Water cremation (aquamation): how it works and what it costs

Water cremation goes by several names — aquamation, alkaline hydrolysis, resomation, or simply flameless cremation. All describe the same thing: a gentler, lower-emission alternative to traditional flame cremation that uses water and an alkali instead of fire. It drew wide attention when Archbishop Desmond Tutu chose it in 2021, and it's slowly becoming available across the country.

How water cremation works

The body is placed in a stainless-steel vessel filled with water and a small amount of potassium hydroxide. Over several hours, gentle heat and an alkaline solution accelerate the same breakdown that happens naturally in the earth — just far faster. What remains are the bone minerals, which are dried and processed into a fine white powder returned to the family, exactly as with flame cremation.

Because bone isn't burned, families typically receive 20–30% more ashes than they would from flame cremation. The remaining liquid is sterile and returned to the water system, similar to other clinical processes.

What water cremation costs

Aquamation usually runs $2,000–$3,500, which is often a few hundred dollars more than a comparable flame cremation — not because it's more expensive to perform, but because relatively few facilities offer it, so there's less competition. As it spreads, prices are expected to fall in line with, or below, flame cremation.

Compare that against the flame-cremation ranges where you live on our cremation costs by state pages, and against the simplest flame option in our direct cremation guide.

Why people choose it

• It uses roughly 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no direct emissions.
• No burning of dental fillings, so no mercury is released into the air.
• It appeals to families who want cremation but find fire difficult to think about.
• More ashes are returned to the family.

Where it's legal

Water cremation is now legal in more than two dozen U.S. states and continues to expand, but availability is still patchy — some states permit it only for pets, and even where it's legal, the nearest provider may be hours away. Ask a local funeral home or cremation provider whether they offer it, or can arrange transport to a facility that does.

Questions worth asking

• Is the aquamation done on-site, or is the body transported to a third-party facility?
• What's the all-in price, including transport and any facility fees?
• How and when are the ashes returned, and roughly how much should we expect?

Whichever option you're weighing, the FTC Funeral Rule entitles you to an itemized price list before you commit to anything.