Pet cremation in Australia
Cremation is the aftercare most Australian families choose: from a simple communal cremation ($50 to $200) to individual cremation with ashes returned ($200 to $600). Here's how it works, what it costs, and how to arrange it.
Prices researched August 2026
Cremation prices vets actually publish, city by city, are in our Home Pet Euthanasia Price Index 2026.
The two kinds of cremation
With individual cremation, your pet is cremated alone and the ashes that come home are theirs, usually within one to two weeks, in a standard urn or box. With communal cremation, pets are cremated together and ashes aren't returned; most crematoriums scatter them in a memorial garden. Neither is more loving than the other. Decide by what you'll want in a year, not what feels obligatory on the day. Our aftercare guide compares every option, including home burial and pet cemeteries.
What it costs
| Option | Cat / small dog | Large dog |
|---|---|---|
| Communal (no ashes returned) | $50 to $120 | $120 to $200 |
| Individual, ashes returned | $200 to $400 | $350 to $600 |
| Urn upgrades & keepsakes | $20 to $300 | |
Want cremation costs for your area?
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How it's arranged
Three common routes: your home-visit vet arranges it as part of an end-of-life booking (the most common, and usually quoted as one all-in price); you deal with a crematorium directly, most offer home collection, sometimes slightly cheaper; or your regular clinic arranges it after a clinic euthanasia. Ask any provider whether individual cremation is genuinely individual, how long ashes take, and whether you can visit. Good providers welcome all three questions.