What pet cremation costs in Australia
Nobody publishes this, so we surveyed it. We read the websites of 100 Australian pet cremation providers and recorded every price they advertise. Below is what we found, by weight, alongside our own prices so you can see where we sit.
What individual cremation costs, by weight
Across 206 advertised prices from Australian pet cremation providers, individual cremation has a median price of $432, and the published range runs from $150 to $3,670.
| Your pet's weight | Median price | Middle half of prices | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5kg a cat, a rabbit or a very small dog | $412 | $295 to $612 | 22 |
| 5 to 10kg a small dog such as a cavoodle or a terrier | $430 | $319 to $621 | 21 |
| 10 to 20kg a mid-size dog such as a border collie | $480 | $345 to $635 | 18 |
| 20 to 30kg a labrador or a staffy | $480 | $354 to $650 | 17 |
| 30 to 40kg a german shepherd or a boxer | $527 | $379 to $651 | 17 |
| 40 to 60kg a rottweiler or a great dane | $624 | $455 to $803 | 17 |
| Over 60kg a mastiff, or a large working dog | $650 | $522 to $817 | 13 |
206 advertised prices. Every price published on the website of an Australian pet cremation provider in our survey, read from the provider's own pages. Surveyed 30 August 2026. A median is only shown where at least five providers publish a price for that weight. How we collected this.
Most providers will not tell you a price
Of the 100 Australian pet cremation providers we surveyed, only 36 publish what the cremation costs. The other 64 ask you to ring and explain what has happened before they will say.
9 of them will sell you an urn online, with the price on the product page, while still making you call to learn the price of the thing you came for. That is the part of this industry we think is worth changing, and it is why the numbers above are on this page at all.
By state
| State | Providers publishing prices | Advertised prices | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 11 | 47 | $150 to $1,824 |
| VIC | 3 | 14 | $199 to $749 |
| QLD | 14 | 122 | $165 to $3,670 |
| WA | 2 | 16 | $175 to $750 |
| SA | 3 | 6 | $400 to $1,980 |
| ACT | 1 | 1 | $300 to $300 |
State figures are shown as counts and ranges rather than medians. In most states only a handful of providers publish anything at all, and a median drawn from three businesses would look more certain than it is.
Where we sit, and why we publish it
Several pets cremated together. The ashes are respectfully scattered, not returned. Collection and a memorial certificate are inside the price.
One pet, one chamber, tagged throughout. Collection, a timber urn or scatter tube, a paw print and hand delivery of the ashes are all inside the price.
Our individual price starts above the national median of $432, and we would rather say that here than have you find it out later. The difference is what sits inside the number: collection, the urn, the paw print and hand delivery are included, where those are commonly the extras that turn a $150 headline into something closer to $585 at checkout.
Your suburb and your pet's weight set the exact figure. Call 0478 097 537 and you will have it in a minute.
What actually moves the price
It is the single biggest driver, and the survey shows exactly how much. Median advertised price runs from $412 for a cat or small dog to $650 for the largest breeds. A bigger dog needs a bigger chamber and a longer cycle, and the price follows.
Individual means one pet, one chamber, and the ashes come home. Communal means several pets together and no ashes returned. Across the prices we found, communal is advertised from $80 against a median of $432 for individual.
This is where two quotes that look $200 apart turn out to be the same price. Collection, the urn, the certificate and the return delivery are inside the number at some providers and added at the end by others. Ask for the all-in figure.
Metro collection is usually included. Regional pickups and after-hours callouts carry a fee at most providers, and a fair one quotes it before anything is booked rather than after.
The complaints are not about price
We classified 938 Google reviews of Australian pet cremation providers. The most common complaint is not the price. It is the pet or the family was handled without care, in 17 of them.
| What went wrong | Reviews | What to ask, because of it |
|---|---|---|
| The pet or the family was handled without care | 17 | Who physically collects my pet, and will the same person hand the ashes back? |
| The urn, engraving or paw print came back wrong | 14 | If the paw print or the engraving comes back wrong, what happens? |
| The business went silent | 10 | What day will you call me, and what is the number that reaches a human? |
| The family doubted whose ashes came back | 5 | What identifies my pet at every step, and can I see that record? |
| The ashes took much longer than promised | 5 | What is the date I get the ashes, and what do you do if you miss it? |
938 reviews classified. Google reviews of the Australian pet cremation providers in our survey, each read and sorted into the one main thing that went wrong. Surveyed 30 August 2026. Google decides which reviews it shows, so these are counts of the reviews we hold. They are not rates, and they do not tell you how often Australian cremations go wrong. How we collected this.
The question that matters more than the number
If you are comparing quotes, the figure tells you less than the inclusions. Ask every provider whether collection is included, whether the urn is included, and whether the ashes come back hand delivered or by courier. Then ask the one that matters most: how do I know I receive my own pet's ashes?
A provider with a documented chain of care will answer plainly. One without will talk about compassion instead.
Cost questions, answered
How much does pet cremation cost in Australia?
We surveyed 206 prices advertised by Australian pet cremation providers. The median for individual cremation, where the ashes are returned, is $432, and the published range runs from $150 to $3,670. Communal cremation, with no ashes returned, is advertised from $80. Weight is what moves the number: $412 is the median for a pet up to 5kg and $480 for a 20 to 30kg dog.
How much does it cost to cremate a cat?
A cat sits in the lightest weight band. Across 42 advertised prices from 22 Australian providers for pets up to 5kg, the median for individual cremation is $412, with the middle half falling between $295 and $612.
How much does it cost to cremate a dog?
It depends almost entirely on how heavy your dog is. For a 20 to 30kg dog, a labrador or a staffy, the median advertised price is $480 across 38 prices. For a pet up to 5kg it is $412, and for the largest breeds it is $650.
Why do prices vary so much between providers?
Two reasons, and only one of them is the service. Weight bands differ between providers, so a quote for a 30kg dog might be a provider's middle band or its top one. And inclusions differ: some quotes exclude collection, the urn or the return delivery and add them later. Compare the all-in figure and ask what identifies your pet through the process.
Why will nobody tell me a price on the phone?
They will, but most of them make you ring to get it. Of the 100 providers we surveyed, only 36 publish what the cremation costs. 9 of them publish urn prices while still withholding that one. There is no good reason for it. You are ringing on the worst day of your year and being asked to explain what happened before anyone will say what it costs.
Does pet insurance cover cremation?
Almost never. We read the disclosure statements of 20 Australian pet insurance brands. 19 of them pay something toward euthanasia, and 1 pays for the cremation itself. Our insurance guide has the table and the exact clauses.
What about water cremation, or aquamation?
Aquamation uses an alkaline water process instead of flame, and it is offered in some Australian cities at a small premium. We found 39 advertised aquamation prices in the survey. If you would prefer it, ask when you call and we will arrange it where a vetted partner operates.
Is a cheaper communal cremation worse?
No. It is a dignified choice many families make, and for some pets it is the right one. The one thing to be certain about is that with communal cremation the ashes are not returned. If getting them back matters to you, you need individual cremation.
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