HomeAnswersHow long does cremation take?
How long does cremation take?
The cremation itself can take from 30 minutes to over two hours depending on body size, according to the Cremation Association of North America, but cremation typically occurs at least 48 hours after death because of paperwork, scheduling and state waiting periods.
Many states require an extra authorization before cremation, which the CDC's funeral director handbook says is meant to avoid destroying evidence of foul play and to ensure proper identification. Several states also set a minimum wait. Florida and Wisconsin bar cremation within 48 hours of death, and Texas does too unless a medical examiner or justice of the peace waives it. Illinois sets 24 hours and also requires a cremation permit from the county coroner or medical examiner. Maryland sets 12 hours. Some of these rules carry exceptions, for example for contagious or infectious disease.
After the cremation, CANA says the remaining bone fragments are swept into a cooling tray, allowed to cool and taken to a processor. In Minnesota a crematory must cremate a body within 24 hours of accepting legal and physical custody of it.
The sources behind this answer
- CANA says the cremation process can take from 30 minutes to over two hours depending on body size and stored heat in the chamber. Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Cremation Process
- CANA says the deceased is kept in cold storage while paperwork and plans are finalized, and cremation typically occurs at least 48 hours after death. Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Cremation Process
- CANA says the bone fragments left after cremation are swept into a cooling tray, allowed to cool and taken to a processor. Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Cremation Process
- The CDC's funeral director handbook says many states require an additional authorization before cremation, to avoid destroying evidence of foul play and to ensure proper identification. CDC NCHS, Funeral Director's Handbook (2019 Revision)
- Florida law makes it unlawful to cremate a body before 48 hours have passed since death. Florida Statutes 872.03(1)
- Wisconsin law bars cremation within 48 hours after the death, or the discovery of the death, unless the death was caused by a contagious or infectious disease. Wisconsin Statutes 979.10(1)(a)
- The Texas Funeral Service Commission says Texas law prohibits cremation within 48 hours after death unless a medical examiner or justice of the peace waives it. Texas Funeral Service Commission, Facts About Funerals (reflects Tex. Health & Safety Code 716.004)
- Illinois law bars cremation within 24 hours after the time of death and requires a cremation permit from the county coroner or medical examiner before cremation. Illinois Crematory Regulation Act, 410 ILCS 18/35(a)
- Maryland law bars cremation until at least 12 hours after death. Maryland Code, Health-General 5-503
- Minnesota law requires a crematory to cremate a body within 24 hours of accepting legal and physical custody of it. Minnesota Statutes 149A.95, subd. 6a
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