Every figure on this page comes from a published price list or a named survey, with the date it applies from. Prices change, so use them as a guide and confirm with the provider before you commit.
Cremation costs at a glance
| What | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crematorium fee only, adult, weekday | $630 to $1,422 at the capital city crematoria below | Published price lists, 2024 to 2026 |
| Direct cremation (no service), advertised in NSW | Median $3,749; half of providers between $2,993 and $4,650 | Funerals Direct NSW price index, September 2026 |
| Average total paid for a cremation with a funeral | $8,045 | Australian Seniors, Cost of Death 2.0 survey, 2023 |
The crematorium's own fee is a small part of the total. Most of what a family pays goes to the funeral director, for their professional fee, transfers and care, the coffin and any service.
Crematorium fees in each capital city
These are the published fees for an adult cremation on a weekday, the least expensive time. Some include a short time in a chapel or lounge; others are for the cremation alone.
| Crematorium | Adult weekday fee | Prices from |
|---|---|---|
| Macquarie Park Crematorium, Sydney | $630 (before 3.30pm) | 10 December 2025 |
| Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Sydney | $697.30, including the NSW levy | 21 September 2026 |
| Brisbane City Council crematoria | $755 | October 2026 |
| Rookwood Crematorium, Sydney | $826.10 with no service, including the NSW levy | 1 July 2024 |
| Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, Melbourne | $1,210 without a chapel | 1 July 2026 |
| Gungahlin Crematorium, Canberra | $1,252, delivery only | 1 September 2026 |
| Karrakatta and Pinnaroo Valley, Perth | $1,422, including up to 60 minutes of chapel or lounge time | 1 July 2026 |
Weekends and public holidays cost more. Macquarie Park charges $1,240 on a Saturday and $1,550 on a Sunday. In Canberra, Gungahlin charges $1,608 on a Saturday, $1,823 on a Sunday and $2,110 on a public holiday.
What else you pay for
A cremation has the same main parts as any funeral. Ask for each one to be listed separately in your quote.
- The funeral director's professional fee for arranging everything, the paperwork and staff
- Transfers and care of the person who has died
- A coffin, which varies widely in price
- Disbursements the funeral director pays for you, such as the crematorium fee, doctor's certificates and the death certificate
- A service, if you have one: a chapel or venue, a celebrant, flowers and printed orders of service
- Afterwards: a niche, plaque or garden for the ashes, if you choose one
Direct cremation or a cremation with a service
A direct cremation has no service or viewing beforehand, which is why it is usually the least expensive option. In NSW, advertised direct cremation prices had a median of $3,749 in September 2026. Many families choose it and hold their own memorial later, at home, in a park or at a favourite place. Our guide to direct cremation explains how it works.
A cremation with a funeral service costs more because of the service itself and the time involved. People aged over 50 who were surveyed in 2023 reported paying an average of $8,045 for a cremation.
Average cremation costs by state
These are the average costs of a cremation in each capital city reported in the 2023 Cost of Death 2.0 survey. Each state's figure comes from a fairly small group of people, so treat them as a rough guide.
| State or territory | Cremation, capital city |
|---|---|
| ACT | $8,081 |
| NSW | $6,419 |
| Victoria | $6,639 |
| Queensland | $6,565 |
| Tasmania | $9,011 |
| WA | $7,933 |
| SA | $4,525 |
Ways to keep the cost down
- Ask each funeral director for their least expensive cremation and what it includes. In NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, funeral directors must publish their prices.
- Choose a weekday if you can, since crematorium fees are lower.
- Consider a direct cremation followed by your own gathering.
- Ask which costs are disbursements, and whether they are estimates or final.
- Get an itemised written quote with the total before you sign anything.
Our guide on how to choose a funeral director has more on comparing quotes, and what to do with ashes covers the choices afterwards.
Keep every quote in one place
The budget tracker in Remember Well• lists common funeral costs, so you can compare cremation quotes side by side and share the total with family.
Free accounts include First Steps, the guides and the basics. Attaching quotes and printing in the budget tracker and the full planner with summary PDF are part of Remember Well• Access, $149 paid once.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to be cremated in Australia?
The crematorium fee for an adult on a weekday was $630 to $1,422 at the capital city crematoria we checked in 2025 and 2026. The full cost is mostly funeral director fees: advertised direct cremations in NSW had a median price of $3,749 in September 2026, and people surveyed in 2023 paid an average of $8,045 for a cremation with a funeral.
What is the cheapest way to be cremated?
A direct cremation, with no service or viewing beforehand, is usually the least expensive option. A weekday cremation also costs less than a weekend one. Families can hold their own memorial afterwards. See our direct cremation guide.
Is cremation cheaper than burial?
Usually, yes, mainly because there is no grave to buy. In the 2023 Cost of Death 2.0 survey the average cremation cost $8,045 and the average burial $11,039. Our guide to burial plot prices shows why burial costs more in the big cities.
Is there help with the cost of a cremation?
You may be eligible for a Services Australia bereavement payment, and some banks release money from the person's account to pay funeral costs. If a family cannot pay, some states arrange a basic funeral, such as Queensland's Funeral Assistance Scheme.
Sources
- Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium: Price guide, 10 December 2025
- Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park: Basic price list, 21 September 2026
- Brisbane City Council: Cemeteries fees and charges, checked October 2026
- Rookwood Crematorium: Basic adult cremation price breakdown, from 1 July 2024
- Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust: Fees list 2026 to 2027, 1 July 2026
- ACT Legislation Register: Cemeteries and Crematoria Authority (Fees) Determination 2026 (No. 1), from 1 September 2026
- Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (WA): Facilities and services price list 2026 to 2027, 1 July 2026
- Funerals Direct: NSW funeral price index, September 2026 (a comparison site that collects advertised prices)
- Australian Seniors: The Cost of Death 2.0 report, November 2023 (survey of 1,200 Australians aged 50 and over)
- Moneysmart (ASIC): Paying for your funeral, checked October 2026
- Coroners Court of Queensland: Funeral Assistance Scheme
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Prices change, so always confirm current fees with the cemetery, crematorium or funeral director.