Aquamation, formally called alkaline hydrolysis, uses water, alkaline chemicals, heat, and sometimes pressure or agitation to accelerate decomposition. Straightforward services often cost about $2,000 to $3,000, and human aquamation was legal in 26 states as of March 2026. Unlike flame cremation, aquamation leaves bone fragments and a sterile liquid. The bone is processed into remains that the family can place in an urn, keep, scatter, or memorialize.
Table of Contents
- How aquamation works
- How much does aquamation cost?
- Where is aquamation legal?
- How to compare providers
How aquamation works
According to the Cremation Association of North America, an alkaline-hydrolysis cycle generally operates at 199–302°F for three to 16 hours. Operators then dry and pulverize the remaining bone fragments before returning them to the family. Aquamation produces about 32% more remains than flame cremation.
Families may therefore need a larger urn than they would choose for conventional cremation. The remaining liquid contains salts and amino acids. The facility discharges it according to applicable wastewater laws.
How much does aquamation cost?
Current Washington price examples put straightforward aquamation near $2,000 to $3,000. Emmick lists a $1,795 service plus $275 for transportation and tax, while The Co-op Funeral Home lists direct aquamation at $2,080 for members or $2,450 at its standard rate. Its viewing packages reach $3,060.
Prices are not standardized. An advertised figure may exclude taxes, permits, excess mileage, viewing, ceremonies, transportation, or fees for handling oversized remains. Before choosing a provider, ask for an itemized total that identifies:.
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- Transportation and excess-mileage charges
- Permits and taxes
- The urn or temporary container
- Viewing or ceremony costs
- Additional handling fees
Where is aquamation legal?
As of March 2026, CANA reported that human alkaline hydrolysis was legal in 26 states: 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. Each state regulates the service through its own framework.
Oregon, for example, classifies alkaline hydrolysis as a licensed "alternative disposition" performed by an authorized facility. Legal status does not guarantee local availability. Some states that authorize aquamation have no operating provider, so a family may need to arrange an interstate transfer and pay added transportation charges.
How to compare providers
Start by confirming that a provider performs human aquamation rather than only arranging it through another facility. Ask where the body will be transported, who operates the equipment, and when the remains will be returned. Then compare complete prices for the same set of services.
The Federal Trade Commission says consumers may request funeral prices by telephone and obtain a written General Price List in person. Families may generally purchase only the items they want, apart from legally required charges and the provider's basic-services fee. Before signing an agreement, confirm: If no nearby provider operates legally, request a written transportation estimate before agreeing to an interstate transfer.
- Whether aquamation is available locally
- The full transportation route and cost
- What the quoted price includes
- How much remains capacity the urn provides
- Whether viewing or a ceremony is included
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