How Much Does Pet Cremation Usually Cost?

According to the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance, 1.9 million pets died in one year, and 99% of them were created.

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If you recently lost a pet, you might be wondering how much pet cremation costs and if it’s worth it.

Thankfully, we have all the information you’ll need to make a decision, so keep reading.

Average Cost

Pet cremation prices will vary at every company, so it’s best to contact the company, like Lawnswood, and get a personalized quote.

However, the average cost is normally around $150. This is normally true for cats and dogs, although if you had a dog that was a larger breed, it might cost a little bit more.

Different Options

This price will vary on all kinds of factors, and the type of cremation you choose will also play a role.

There are three main types: private, individual, or communal.

Private

If you choose a private cremation, this will normally be the most expensive option. However, your pet will be the only one in the cremation chamber at that time.

That makes sure that the only ashes that are in there are from your pet, and it’s not mixed with anyone else’s.

Individual

An individual cremation is generally the best mid-range option if you really can’t decide which one to go with.

Your pet will be cremated at the same time as other pets, but each pet will be in its own chamber. This means that there is a possibility of some cross-contamination, but the chances of that are very small.

Communal

Communal cremation is always the most affordable. This means that your pet will be cremated in the same chamber with other pets, and all of the ashes will be mixed together.

With communal cremation, the cremators normally don’t send the ashes to you. They’ll sprinkle it on a dedicated space for you.

If they do send them to you, the ashes will likely be your pet’s, but they’ll be mixed with other pets as well.

Factors

While the type of cremation you want is the biggest factor in how much it will cost, there will be more factors that can drive the price up or down.

This includes the size of the pet and the location you’re in.

Size

When people are trying to figure out how much creating a dog is, it will really depend on the breed. If you had a large Saint Bernard, they will cost a lot more than a chihuahua to cremate just because they’re bigger.

They’ll need more room in the cremation chamber, and they’ll also take longer as well.

If you had a larger dog that was over 120 pounds, you may have to pay up to $250 for a private cremation. Because of this, a lot of cremators will ask you what the breed was and how much they weighed so that they can give you an accurate quote.

Location

It’ll cost more to cremate your dog in California or New York rather than somewhere like Kansas or Nebraska. However, you may even want to look at different cremations in your city or area to make sure that you find the best price.

Other Costs

While the cremation may cost a lot, there are other services you can pay for that will help with the grieving process.

This might not be best for someone who already can’t afford the cremation, but it really can help you to move on.

Pickup

If your pet died at home or at a daycare, you may be able to pay the crematorium to pick up your pet. They’ll come and take the body away to prepare it for cremation.

This saves you the heartache of having to do it yourself, but it can be pricy.

If it happened on a night or a weekend, it could cost close to $200. During a weekday, it may only cost $100. You should call the crematorium to make sure that they actually do pickups though.

Burial Plots

If you don’t want to scatter your pet’s ashes or keep them at home, you can always decide to bury them as well.

Some pet cemeteries will offer packages with the crematorium to give you a deal on a burial plot. A burial plot could cost between $600 and $700, depending on where it is and how big your pet was.

If you do bury your pet, you should also invest in a gravestone that will mark their final resting place. There are plenty of gravestones that you can buy, and they can cost anywhere from $20 to $100. If you want a really fancy one, it could cost you up to $300.

Memorial for the Ashes

There are all kinds of fancy urns, but you can get a standard one for around $50.

If you don’t want to keep them in an urn, you can always take some of the ashes and turn them into jewelry. There are many companies that will turn the ashes into an urn pendant necklace so that you can always keep your pet close to you.