Direct Cremation: Do You Need to Choose a Coffin, and Can You Supply Your Own?

A direct cremation almost always uses a coffin, but in most packages you do not choose it. The provider supplies a simple coffin, often made of cardboard or plain wood veneer, as part of the price.

If the coffin matters to your family, you may still have options. Some funeral directors will arrange an unattended cremation using a coffin you have chosen or bought yourself. Ask before you agree to a package, because policies vary widely.

What is a direct cremation?

A direct cremation is a cremation without a funeral service and without mourners present. The person who has died is collected, cared for and taken to the crematorium at a time the crematorium sets. The ashes are then returned to the family, who can hold a memorial or celebration of life whenever they choose.

Direct cremation has become a common choice. SunLife’s Cost of Dying report found that one in five funerals in 2024 was a direct cremation. SunLife puts the typical cost at around £1,600, compared with over £4,000 for a simple attended funeral.

What coffin is used for a direct cremation?

Most providers use their own basic coffin, made from cardboard or simple wood veneer. It meets crematorium rules and keeps the price down. For example, the Co-op’s direct cremation, priced at £1,495, includes “our basic coffin”.

Because the family does not attend, many providers see no need to offer a choice. That suits many families. For others, the coffin is part of saying goodbye, even when no one will see it.

Can you choose a different coffin?

It depends on the provider:

• National direct cremation providers usually offer one standard package, with no choice of coffin.
• Local funeral directors often offer an unattended cremation as well as full funerals. Funeral directors must publish a standardised price list that includes an unattended funeral, and many will let you choose an upgraded coffin.
• Supplying your own coffin is accepted by some funeral directors and not by others. Ask before you commit.

If a funeral director accepts a coffin bought elsewhere, it must still meet the crematorium’s rules: combustible materials, no metal fittings beyond what is needed for construction, and no PVC. Our guide to cremation coffins explains what is accepted.

Can you put personal items in the coffin?

Often not, with direct cremation. Some packages do not allow any personal items, flowers or the person’s own clothes, and a simple gown is provided instead. The Co-op, for example, states that “items such as flowers, funeral stationery or personal effects are not allowed” in its direct cremation.

If you would like to include a letter, a photograph or a favourite outfit, ask about this before choosing a provider. Our guide to what you can put in a coffin explains the usual cremation rules.

Questions to ask before agreeing to a direct cremation

1. Which coffin is included, and what is it made from?
2. Can we choose a different coffin, or supply our own?
3. Can we include personal items, or dress our loved one in their own clothes?
4. Can we see our loved one before the cremation?
5. When and how will the ashes be returned?
6. What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

Buying a coffin for an unattended cremation

If your funeral director agrees to use a coffin you have chosen, you can buy one online and have it delivered to them. Simple cardboard coffins are among the most affordable options and can be decorated or printed. Natural coffins in willow or bamboo are another choice.

• Read our guide to buying a coffin directly.
• See how to tell your funeral director you want to supply your own coffin.
• Compare prices in our guide to the cheapest coffins in the UK.
• Browse cardboard coffins and coffins for cremation.

Frequently asked questions

Is a coffin included in a direct cremation?

Yes, in almost all cases. A basic coffin is usually included in the price, although a few providers may use a shroud.

Is a direct cremation the same as an unattended funeral?

They are very similar. Both mean no one attends the cremation. “Unattended funeral” is the term funeral directors use on their standardised price lists.

Can we hold a service later?

Yes. Many families hold a memorial or celebration of life after the ashes are returned, at a time and place that suits them.

Can I buy a cardboard coffin for a direct cremation?

You can, if your funeral director agrees to use it. Check first, as many direct cremation packages use only their own coffin.