What direct cremation is and who it suits
Reviewed 2026-09-12
Direct cremation means the deceased is collected, dressed and cremated without a ceremony at the coffin. At Tyyni it costs 950 euros for a Helsinki resident, including collection in the Helsinki region, a cremation coffin, dressing, documents and the cremation fee. Cremation usually happens within 1-2 weeks of contact. A memorial or blessing at the urn can follow later.
What direct cremation means
Direct cremation means a cremation without a blessing or farewell ceremony at the coffin. The deceased is collected, dressed and placed in a cremation coffin, the burial permit and other documents are handled, and the cremation takes place at the crematorium without the family present. After that the ashes are in an urn, and the family decides where to place them and whether to hold a memorial gathering. Direct cremation is the simplest form of funeral. It is not the only right way, and it is neither better nor worse than a blessing in a chapel. It is an option for those who want to keep the practical arrangements short and hold the farewell in their own way. In Helsinki more than 80 percent of the deceased are cremated, and direct cremation is one way of doing it.
What still happens in a direct cremation
Direct cremation does not mean that something is left undone. Everything the law and the crematorium require is done in the same way as in other forms of funeral. A coffin is always needed, also for cremation. The deceased is dressed and placed in the coffin, and every transport from the hospital onward is made in the coffin. Only a funeral home, a health-care unit or the police may transport a deceased person. The only difference from other forms of funeral is that no ceremony is held at the coffin. Tyyni's direct cremation includes these steps.
- Collection and transport in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen
- A cremation coffin and dressing of the deceased
- The burial permit and all other documents
- Booking of the cremation time and the cremation at the parish union crematorium at Malmi or Honkanummi
- The 260 euro cremation fee for a Helsinki resident
- Advice on placing the ashes and handing over the urn
A farewell before the cremation is possible
Direct cremation does not prevent a farewell. If you want to see the deceased once more, we arrange a short and private farewell moment in a chapel before the cremation. The moment is agreed when the collection is arranged, and a few close relatives or the whole family can take part. It has no programme unless you want one: someone can read a text, sing or lay a flower on the coffin. If a parish room fee is connected to the moment, we tell you before anything becomes binding. Many families find that a short moment at the coffin is enough, and the real remembering happens later in their own circle. Others do not want a moment at all, and that is also a good solution.
A memorial or blessing can be held later
After the cremation you have time. A memorial gathering has no official form: it can be a shared family meal, a gathering at home or in a restaurant, or a moment at the grave when the urn is lowered. It can be held weeks or months later, when those who live further away can attend. A blessing is also possible after the cremation, at the urn. Every church member has the right to a blessing, and a non-member can also be blessed if the relatives ask for it. The pastor meets the family beforehand, and the pastor's service is free of charge. The blessing lasts about half an hour and is held in a church, a chapel, at the grave or at another agreed place. We help arrange the memorial gathering for 290 euros; the venue and catering are invoiced directly by the provider.
Who direct cremation suits
Direct cremation is chosen by many kinds of families, and the reasons are usually ordinary ones. The Funeral Act requires that the deceased's own conviction and wishes are respected in burial, cremation and the handling of the ashes. If the deceased wished for a simple arrangement, direct cremation fulfils that wish. Below are situations in which direct cremation is often a natural choice.
- The deceased wished that no ceremony be held, or that it be held small and later
- Relatives live far away or abroad, and the memorial is to be held only when everyone can attend
- Costs are to be known and reasonable: direct cremation costs 950 euros
- The family is small, or the deceased has no relatives who could arrange a ceremony
- The family wants to remember the deceased in its own way, for example at home or in nature
- The deceased did not belong to the church, and the family does not want a religious ceremony
What direct cremation is not
Direct cremation is not giving up the farewell, and it does not mean the deceased is valued any less. The law requires that the body and the ashes are handled with dignity in every form of funeral, and the crematorium works the same way whether or not a ceremony was held at the coffin. Nor does direct cremation rule out a blessing: it can be held at the urn later. It is not merely a cheap option, although it is the least expensive form of funeral. Many choose it because the deceased did not want a ceremony, or because the family wants to remember them without a chapel timetable. If you are not sure what suits your family, call us. We explain the options and do not steer you in any direction.
Direct cremation compared with the other packages
Tyyni has four fixed-price packages. All share the same base: collection, coffin, dressing and documents. The differences are whether a blessing is held, whether the urn is handed over at an agreed time and whether the deceased is buried in a coffin. When you swap the package coffin or urn for another from our range, only the difference is added to the price. The parish fees for placing the ashes and for the chapel are not included in the prices; we tell you them before you order.
- Direct cremation 950 euros: collection, cremation coffin, dressing, documents and cremation including the cremation fee
- Direct cremation and urn handover 1,150 euros: adds the Sävyisä urn and handover of the urn at an agreed time
- Cremation and blessing 1,950 euros: adds a chapel blessing, the chapel booking, an officiant or speaker and bearers
- Coffin burial 1,890 euros: birch coffin, chapel blessing and burial arrangements with the parish; the grave and burial fees are invoiced by the parish
How a direct cremation is started
You can start online at your own pace or call us at any hour. We ask who you are in relation to the deceased, where the deceased is now and what their home municipality was, because it affects the cremation fee. After that we handle the burial permit, the collection, the coffin, the dressing and the booking of the cremation time. We call you and confirm the arrangements by phone; nothing is binding before that. The cremation usually takes place within 1-2 weeks of your contact, and the urn is ready a few days after the cremation. We send the invoice after the cremation, with 14 days to pay. You can leave all the practical work to us: documents, transports, bookings and contact with the crematorium. Call us or start online; nothing is binding until we confirm the arrangements by phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is a coffin needed in a direct cremation?
Yes. A coffin is always needed, also for cremation, and every transport from the hospital to the crematorium is made in the coffin. Tyyni's direct cremation includes a cremation coffin that would cost 370 euros on its own. If you want another coffin from our range, only the difference between the coffins is added to the price.
Can a church member choose direct cremation?
Yes. Direct cremation is not tied to church membership. A church member has the right to a blessing, and the blessing can be held at the urn after the cremation if the family wishes. The pastor's service is free, and the chapel is free for members. The deceased's own wish about a blessing must be respected.
Who may decide on a direct cremation?
Under the Funeral Act, the arrangements are handled by the spouse or cohabiting partner and the closest heirs, unless the deceased explicitly wished for a particular person. If none of them does so, another close person may. The deceased's own wish about the form of funeral must be respected. When you order, we ask about your relationship to the deceased.
How quickly is a direct cremation carried out?
Usually within 1-2 weeks of your contact. The timetable depends on when the burial permit is issued and on the crematorium's free slots. If the cause of death requires a forensic investigation, the permit comes only after that. The urn is ready a few days after the cremation, and the ashes must be placed within one year.
Where are the ashes placed after a direct cremation?
In the same places as after any other cremation: an urn grave, a memorial grove, a scattering area, a columbarium or a family grave. The ashes can also be scattered outside a cemetery with the landowner's permission. The law requires that the ashes are placed permanently in one place within a year of the cremation. See the guide Collecting the urn and placing the ashes.
Can the urn be kept at home?
Temporarily, yes, but by law the ashes must be placed permanently in one place within a year of the cremation. The ashes may not be divided. The crematorium releases the urn only once the recipient has stated in writing where the ashes will be placed. The parish union crematorium stores the urn free of charge for six months.
Next step
You can begin the arrangements online at your own pace or call 09 000 0001. We answer every day, around the clock. Nothing is binding until we confirm the arrangements with you.