in the ground. 

Types of Cremation

Two main types of cremation exist. Flame cremation uses cremation chambers with temperatures between 1,400-1,800°F. The process takes about 2 to 3 hours. You can get a flame cremation in all 50 states in America.

Water cremation uses water, heat, and alkaline chemicals. This process breaks down the body over 4-6 hours. Water cremation, called alkaline hydrolysis, operates in over 20 states but costs more than flame cremation.

Why People Choose Cremation

Families choose cremation because it is more affordable, flexible, and simpler than traditional burial. The average cost of cremation ranges from $795 to $3,200, depending on the provider. By comparison, burial often costs several times more.

Cremation also gives families more options:

• They can scatter remains, keep them in urns, or share portions among relatives.
• They can hold memorial services weeks or months later, allowing time to plan without pressure.

Cremation further reduces logistical stress. Families avoid cemetery plot purchases, extensive transportation needs, and many of the immediate decisions that come with burial. This simplicity allows them to focus on planning meaningful tributes.

Do All Religions Allow Cremation?

Most religions allow cremation today, though some still prefer burial. Changing attitudes over the past century mean that many faiths that once didn’t allow people to cremate now accept it.

Christianity

Most Christian denominations permit cremation.

• Protestant churches such as Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist have no restrictions.
• The Catholic Church lifted its ban in 1963. Catholics may choose cremation as long as it does not deny beliefs about resurrection.

Eastern Religions

Cremation is the traditional practice in several Eastern faiths.

• Buddhism views cremation as releasing the soul from attachment.
• Hinduism requires cremation for most followers as fire purifies the soul.
• Sikhism also traditionally practices cremation.

Religions That Discourage Cremation

Some faiths maintain strict burial requirements.

• Orthodox Judaism forbids cremation and calls for burial within 24 hours.
• Eastern Orthodox Christianity requires burial.
• Islam traditionally requires burial, though some progressive communities accept cremation.

You can confirm specific rules with your religious leader. They can explain your congregation’s practices and help balance tradition with practical needs.

How Does Cremation Work? Step-by-Step

Flame cremation follows a precise process that ensures dignity and proper handling.

1. Permits and Paperwork

Families complete legal documents before cremation begins. These include the death certificate, cremation permit, and authorization forms that state law requires.

The next of kin signs the authorization form, giving legal permission for cremation. This paperwork also protects families by ensuring accurate identification.

2. Transportation Into Care

Licensed professionals transport the individual from the place of passing to a crematory. Staff place identification tags right away and track them through every stage of care.

Transportation usually happens within hours, and providers may use discreet vehicles rather than hearses.

3. Identification and Tracking

Strict procedures confirm identity at every stage. Metal identification tags accompany the decedent through the entire cremation process to prevent any mix-ups.

Crematory staff verify identity multiple times using paperwork, visual confirmation, and tracking systems. This ensures families receive the correct cremated remains.

4. Cremation Chamber Process

Staff place the individual in a simple container, often a basic casket or cardboard box. The cremation chamber heats to 1,400–2,000°F and runs for 1.5 to 3 hours depending on size and temperature.

High heat breaks down soft tissues, and bones calcify and fragment. Non-organic materials such as implants remain and require removal later.

5. Processing Remains

Crematory staff carefully remove implants, dental work, or other objects that do not break down. Many facilities recycle metals through approved programs. Staff then process the bone fragments into a fine, sand-like material called remains.

6. Returning Urn to Family

Staff place the remains into either a temporary urn or the urn selected by the family. They include all documentation and the identification tag.

Most adults weigh between 3 and 7 pounds of remains. Families usually receive the urn within 3 to 10 days, depending on scheduling and processing time.

What Happens to the Body During Cremation?

Cremation takes place in three distinct stages:

• Initial stage: Intense heat vaporizes soft tissues. The water content evaporates first, followed by skin, muscle, and organ tissues that turn to vapor and gas.
  
  
• Mid-process: Fire consumes muscles, organs, and fat. Bones begin to calcify and fragment as temperatures reach their peak levels.
  
  
• Final stage: Only bone fragments and non-organic materials remain. The process leaves behind bone pieces that professionals will process into powder.

Common Misconceptions About Cremation

Remains vs. “Ashes”

Cremated remains do not include soft tissue. What families receive is bone fragments that have been carefully refined into a fine, sand-like material.

Medical Implants

Items such as hip replacements, dental work, or surgical screws do not break down during cremation. Professionals remove these materials separately and handle them according to regulations.

One Individual at a Time

Cremation chambers are for one individual at a time. Staff follow strict identification procedures and clean the chamber between each use to ensure families receive the right remains.

These safeguards give families confidence that cremation providers handle the process with care, dignity, and accuracy.

How Does Water Cremation Work?

Water cremation uses alkaline hydrolysis to accelerate natural decomposition. This process combines water, potassium hydroxide, heat above 300°F, and pressure to break down tissues over 4 to 6 hours.

Step-by-Step Water Cremation Process

The body goes into a stainless steel chamber filled with water and alkaline solution. The chamber seals and heats the solution while maintaining pressure.

The solution circulates for 4 to 6 hours as heat and chemicals break down all tissues except bones. This process mimics natural decomposition but happens much faster.

Only bone fragments and sterile liquid remain after the process completes. Professionals dry the bones and process them into powder, just like flame cremation.

Where Water Cremation Operates

Water cremation operates in 28 states including California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. More states consider legislation to permit this process each year.

Regulatory differences prevent nationwide availability. Each state sets its own rules about alkaline hydrolysis, creating a patchwork of legality across America.

Cost Comparison

Water cremation typically costs $1,000-$4,000 compared to $795 to $3,200 for flame cremation. The slightly higher cost reflects specialized equipment and longer processing time.

Both methods cost significantly less than burial. Even premium cremation services remain thousands of dollars cheaper than traditional funeral and burial packages.

Flame vs. Water Cremation: What's the Difference?

Both methods produce identical results: processed bone fragments that families receive in urns. The choice depends on personal preference, environmental concerns, and availability in your area.

Water cremation creates fewer emissions and uses less energy than flame cremation. Environmental advocates often prefer alkaline hydrolysis for its reduced carbon footprint.

Where Do Cremations Happen?

Cremations take place at licensed crematories. These are special facilities with industrial-grade cremation equipment. Crematories operate under strict regulations for safety and proper handling.

Most funeral homes contract with off-site crematories rather than operating their own equipment. Few funeral homes have on-site cremation chambers due to the significant investment required.

Cremation chambers use specialized, industrial-grade furnaces designed for safety and efficiency. These chambers maintain precise temperatures and include safety systems to protect workers and the environment.

How Long Does Cremation Take?

The complete process from passing to receiving the urn typically takes 3-10 days. Several factors affect this timeline:

• Paperwork processing takes 1-2 days depending on local government efficiency and whether deaths occur on weekends or holidays.

• Scheduling depends on crematory demand and can add 1-3 days to the process. High-demand periods may extend wait times.

• The actual cremation takes 1.5-3 hours for flame cremation or 4-6 hours for water cremation. Processing and cooling add several more hours.

• The individual size affects cremation time. Larger individuals require longer processing times.

What Happens After Cremation?

Professionals place remains in urns and return them to families with documentation. The body after cremation consists entirely of processed bone fragments that weigh 3-7 pounds for most adults.

Families choose from many options for cremated remains:

• Keep them in decorative urns at home or in columbarium niches designed for urn storage.
• Scatter remains in meaningful locations like favorite parks, bodies of water, or family property.
• Divide remains among family members.
• Create memorial jewelry or keepsakes using small portions of the cremated remains.
• Bury remains in cemetery plots specifically designed for urns, which cost less than traditional burial plots.

Why So Many People Choose Cremation

Cremation has become America's preferred choice. Almost 60% of families now choose cremation over traditional burial. This number keeps climbing each year. Three main reasons drive this shift: affordability, flexibility, and simplicity.

Affordability Drives Many Decisions

Cremation eliminates expensive burial requirements. Families avoid costs for caskets, cemetery plots, vaults, and ongoing maintenance fees that burial requires.

Direct cremation packages start around $995 and include all necessary services. Traditional burial services average $8,000 or more even for basic packages.

Cremation reduces time pressure on grieving families. The process doesn't require immediate decisions about expensive caskets, burial plots, or elaborate funeral services.

Flexibility Appeals to Modern Families

Cremation allows families to plan memorial services weeks or months after the death, giving time to coordinate with relatives who live far away.

Memorial options suit diverse preferences. Families can hold traditional funeral services, casual celebrations of life, or private ceremonies according to their values.

Cremated remains give families a lasting connection. Unlike burial, cremation allows families to keep remains nearby or scatter them in meaningful locations that honor personal memories.

Simpler Logistics Reduce Stress

Cremation requires fewer decisions than traditional burial. Families avoid choosing caskets, burial vaults, cemetery plots, and headstones during their grief.

Weather doesn't affect cremation like it can delay burial services. The process happens indoors regardless of conditions.

Transportation becomes easier if families need to relocate or travel with remains for memorial services.

How After Makes Cremation Easier

After brings transparency and simplicity to cremation services. Base cremation packages start at $995 and include everything required for dignified cremation:

• Transportation from place of death
• All permits and paperwork
• Cremation process
• Simple scattering urn
• Return of cremated remains

We operate in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. We soon plan to expand to additional states.

Families can complete arrangements from home at their own pace. Care specialists guide families through each step without pressure tactics or hidden fees.

Ready to Begin Your Cremation Arrangements?

Now that you understand the cremation process, After makes it easier to arrange services that honor your wishes. We offer transparent pricing and compassionate support every step of the way.

After provides flexible options to meet your needs:

• Immediate services for families who need care right away
• Pre-planning to lock in today's prices and ease future decisions
• Complete transparency with no hidden fees or surprise costs

Need more answers to the question: How does cremation work? Our team at After are here to guide you through your options with care and zero pressure. You can call us 24/7 at 1-844-717-5170.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Watch A Cremation Take Place?

You can watch a cremation at some facilities. Many crematories allow family witnesses by appointment, but they may charge an additional fee. Not every location offers this service, so ask in advance when making arrangements.

What Happens To The Body During Cremation?

During cremation, professionals use high heat to reduce the decedent to bone fragments. Soft tissues break down first, then bones calcify and fragment. Staff then process the fragments into a fine, sand-like material called remains.

What Kind Of Urn Should I Choose?

The kind of urn you choose should depend on how you plan to honor the remains. After includes a simple scattering urn in every cremation package. Decorative urns for permanent display typically range from $50 to $800 depending on the material, such as wood, metal, or ceramic.

Can I Still Have A Funeral If I Choose Cremation?

You can have a funeral with cremation. Families often hold traditional services before cremation or memorial services afterward with the urn present. Some choose to have both.

Is Cremation More Eco-Friendly Than Burial?

Cremation can be more eco-friendly than burial. Flame cremation produces some emissions but avoids embalming chemicals and land use required for burial. Traditional burial uses more resources overall, including hardwood caskets and permanent cemetery space.

What Is Direct Cremation, and How Does It Work?

Direct cremation means cremation without a funeral service beforehand. Cremation takes place within a few days of passing, and families receive the remains directly. This option is typically the most affordable. Families may still hold a memorial service later if they choose.

Where Do Cremations Take Place?

Cremations take place at licensed crematories in specialized facilities built for this purpose. Most funeral homes contract with separate crematories because cremation equipment costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. State agencies inspect these facilities regularly for safety and compliance.

What Happens To Medical Implants During Cremation?

Medical implants remain intact during cremation and need special handling. Crematory staff remove pacemakers beforehand because they can damage equipment. After cremation, staff also remove items such as hip replacements, and many crematories recycle valuable metals through approved programs.