The average cost of pet cremation is between $30 and $250, depending on the size and weight of your pet. Cremation for larger pets, such as a large-sized dog breed, can cost twice as much as cremating a smaller pet, such as a cat or smaller dog breed.
If you’re someone with an older pet and are currently researching and planning a cremation, be sure to reach out to your veterinarian. They should be able to help refer you to a crematorium and provide assistance with questions.
In this article…
- Pet cremation costs by method
- What’s in a pet cremation package?
- How much does it cost to cremate dogs?
- How much does it cost to cremate cats?
- Pet cremation alternatives
Pet cremation costs by method
In addition to the initial cremation cost, you should determine whether you want to bury your pet or buy an urn for their remains. You will also want to know what type of cremation you’re looking for, and whether you will be paying for incidental services such as pet pick up. Keep in mind that with additions to your cremation package, it’s not unheard of to pay as much as $400 for an entire pet burial process.
How much you spend on your pet’s cremation will depend on the cremation method you’ve selected. There are three common cremation methods for pets:
- Communal: The average cost of communal cremation falls between $30 and $70. Communal cremation involves cremating several pets at once within the same chamber. This is the cheapest method, but it also means that you won’t be able to collect your pet’s ashes for remembrance since they will be mixed in with several other pets, so be sure not to opt in for communal cremation if you wish to save your pet’s ashes.
- Individual: The average cost of individual cremation falls between $50 and $150. Individual pet cremation is similar to communal cremation, except each pet is placed in separate chambers when they’re cremated, which makes it possible for you to save your pet’s ashes for remembrance. It should be noted that there is still a possibility of your pet’s remains mixing with others.
- Private: The average cost of private cremation falls between $175 and $250. Just as the name implies, private cremation involves the cremation of your pet within its own chamber, separate from other pets. This way you don’t have to worry about your pet’s remains mixing with other pets in the chamber, and you may also privately attend your pet’s cremation to say a private goodbye. The crematory can then confidently deliver your pet’s ashes in a decorative urn for remembrance.
What’s in a pet cremation package?
If you’d like to know what to expect from a specialized pet cremation package, then you can refer to the list points below. Keep in mind that offered services and fees are sure to vary depending on the provider you work with, and they may offer fewer or more options than what we have listed.
- Pick up service for your pet: The service provider will arrange for transport for your pet from your home to a designated crematorium.
- Fur clipping: The provider would groom and clip your pets fur prior to cremation.
- Paw print impression: In some cases, providers offer a paw print impression as a personalized touch to help memorialize your pet.
- Standard cremation urn: A standard, decorative urn to store your pets remains in.
- Private cremation: Arrange for your pet to be cremated alone, so that you may keep your pets ashes for remembrance.
How much does dog cremation cost?
Since the cost of pet cremation is higher for larger and heavier animals, prices will naturally vary between different dog breeds since larger dogs take up more space within the cremation chamber and also can take longer to cremate. The crematorium will likely ask you the breed and weight of your dog when quoting you.
For a small dog under 30 pounds, private cremation can be expected to start around $175. A medium-sized dog, between 30 and 60 pounds will cost around $200 to cremate privately. Large dogs, between 60 and 90 pounds can be expected to cost $225 to cremate and very large dogs, over 90 pounds can be expected to cost $250 and over.
Selecting communal cremation can help lower costs, but please note that if you’d like to keep your dog’s ashes for remembrance, you should opt for private or individual cremation to ensure the ashes you receive belong solely to your dog.
How much does cat cremation cost?
Unlike dogs, the cost of cremating a cat generally won’t increase with size and weight, meaning that the breed of your cat shouldn’t significantly alter the cremation cost. Individual cat cremation costs between $80 and $150, on average, with the communal cremation option costing less.
Please note that if you’d like to keep your cat’s ashes for remembrance, you should opt for private or individual cremation to ensure the ashes you receive belong solely to your cat.
What are the alternatives to pet cremation?
If you don’t want to have your pet cremated, there are two other options: burial and taxidermy.
The average cost of a pet burial lies between $1,500 and $2,000, which includes a pet casket, the burial service, and the cemetery plot. Depending on where you live, you may have the option of having your pet buried at a pet cemetery nearby, so it’s best to speak with your vet for more detail before making a decision.
Taxidermy is far less common than pet cremation or burial, but it’s still an option nonetheless. This process involves freeze-drying and stuffing your pet with cotton, which can take months. On average, it costs between $500 and $700 to have a dog or cat undergo taxidermy.