Aquamation Cost: What Water Cremation Costs in 2026

Aquamation usually costs a little more than direct flame cremation and far less than a full-service burial. In a 2024 survey of 250 funeral homes in Washington, aquamation averaged $2,572, with prices from $1,195 to $6,490. No reliable national average exists, so the price you pay depends on your state and the provider.

Aquamation, also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, is a way to reduce a body to bone using water, alkaline chemicals and heat instead of flame. This guide covers what it costs, why quotes differ and what to ask before you commit.

How much does aquamation cost?

The best current price data comes from People's Memorial Association, a Washington nonprofit consumer group. It surveyed 250 funeral homes in 2024 and recorded both averages and ranges.

These are the funeral home's own charges. Burial figures don't include a cemetery plot or headstone, and every option can add an urn, a death certificate fee and a service.

Washington is one state, and one with several providers. Prices elsewhere can be higher where only one or two funeral homes offer it, or lower where competition is strong. Treat these numbers as a benchmark, then get local quotes.

What is aquamation, and how does it work?

The body is placed in a sealed chamber with water and alkaline chemicals and gently heated. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says temperatures run from 199 to 302 degrees Fahrenheit and the process may take three to sixteen hours, depending on the equipment and body size.

What remains is soft, white bone, which is dried and ground into a fine powder, plus a sterile liquid. CANA says that liquid is released through a drain to the local wastewater authority under the applicable laws.

Despite the nickname, this is not acid. The solution is alkaline, the chemical opposite of acid.

Why do aquamation prices vary so much?

Quotes differ for a few practical reasons.

• Type of package. A direct aquamation with no service costs far less than one that includes a viewing, staff time and a ceremony.
• Who owns the equipment. Many funeral homes do not have their own machine. They may send your loved one to another provider and pass on a transfer fee.
• The urn. Aquamation produces about 32% more remains than flame cremation, according to CANA, so a standard urn may be too small.
• Your state. State law decides where it is allowed, and fewer providers usually means fewer price comparisons.
• Extras. Refrigeration, a viewing, a shroud or container, certified death certificates and any cemetery or scattering fees are often billed separately.

Where is aquamation legal?

As of March 2026, CANA lists 26 US states where alkaline hydrolysis is legal:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

State laws are changing, so check the current rule where you live. In Canada, CANA lists it as legal in several provinces and territories, including Ontario and Quebec.

Legal does not mean available. Even in a listed state, there may be no machine within driving distance. If the nearest provider is out of state, ask about transport and any extra fees. Our guide to aquamation availability by state goes into more detail.

How aquamation compares with flame cremation and burial

Aquamation falls between direct cremation and a full burial on price. It differs from both in other ways too:

• Flame cremation is cheaper and available almost everywhere. CANA reports that about 62.8% of US deaths in 2025 ended in cremation.
• Burial costs the most once a plot, vault and headstone are added, and some faith traditions require it.
• Natural organic reduction (human composting) returns soil to the family but is legal in fewer states and costs more, based on the Washington survey.

For a detailed comparison, read aquamation vs traditional cremation and how aquamation works. If you are weighing environmental options more broadly, see eco-friendly cremation and the green funeral calculator.

What should you ask before you book?

1. Ask for the provider's General Price List. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, funeral homes must give you prices by phone and a written price list in person, and you can buy only the items you want.
2. Ask where the aquamation will be done. If it is at another facility, ask who handles transport and what it costs.
3. Ask whether the price includes the container, an urn, refrigeration, permits and certified death certificates.
4. Ask how large the urn needs to be. You are allowed to bring an urn you bought elsewhere, as the FTC explains.
5. Ask for a written, itemized total before you sign.

Some faith traditions have a view on alkaline hydrolysis, so if that matters to your family, speak with your clergy first.

What to do next

• Call two or three funeral homes and ask for their aquamation price and GPL.
• If none nearby offers it, ask whether a neighboring county or state does, and what transport would add.
• If you are planning ahead, write your choice down in your funeral wishes so your family knows. Our guide to low-cost funeral options covers other ways to keep costs down.