The research behind our fish and koi aftercare pages
Around 10 million[1] US households keep freshwater fish, but very little research asks what happens when those fish die. Here's where our numbers come from and how we handle the gaps.
- Sources named for every fact
- Our own estimates marked and explained
- Corrections welcome through the form
How we work
How we gather and label every fact
Behind every page on this site sits a shared research library of more than 890 cited facts. Each has a source you can click, a year and a country. When a fish keeper's question has no published answer, such as how much longer a koi lives than a goldfish, we work it out ourselves. More than 170 of these original estimates appear across our sites, always labelled "our estimate".
We grade sources in two tiers. A primary source measured the thing itself: a government survey, a national industry census, a university study or an official agency. A secondary source reports or summarizes, such as a retailer's price list, an insurer's guide or a market analyst. When the two disagree, we lean on the primary one and say so.
Fish are a thin area for research. Ownership numbers are strong, lifespans are reasonably well documented, but almost nobody has studied fish aftercare directly. Where we have to bridge that gap, we use a general figure and tell you it's general. The estimates list below shows every figure we've calculated, the formula and how confident we are.
Our own numbers
How we calculate our estimates
Our pages cite 890 published facts, each linked to its source. Where no one has published a figure that answers a reader's question, we calculate one ourselves from those facts and label it "our estimate", with the method shown.
Local estimates on city pages (for example, how many households in a city have a dog) use the city's population, the national average household size and the national share of households that keep that species. Yearly losses divide those households by the species' average life expectancy. Households with several pets count once, so these figures are deliberately conservative: a floor, not a ceiling.
Cremation rates on local pages describe people, not pets. We show them as context for how a community thinks about cremation, never as a pet statistic.
Each estimate below has a confidence rating. High means simple arithmetic on primary sources; medium means one assumption; low means several assumptions or a source from another country. If you spot a better source, tell us and we'll update the figure.
Cremation rates and trends (29 estimates)
The US cremation rate rose 23.7 percentage points in 15 years (2009-2024). +23.7 pts
Method: US 2024 rate - US 2009 rate · Confidence: high
Canada's cremation rate is 14.6 points higher than the US rate (2025). 14.6 pts
Method: Canada 2025 - US 2025 (CANA) · Confidence: high
The UK cremates about 18.8 percentage points more of its dead than the US (2024). 18.8 pts
Method: UK 2024 (FBCA) - US 2024 (CANA) · Confidence: high
Japan's 2023 cremation rate (99.97%) is about 39 points higher than the US 2023 rate (60.63%). 39.3 pts
Method: 99.97 - 60.63 · Confidence: high
Across the 50 states + DC, projected 2024 cremation rates span 49.8 points, from Nevada (84.1%) down to Mississippi (34.3%). 49.8 pts
Method: max(state rate) - min(state rate), NFDA 2024 projections · Confidence: medium
7 states were projected at 80% cremation or higher in 2024 (NFDA projections). 7
Method: count(state rate >= 80.0) · Confidence: medium
6 states were projected below 50% cremation in 2024: Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah. 6
Method: count(state rate < 50.0) · Confidence: medium
The median US state (incl. DC) had a projected 2024 cremation rate of 60.1%. 60.1%
Method: median of 51 NFDA 2024 state projections · Confidence: medium
California ranks #16 of 51 (50 states + DC) by projected 2024 cremation rate (70.5%). #16
Method: rank descending among NFDA 2024 state projections · Confidence: medium
Texas ranks #39 of 51 (50 states + DC) by projected 2024 cremation rate (55.7%). #39
Method: rank descending among NFDA 2024 state projections · Confidence: medium
Florida ranks #13 of 51 (50 states + DC) by projected 2024 cremation rate (72.5%). #13
Method: rank descending among NFDA 2024 state projections · Confidence: medium
New York ranks #38 of 51 (50 states + DC) by projected 2024 cremation rate (55.7%). #38
Method: rank descending among NFDA 2024 state projections · Confidence: medium
If the 2019-2024 US trend continued in a straight line, the US cremation rate would be about 70.7% in 2030 (CANA itself projects 69.1%). 70.7%
Method: US2024 + 6 x ((US2024 - US2019)/5) · Confidence: medium
At CANA's current 1.33-point-per-year pace, the US would reach 80% cremation around 2037. ~2037
Method: 2025 + (80 - US2025)/1.33 · Confidence: low
Louisiana's cremation rate could reach about 59.7% by 2030 if its 2015-2022 trend continues. 59.7%
Method: LA2022 + 8 x ((LA2022 - LA2015)/7) · Confidence: low
West Virginia's implied 2022 cremation rate is about 48.8%. 48.8%
Method: WV2015 + 15.6 pt increase · Confidence: medium
Washington State grew only 2.2 points 2015-2022 vs Louisiana's 14.0 - high-cremation states are plateauing while Southern states catch up. 2.2 pts
Method: WA2022 - WA2015 · Confidence: high
England & Wales cremate 58.8 points more of their dead than Northern Ireland (2024). 58.8 pts
Method: E&W 2024 - NI 2024 · Confidence: high
Since passing 50% in 1968, the UK cremation rate has grown only about 0.51 points per year on average. 0.51 pts/yr
Method: (UK2025 - UK1968)/57 · Confidence: high
The US cremation-to-burial ratio is about 2.0:1 in 2025 and projected at 6.3:1 by 2045. 2.0:1 -> 6.3:1
Method: cremation% / burial% (NFDA 2025 and 2045) · Confidence: high
Roughly 3.22 million Americans a year could be cremated by 2045. ~3.22 million
Method: 3.91M deaths x 82.3% · Confidence: medium
Each US crematory handled about 551 human cremations on average in 2023. 551
Method: 1,895,857 cremations / 3,443 crematories · Confidence: high
Japan averages about 1,189 cremations per crematorium, the UK about 1,604 and the US about 551 (2023). 1,189 / 1,604 / 551
Method: cremations / crematoria per country (2023 Cremation Society table) · Confidence: high
Spain's cremation rate grew about 1.67 points per year from 2017 to 2024, overtaking burial in 2024. 1.67 pts/yr
Method: (ES2024 - ES2017)/7 · Confidence: medium
At its 2022-2023 pace, France would cross 50% cremation around 2026. ~2026
Method: 2023 + (50 - FR2023)/(FR2023 - FR2022) · Confidence: low
Within Scandinavia the gap is huge: Denmark cremates 37.21 points more of its dead than Norway (2023). 37.21 pts
Method: DK2023 - NO2023 · Confidence: high
Ireland's recorded cremation share appears to fall from 28.25% (2023) to 26.56% (2024), but the 2024 figure omits one crematorium. -1.69 pts
Method: IE2024 - IE2023 · Confidence: low
About 51.0% of US jurisdictions (26 of 50 states + DC) permit human water cremation per CANA. 51.0%
Method: 26 / 51 · Confidence: medium
Water cremation cuts cremation CO2 by about 89% per the Irish provider's figures (245 kg vs 28 kg). ~89%
Method: (245 - 28)/245 · Confidence: low
Pet populations and lifespans (34 estimates)
At least about 5.6 million pet dogs likely die in the US each year (lower-bound style estimate using one dog per dog-owning household). ~5.6 million
Method: US dog-owning households (71M) x 1 dog / US dog life expectancy (12.69 yrs) · Confidence: medium
Using the death rate seen in Banfield's clinic data (~4.5% of dogs per year), roughly 3.2 million US dogs die each year. ~3.2 million
Method: 71M dog households x (85,651 deaths / 1,899,048 dogs tracked per year in Banfield data) · Confidence: low
Roughly 4.7 million pet cats likely die in the US each year. ~4.7 million
Method: US cat-owning households (53M) x 1 cat / US cat life expectancy (11.18 yrs) · Confidence: low
About 1.38 million pet dogs likely die in the UK each year. ~1.4 million
Method: UK dog population (15.5M) / UK dog life expectancy (11.23 yrs) · Confidence: medium
About 1.11 million pet cats likely die in the UK each year. ~1.1 million
Method: UK cat population (13M) / UK cat life expectancy (11.74 yrs) · Confidence: medium
About 458,000 pet dogs likely die in Japan each year - almost exactly matching the ~444,000 new dogs acquired, which fits Japan's flat dog population. ~458,000
Method: Japan dog population (6.82M) / Japan dog average lifespan (14.90 yrs) · Confidence: medium
About 556,000 pet cats likely die in Japan each year, more than the ~359,000 new cats acquired - consistent with Japan's shrinking cat count. ~556,000
Method: Japan cat population (8.847M) / Japan cat average lifespan (15.92 yrs) · Confidence: medium
About 567,000 pet dogs likely die in Canada each year. ~567,000
Method: Canada dog population (7.2M) / US dog life expectancy (12.69 yrs, used as proxy) · Confidence: low
About 698,000 pet cats likely die in Canada each year. ~698,000
Method: Canada cat population (8.2M) / UK cat life expectancy (11.74 yrs, used as proxy) · Confidence: low
About 583,000 pet dogs likely die in Australia each year. ~583,000
Method: Australia dog population (7.4M) / US dog life expectancy (12.69 yrs, proxy) · Confidence: low
About 173,000 pet dogs and cats likely die in New Zealand each year (~65,000 dogs and ~107,000 cats). ~173,000
Method: NZ dogs (830k)/12.69 + NZ cats (1.26M)/11.74 · Confidence: low
About 8.0 million pet dogs likely die across Europe each year. ~8.0 million
Method: European dog population (89.6M) / UK dog life expectancy (11.23 yrs, proxy) · Confidence: low
About 9.2 million pet cats likely die across Europe each year. ~9.2 million
Method: European cat population (108.3M) / UK cat life expectancy (11.74 yrs, proxy) · Confidence: low
About 2.3 million pet dogs and cats likely die in Germany each year. ~2.3 million
Method: DE dogs (10.5M)/11.23 + DE cats (15.7M)/11.74 · Confidence: low
About 1.9 million pet dogs and cats likely die in France each year. ~1.9 million
Method: FR dogs (7.6M)/11.23 + FR cats (14.9M)/11.74 · Confidence: low
About 78,000 pet dogs and cats likely die in Ireland each year. ~78,000
Method: IE dogs (517k)/11.23 + IE cats (371k)/11.74 · Confidence: low
In Wyoming, at least about 60 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~60 per 1,000 households
Method: 71.8% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
In California, at least about 44 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~44 per 1,000 households
Method: 53.0% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
In Texas, at least about 49 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~49 per 1,000 households
Method: 58.2% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
In Florida, at least about 47 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~47 per 1,000 households
Method: 56.0% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
In New York, at least about 42 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~42 per 1,000 households
Method: 49.7% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
In Illinois, at least about 41 pet deaths per 1,000 households per year are likely (lower bound). ~41 per 1,000 households
Method: 48.6% pet-owning households x 1,000 x 1 pet / blended dog-cat life expectancy (11.93 yrs) · Confidence: low
About 26% of all US pet spending goes to veterinary care and vet-sold products. 26%
Method: Vet care & product sales ($41.0B) / total pet industry spending ($158B) · Confidence: high
The US pet industry takes in roughly $1,663 per pet-owning household per year. ~$1,663
Method: Total US pet spending ($158B) / pet-owning households (95M) · Confidence: medium
An Australian dog household could spend roughly A$32,000 over a typical dog's lifetime at today's prices. ~A$32,000
Method: Annual dog-household spend (A$2,520) x dog life expectancy (12.69 yrs, US proxy) · Confidence: low
Roughly 22,000 pet horses and ponies may die in the UK each year. ~22,000
Method: UK horses & ponies (600k) / typical horse lifespan midpoint (27.5 yrs) · Confidence: low
Roughly 240,000 horses may die in the US each year. ~240,000
Method: US horse population (6.6M) / typical horse lifespan midpoint (27.5 yrs) · Confidence: low
Roughly 290,000 pet rabbits and guinea pigs may die in the UK each year (~116,000 rabbits, ~174,000 guinea pigs). ~290,000
Method: UK rabbits (500k)/4.3 yrs + UK guinea pigs (700k)/4.03 yrs · Confidence: low
Japan sees roughly 17 pet dog and cat deaths per 1,000 households each year. ~17 per 1,000 households
Method: (JP dogs/14.90 + JP cats/15.92) / JP households (58.74M) x 1,000 · Confidence: medium
European pet-owning households keep on average about 2.2 pets each (including aquaria as one unit). ~2.2
Method: Europe total pets (299.1M) / pet-owning households (139M) · Confidence: medium
Australian pet-owning households keep on average about 4.1 pets each. ~4.1
Method: Australia pets (31.6M) / pet-owning households (7.7M) · Confidence: high
Small-breed dogs in the US outlive giant breeds by about 4.0 years on average. ~4.0 years
Method: Small-dog life expectancy (13.53) - giant-dog life expectancy (9.51) · Confidence: high
Pet dogs in Japan live about 2.2 years longer on average than US dogs. ~2.2 years
Method: Japan dog average lifespan (14.90) - US dog life expectancy (12.69) · Confidence: low
About 3.7 million of Japan's pet dogs are seniors aged 7 or older. ~3.7 million
Method: Japan dogs (6.82M, 2025) x share aged 7+ (54.9%, 2024) · Confidence: medium
Species-specific aftercare (29 estimates)
A 1,100 lb horse would be expected to return roughly 38.5 lb of cremated remains (plausible range 33-55 lb). 38.5 lb
Method: 1,100 lb x 3.5% (range 3%-5%) · Confidence: low
A 12 lb cat would be expected to return about 6.7 oz (0.42 lb) of cremated remains. 6.7 oz
Method: 12 lb x 3.5% x 16 oz/lb · Confidence: medium
Using the industry rule of thumb of 1 cubic inch of urn space per pound of body weight, a 12 lb cat needs an urn of about 12 cubic inches; a 70 lb dog needs about 70 cubic inches. 12 cu in (cat); 70 cu in (dog)
Method: urn cu in = body weight lb x 1 (industry rule of thumb, not a measured value) · Confidence: medium
A median-weight pet guinea pig (1.05 kg) would be expected to return about 37 g (1.3 oz) of cremated remains. 37 g
Method: 1,050 g x 3.5% · Confidence: low
A median-weight adult pet rabbit (2.1 kg) would be expected to return about 74 g (2.6 oz) of cremated remains. 74 g
Method: 2,100 g x 3.5% · Confidence: low
A median-weight giant-breed dog (48.8 kg / 108 lb) would be expected to return about 1.71 kg (3.8 lb) of cremated remains, needing an urn of about 108 cubic inches. 3.8 lb
Method: 48.8 kg x 3.5% x 2.2046 lb/kg; urn = 108 lb x 1 cu in/lb · Confidence: medium
At an average rate of 250 lb per hour, the burn phase for a 1,100 lb horse would take at least about 4.4 hours, not counting preheating and cool-down. 4.4 hours
Method: 1,100 lb / 250 lb per hour · Confidence: medium
About 92,400 U.S. horses would be expected to die or be euthanized each year (6.6 million horses x 1.4% annual mortality). 92,400 horses per year
Method: 6,600,000 x 1.4% · Confidence: medium
Using the higher 2005 NAHMS rate for equids over 30 days old (1.8%), U.S. horse deaths would be about 118,800 per year, so a reasonable range is roughly 92,000-119,000. 118,800 horses per year
Method: 6,600,000 x 1.8% · Confidence: medium
The often-quoted figure of 900,000 horse disposals per year would imply an annual horse death rate of about 13.6%, roughly 10 times the USDA-measured rate of 1.4%. 13.6%
Method: 900,000 / 6,600,000 x 100 · Confidence: high
Texas can expect roughly 10,484 horse deaths per year (748,829 horses x 1.4%), about 29 per day. 10,484 per year
Method: 748,829 x 1.4%; / 365 for daily · Confidence: medium
Midpoint horse cremation cost works out to about $0.80 per pound of body weight, versus about $0.14 per pound for rendering pickup and $0.23 per pound for on-farm composting. $0.80/lb
Method: cremation $800 / 1,000 lb; rendering $137.50 / 1,000 lb; composting $275 / 1,200 lb · Confidence: medium
Choosing on-farm composting instead of cremation saves a horse owner roughly $525 at midpoint prices (2012-2019 extension figures, not inflation-adjusted). $525
Method: $800 cremation midpoint - $275 composting midpoint · Confidence: low
If every U.S. horse that dies in a year were cremated at the $800 midpoint, total spending would be about $74 million; rendering them all would cost about $12.7 million. $74 million
Method: 92,400 horses x $800; 92,400 x $137.50 · Confidence: low
A 1,100 lb horse uses about 73% of a 1,500 lb animal incinerator load, so large-animal units generally cremate one horse at a time. 73% of chamber capacity
Method: 1,100 / 1,500 x 100 · Confidence: medium
Michigan's burial density cap of 10,000 lb of animals per acre works out to at most about 9 1,100 lb horses per acre. 9 horses per acre
Method: 10,000 lb / 1,100 lb, rounded down · Confidence: high
England's 50 m well setback for burying a horse equals about 164 feet, 1.6 times Pennsylvania's 100-foot minimum setback from wells. 164 ft
Method: 50 m x 3.2808 ft/m; 164 / 100 · Confidence: high
About 10,630 U.S. cattle and calves died every day in 2015. 10,630 per day
Method: 3,880,000 / 365 · Confidence: high
The average value lost per dead cow or calf in 2015 was about $997. $997 per head
Method: $3.87 billion / 3.88 million head · Confidence: high
Texas lost about 1,452 cattle and calves per day in 2015. 1,452 per day
Method: (310,000 + 220,000) / 365 · Confidence: high
Composting a 1,400 lb dairy cow would need roughly 14-16.8 cubic yards of cover material. 15.4 cu yd (midpoint)
Method: 1.4 x (10 to 12 cu yd per 1,000 lb) · Confidence: medium
The average value lost per dead sheep or lamb in 2019 was about $200; for goats and kids in 2015 it was about $139. $200 per head
Method: $121.6 million / 607,000; $69.6 million / 500,000 · Confidence: high
Each HPAI-infected premises averaged about 102,814 affected birds (Feb 2022-Sep 2025). 102,814 birds per premises
Method: 179,000,000 / 1,741 · Confidence: medium
African grey parrots' median captive life expectancy (9 years) is only about 19% of their captive longevity record (48 years); for macaws it is 43% (21 of 49 years). 19%
Method: 9 / 48 x 100; 21 / 49 x 100 · Confidence: high
If Jonathan the tortoise hatched in 1832, he is about 194 years old in 2026. 194 years
Method: 2026 - 1832 · Confidence: medium
An average UK cat lives about 6.7 times as long as an average pet hamster (11.74 vs 1.75 years). 6.7x
Method: 11.74 / 1.75 · Confidence: high
A koi (30-40 years) can be expected to live about 5.4 times as long as a typical goldfish (6-7 years). 5.4x
Method: 35 / 6.5 (range midpoints) · Confidence: medium
If U.S. reptile-owning households each acquired one reptile a year and first-year mortality matched the UK study (3.6%), about 216,000 new pet reptiles would die within a year; the contested 75% figure would imply 4.5 million. 216,000
Method: 6,000,000 households x 1 reptile x 3.6%; vs x 75% · Confidence: low
Horse rendering costs about $0.14 per pound and composting about $0.23 per pound, both well below incineration at $0.75 per pound, and composting is comparable to a biodigester at $0.25 per pound. $0.23/lb composting
Method: $275 / 1,200 lb (composting); $137.50 / 1,000 lb (rendering); $0.25 and $0.75 per lb from extension · Confidence: medium
Costs and consumer choices (28 estimates)
Across 12 published private/individual cremation prices for a medium (~20-25 kg / 45-55 lb) dog in 10 countries, the median is about $294 USD (range $186-$415). ~$294 median (range $186-$415)
Method: median(price_i x FX_i) over: UK large vet groups, medium dog (GBP 234.23) = $312; UK independent crematoria, medium dog (GBP 208.50) = $277; US CareCredit 31-50 lb midpoint ($200) = $200; Australia 20-30 kg median (AUD 480) = $317; Auckland 15-25 kg (NZD 445) = $267; Vancouver Island 41-60 lb (CAD 255) = $186; Ontario 25-250 lb (CAD 549) = $401; Hong Kong 20-30 kg basic (HKD 3,000) = $384; Tokyo 20-30 kg individual (JPY 38,500) = $262; France 20 kg midpoint (EUR 200) = $230; Norway 21-50 kg (NOK 4,190) = $415; Singapore 10-20 kg (SGD 480) = $374 · Confidence: medium
The median price multiple of private (ashes returned) over communal cremation across 8 markets is about 2.0x, ranging from 1.25x (Tokyo) to 5.2x (Auckland). ~2.0x
Method: median(private_price / communal_price) same weight band: US CareCredit 51-70 lb midpoints (250/75) = 3.33x; Auckland 15-25 kg (445/85) = 5.24x; Norway 1-20 kg (3790/1190) = 3.18x; Singapore 10-20 kg (480/260) = 1.85x; Ontario 25-250 lb (549/279) = 1.97x; Tokyo 20-30 kg (38500/30800) = 1.25x; France 20 kg midpoints (200/95) = 2.11x; Germany range midpoints (270/145) = 1.86x · Confidence: medium
In the US, at-home dog euthanasia costs about 2.9x the in-clinic price ($410 vs $139 national averages). 2.95x (+$271)
Method: 410 / 139 = 2.95; 410 - 139 = 271 · Confidence: high
For cats, at-home euthanasia costs about 2.3x the in-clinic price in the US ($359 vs $158). 2.27x
Method: 359 / 158 = 2.27 · Confidence: high
Hawaii at-home dog euthanasia costs about 2.2x Mississippi's ($734 vs $329): a $405 state-to-state gap. 2.23x; $405 gap
Method: 734 / 329 = 2.23; 734 - 329 = 405 · Confidence: high
A typical US dog end-of-life bill is about $670 with at-home euthanasia plus private cremation, versus about $399 with clinic euthanasia plus private cremation. $670 home; $399 clinic
Method: 410 + 260 = 670; 139 + 260 = 399 · Confidence: medium
US pet cemetery burial for a dog costs about 3.2x a private cremation ($831 vs $260 national averages). 3.2x
Method: 831 / 260 = 3.20 · Confidence: high
Private cremation cost per pound falls with size in the US: roughly $9.2/lb for a 15 lb pet, $4.2/lb at 60 lb and about $4.0/lb at 100 lb. $9.2 -> $4.2 -> $4.0 per lb
Method: band midpoint price / representative weight: 0-30 lb (midpoint $137.50 / 15 lb) = $9.17/lb; 51-70 lb ($250 / 60 lb) = $4.17/lb; over 90 lb ($400 / ~100 lb) = $4.00/lb · Confidence: medium
UK large vet groups' individual cremation prices average about 15% above independent crematoria's published prices for the same pet size. ~15% premium
Method: mean((LVG median / independent crematorium price) - 1): small dog 17.5%; medium dog 12.3%; large dog 13.4%; XL dog 13.9%; cat 16.8% · Confidence: medium
UK large vet groups' average individual cremation price for dogs (GBP 249.47) is about 63% above the median charged by independent vet practices (GBP 153.36). +63%
Method: 249.47 / 153.36 - 1 = 0.627 · Confidence: medium
UK large vet groups' combined cremation and euthanasia revenue works out to about GBP 170 per cremation sold in 2023/24, below their typical individual-cremation list prices of GBP 187-313. ~GBP 170 per cremation
Method: 68,000,000 / 400,000 = 170 · Confidence: low
About 52% of all UK owners whose pet dies end up buying a cremation through, or on the recommendation of, their vet. ~52%
Method: 67% cremate x 78% buy via vet/OOH or vet recommendation = 52.3% · Confidence: high
Only about 6% of all bereaved UK pet owners compare cremation providers before buying. ~6%
Method: 67% cremate x 9% compared = 6.0% · Confidence: high
Roughly 3-4% of all bereaved UK owners find their cremation provider through online search. ~3.4%
Method: 67% cremate x 5% chose via online search = 3.35% · Confidence: high
About 19% of all US dog deaths are in-home euthanasias. ~18.9%
Method: 83.0% euthanised x 22.8% of euthanasias at home = 18.9% · Confidence: medium
Of US dogs that die at home, about 58% are euthanised there by a vet rather than dying unassisted. ~58%
Method: 18.9% at-home euthanasia / 32.4% all at-home deaths = 58.4% · Confidence: medium
Euthanasia accounts for about 8.5 percentage points more dog deaths in UK primary-care records (91.5%) than in the US Dog Aging Project (83.0%). +8.5 pp
Method: 91.5 - 83.0 = 8.5 · Confidence: low
UK and US survey evidence converges on roughly two-thirds of bereaved owners choosing cremation (UK 67%; US 68% ever) and about 29-32% choosing burial. ~2/3 cremation; ~30% burial
Method: mean(67, 68) = 67.5; burial range 29% (UK) to 32% (US) · Confidence: medium
Among Japanese owners expressing a preference, roughly 85% prefer an individual pet funeral over a joint one. ~85%
Method: 60 / (60 + 10) = 0.857 (using the lower bounds '60%+' and '10%+') · Confidence: low
The CMA's estimated ~GBP 100 overpayment equals about 40% of the average UK vet-group individual cremation price for a dog. ~40%
Method: 100 / 249.47 = 0.40 · Confidence: medium
Lemonade's $500 end-of-life cap would cover about 75% of a typical $670 US at-home euthanasia + private cremation bill; Figo's $250 add-on covers about 96% of an average $260 private cremation. 75% / 96%
Method: 500 / 670 = 0.746; 250 / 260 = 0.962 · Confidence: medium
In Tokyo, private communal pet cremation for a small pet (JPY 14,300) costs about 4.8x the ward's municipal collection fee (JPY 3,000). 4.8x
Method: 14,300 / 3,000 = 4.77 · Confidence: high
UAE separate cremation for a pet up to 30 kg (~AED 2,500, about $681) costs about 2.6x the US national average private cremation ($260). ~2.6x
Method: 2,500 AED x 0.2723 = $681; 681 / 260 · Confidence: medium
A private cremation for a Labrador-sized dog costs about 27% more in Australia (AUD 480 median, ~$317) than the US 51-70 lb midpoint ($250). ~+27%
Method: 480 x 0.66 = 317; 317/250 - 1 · Confidence: low
The median listed in-home euthanasia fee among Ontario mobile vets is about CAD 540 (~$394), roughly -4% above the US national average of $410. CAD 540
Method: median(395, 485 [upper of 395-485], 495, 585 [lower of 585-750], 610, 750) = 540.0 · Confidence: low
A 30 kg (66 lb) dog typically leaves about 0.9-1.5 kg of cremated remains, which helps size urns on location pages. 0.9-1.5 kg
Method: 30 kg x 3% = 0.9 kg; 30 kg x 5% = 1.5 kg · Confidence: medium
Applying Seattle's ~30% pet-spending premium to the US average suggests private dog cremation around $340 in Seattle. ~$338
Method: 260 x 1.30 = 338 · Confidence: low
Published ashes-return times across the network's markets range from same-day (paid express) to about 4 weeks; a conservative typical window is 3-14 days. 3-14 days typical
Method: min/max across sources: Lambeth 3 days; US 5-10 days; RSPCA QLD within 14 days; AniCura Sweden 2-4 weeks · Confidence: medium
Memorials, grief and the market (25 estimates)
On Market.us figures, the global pet funeral services market adds about USD 240 million in revenue per year on average between 2024 and 2034. ~USD 240 million/yr
Method: (4.1B - 1.7B) / 10 years · Confidence: medium
Two published estimates put the 2025 global pet funeral services market between about USD 1.85 billion and USD 2.11 billion. USD 1.85–2.11 billion
Method: Low = 1.7B x 1.091 (Market.us 2024 value grown one year at its CAGR); High = Mordor 2025 value 2.11B; midpoint shown · Confidence: medium
Pet urns alone are likely a USD 1.1 billion-plus global product category. >= USD 1.14 billion
Method: 2.85B pet memorials market (2024) x 40% urn share (2023) · Confidence: low
Memorial products inside the Market.us pet funeral market are worth about USD 245 million. ~USD 245 million
Method: 1.7B x 14.4% · Confidence: medium
U.S. pet cremation was roughly a USD 375 million-a-year business around 2020. ~USD 375 million
Method: 1.5M cremations x USD 250 average price · Confidence: low
The average U.S. pet crematory generated about USD 375,000 in cremation revenue a year. ~USD 375,000
Method: 1,500 cremations per crematory x USD 250 · Confidence: low
A human-scale flame cremation burns about 264 kWh of natural-gas energy. ~264 kWh (thermal)
Method: 25 m3 natural gas x 10.55 kWh/m3 (typical gross calorific value) · Confidence: medium
Switching one human-scale cremation to alkaline hydrolysis saves about 112 kg CO2e under TNO's accounting. ~112 kg CO2e
Method: 79.9 - (-31.8) kg CO2e · Confidence: medium
On Matthews' U.S. estimate, aquamation would avoid about 480 lb of CO2 per human-scale cremation. ~481 lb CO2
Method: 534.6 lb x 90% (aquamation ~1/10 of the cremation footprint) · Confidence: medium
Each shelter-animal flame cremation emits about 31 kg CO2e on average. ~31 kg CO2e per animal
Method: 19,000 t CO2e / 607,000 animals · Confidence: medium
U.S. pet flame cremations emit on the order of 47,000 t CO2e a year. ~47,000 t CO2e/yr
Method: 1.5M pet cremations x 31.3 kg CO2e · Confidence: low
If just 10% of U.S. pet cremations moved to aquamation, about 4,200 t CO2e a year would be avoided. ~4,200 t CO2e/yr
Method: 1.5M x 10% x 31.3 kg x 90% reduction · Confidence: low
About 7 in every 100 UK adults may have had a pet's death hit harder than any human loss. ~6.8 per 100 adults
Method: 32.6% have lost a pet x 21% chose pet as most distressing · Confidence: low
Each year about 110,000 U.S. pet owners may go on to meet prolonged grief disorder criteria after a pet dies. ~112,500 people/yr
Method: 1.5M pet cremations (proxy for pet deaths with an engaged owner) x 7.5% PGD rate · Confidence: low
Roughly 850,000 bereaved U.S. pet households a year may not find the grief support they need. ~850,000 households/yr
Method: 1.5M pet cremations x 56.7% couldn't find support · Confidence: low
Around 765,000 U.S. families a year are likely open to a personalized pet keepsake. ~765,000 families/yr
Method: 1.5M pet cremations x 51% interest in personalized memorials · Confidence: low
Freeze-drying a pet costs about 6 times as much as an average cremation. ~6x
Method: USD 1,500 (midpoint of USD 1,000–2,000) / USD 250 · Confidence: medium
Freeze-drying a 10 lb cat at one published price list would cost about USD 2,290–2,590. USD 2,291–2,585
Method: Low: 2,095 + 49 x (10-6) lb; High: 2,095 + 49 x 10 lb · Confidence: medium
A full Hartsdale pet burial costs about 28 times as much as an average pet cremation. ~28x
Method: USD 7,000 / USD 250 · Confidence: medium
Hartsdale Pet Cemetery holds about 21,600 interments per acre. ~21,600 per acre
Method: 80,000 interments / 3.71 acres · Confidence: medium
North America's cremation urn market grows by about USD 52 million a year to 2033. ~USD 52 million/yr
Method: (1,224M - 756M) / 9 years · Confidence: medium
U.S. human cremation-rate growth is slowing, from about 1.4 points a year (2021–2025) to about 1.3 points a year (2025–2030). 1.40 -> 1.26 pp/yr
Method: (62.8-57.2)/4 vs (69.1-62.8)/5 · Confidence: high
About 59 million U.S. pet-owning households may be open to eco-friendly aftercare options. ~59 million households
Method: 86.9M pet households x 68% interested in green funeral options · Confidence: low
The pet preservation (freeze-dry/taxidermy) market adds only about USD 2.7 million a year, far slower than pet funeral services. ~USD 2.7 million/yr
Method: (112.7M - 88.6M) / 9 years · Confidence: medium
At 1,500 cremations a year, a cremation retort would reach its roughly 25,000-cycle life in about 17 years. ~17 years
Method: 25,000 cycles / 1,500 cremations per year · Confidence: low
Memorial product prices (28 estimates)
Across 15 US pet cemeteries' posted starting burial prices, the median entry price was about $600. ~$600
Method: median of starting prices [400,185,300,550,575,99,660.44,730,740,850,850,800,850,600,600] · Confidence: medium
Across five posted US pet-cemetery price lists, the median whole-body burial for a small pet, including plot and opening/closing, was about $350. ~$350
Method: median of [Rainier $150 plot incl. first burial, Cedar Bend $290, Forest $350, Great River $750, Precious Memories $1,500] · Confidence: medium
Eterneva's memorial diamonds cost roughly $14,000–$15,000 per carat whether small or large. ~$14k–$15k/ct
Method: 0.25 ct $3,499 / 0.25 = $13,996/ct; 1 ct $15,000/ct; 5 ct $75,000 / 5 = $15,000/ct · Confidence: high
The entry-level Eterneva memorial diamond (0.25 ct) costs about 27 times a typical sterling silver ashes pendant. ~27×
Method: $3,499 / $129 (Urns.com sterling silver median) · Confidence: medium
The cheapest advertised memorial diamond costs about 8 times a typical sterling silver ashes pendant. ~8×
Method: $995 (EverDear colorless from) / $129 (Urns.com sterling silver median) · Confidence: medium
Memorial diamond production takes about 8.5 months on average across three providers' stated timelines, ranging from 4 to 12 months. ~8.5 months
Method: mean of midpoints: Eterneva 7–10 (8.5), LONITÉ 12, Saint Diamonds 4–6 (5) = (8.5+12+5)/3 · Confidence: medium
Entry-level solid 14k gold pet-ash pendants cost about 15 times entry-level sterling silver ones at the same retailer. ~15×
Method: $1,297.95 / $87.95 (Memorials.com starting prices) · Confidence: high
Entry-level sterling silver pet-ash necklaces cost about 4.4 times entry-level stainless steel ones. ~4.4×
Method: $87.95 / $19.95 (Memorials.com starting prices) · Confidence: high
The typical sterling silver pet cremation pendant costs about $190, based on the middle of three sellers' price points. ~$190
Method: median of [Urns.com median $129, Memorials.com midpoint of $87.95–$297.95 = $193, Final Gift sterling paw pendant $240] · Confidence: low
Marble pet urns cost about 3 times ceramic ones, consistently across a price guide and a crematory price list. ~3×
Method: Memorials.com midpoints marble $190 / ceramic $60 = 3.2×; Final Gift marble $260 / ceramic figurine $90 = 2.9× · Confidence: medium
Name-and-dates engraving adds about 36% to the price of a mid-priced wooden pet urn. ~+36%
Method: midpoint engraving $32.50 ($25–$40) / midpoint wood urn $90 ($30–$150) · Confidence: low
At a $50 average, engraving is about half the price of a typical $98 wooden pet urn from a crematory catalog. ~51%
Method: $50 (average engraving) / $98 (Final Gift typical wood urn) · Confidence: low
Private pet aquamation costs about 2.5 times communal aquamation at the same provider. ~2.5×
Method: mean of tier ratios 150/50, 200/75, 250/100, 350/150, 450/225 · Confidence: high
Private aquamation for a 21–50 lb dog costs about $200–$259 at two posted US price lists. $200–$259
Method: Delaware 10–49 lb $200; A Greener Place 21–50 lb $259 · Confidence: medium
On a per-pound-above-threshold reading of its price list, one Ohio studio would charge about $4,851 to freeze-dry a 50 lb dog. ~$4,851
Method: $2,781 + $69 × (50 − 20) lb · Confidence: low
Freeze-drying a cat or small dog costs about 10 times a private cremation. ~10×
Method: midpoint freeze-dry $1,750 ($1,000–$2,500) / $175 (private cremation 3–24 lb, NC provider) · Confidence: medium
Hartsdale's one-time perpetual care fee equals about 33 years of its annual maintenance fee. ~33 years
Method: $3,500 / $105 per year · Confidence: high
At Chestnut Lodge, ten years of green-plot maintenance (£550) adds about 85% to the original green burial fee. ~+85% over 10 yrs
Method: £55/yr × 10 / £650 (smallest green burial) · Confidence: medium
A formal attended burial with coffin costs about 51% more than a green burial for the same size pet at a UK pet cemetery. ~+51%
Method: (£980 − £650) / £650 · Confidence: high
Burying a pet's ashes (unattended) costs about one-eleventh of a whole-body green burial at the same UK cemetery. ~11× cheaper
Method: £650 / £60 · Confidence: high
Opening and closing the grave makes up 33–47% of a whole-body pet burial at a natural burial ground. 33–47%
Method: $250/$750 (small) to $450/$950 (large) · Confidence: high
Posted surcharges to witness or view a pet cremation range from $25 to $350, with a median of about $125 across four data points. ~$125 median
Method: median of [$25 guide low, $100 guide high, $150 NC provider, $350 VA provider] · Confidence: low
Engraved pet garden stones start at about $39 at the median of three US sellers. ~$39
Method: median of starting prices [$38 Adirondack, $38.95 Memorials.com, $89.99 Comfort Co.] · Confidence: medium
Photo-etched or flat granite pet markers start at about $158–$160 at two US sellers. ~$158–$160
Method: Memorials.com flat granite from $157.95; Comfort Co. photo granite from $159.99 · Confidence: medium
A 1 oz keepsake urn can cost about a third more than a full-size wooden urn at the same crematory. ~1.34×
Method: CA$106 heart keepsake / CA$79 solid wood urn · Confidence: medium
Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76. ~$32
Method: median of [$10 clay (AGP), $15 laser engraving (AGP), $49 ink (Final Gift), $76 clay (Final Gift)] · Confidence: low
Weekend rush cremation costs 6 times the weekday rush fee at one North Carolina provider. 6×
Method: $300 / $50 · Confidence: high
A private pet-loss counselling hour (CA$220 in Calgary) costs about as much as a basic private cremation, while at least four university and charity lines in the US, UK and Australia/NZ are free to call. CA$220 vs free
Method: Count of free-to-call lines: Tufts, Cornell, Blue Cross, Pets and People (free call) · Confidence: medium
Key figures
The numbers we rely on for fish and koi
| Fact | Figure | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| US households with freshwater fish | 10 million[1] | Primary |
| US households with saltwater fish | 2 million[2] | Primary |
| Home aquariums in Europe | 17.6 million[3] | Primary |
| UK households with outdoor pond fish | 11%[4] | Primary |
| Typical koi lifespan | 30-40 years[5] | Primary |
| Typical goldfish lifespan | 6-7 years[6] | Primary |
For aftercare itself we rely on general pet figures and say so. Cremated remains usually weigh about 3-5% of body weight[7], a rule drawn mostly from mammals. Fish skeletons are lighter, so we treat a fish's ash return as a likely upper limit, not a promise. A memorial pendant holds only a pinch (at most about a teaspoon)[8], which is why we often suggest small keepsakes for fish.
5.4x[9]
Try the numbers on your own fish with the ashes weight estimator, which converts a weight into an expected ash range, then check a price range with the cremation cost calculator.
Free tool
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
A cautionary example
The two-century koi, and why we don't repeat it
You'll often read that a Japanese koi named Hanako lived for more than two centuries. The figure came from counting growth rings on her scales, and she was listed at 223 years[10] at one point. The Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association now says the age is considered incorrect, because koi scales can form several rings a year.
So we quote the typical range of 30-40 years[5] and mention Hanako only as a story that's been corrected. The same rule applies everywhere on this site: when a famous number has been challenged by the people best placed to know, we show the correction, not the legend.
Filling the gaps
Where fish data runs out, and what we do instead
There's no national survey of what fish owners do when a fish dies. We know a great deal about how many fish are kept and traded: according to a peer-reviewed analysis of US wildlife imports, between 2000 and 2013 tropical fish made up 25%[11] of the wildlife specimens imported into the US. But the aftercare side, how many are cremated, buried or flushed, simply hasn't been measured.
So we're careful about which general findings we borrow. Pet-loss surveys that cover all species are useful for grief and cost attitudes, and we say when a figure is about pets in general rather than fish. We don't turn our reader polls into percentages about fish owners, and we don't guess at how many koi are cremated each year. If a good study appears, we'll add it.
When you do see a fish-specific number on our pages, it will be one of three kinds: an ownership or lifespan figure from a primary source, a price from a named seller, or our own estimate with its method shown. Anything else is a rule of thumb, and we'll call it that.
Standards
Our editorial rules for fish pages
- Every fact names its country. A UK pond survey stays a UK finding. About 13%[12] of UK households keep indoor fish, per UK Pet Food, but we don't apply that to the US.
- No made-up people. We don't publish reviews, ratings or customer stories.
- Prices come with a source and a range. We never quote a single figure as what you'll pay.
- Polls are opinions, not data. Our fish owner polls are live and anonymous and are never presented as research.
- We're a guide, not a crematory. Providers set their own terms; we pass on what they tell us.
More about who we are and how replies work is on our about page.
Fixing mistakes
How to report an error or suggest a source
Use the form at the top of this page. Choose "Something else" from the first menu, then in the notes tell us which page you were reading, what looks wrong and, if you can, where you found a better figure. Koi keepers, aquatic vets and fish clubs often have knowledge that hasn't been published, and we're glad to hear it.
We go back to the original source, correct the page if needed and update its review date. If the figure feeds one of our estimates, we recalculate it everywhere it appears. We'll email you to say what changed, or why we left it as it was.
Which fish are you thinking about right now?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Being honest
What we don't claim about fish aftercare
- We don't claim a specific ash amount for your fish. Small fish may return little or nothing visible.
- We don't claim every pet crematory accepts fish; many handle them rarely.
- We don't give disposal rules for your area. Local environment and wildlife agencies set those, and release of live fish is illegal in many places.
- We don't take payment to recommend a provider.
When you're ready to act on the numbers, the planning worksheet keeps your fish's details together, and the symbolic ash yield guide explains what to expect from cremation. The services page shows the options those numbers feed into, and our locations directory covers what changes near you.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Which fish are you thinking about right now?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
When your fish died, did people around you take it seriously?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Where are (or will be) your pet's ashes?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tools to help you plan
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Aftercare options compared
Compare private, communal and water cremation with burial on cost, timing and what comes home.
Questions people ask
How long do koi really live?
Typically 30-40 years[5], depending on water quality, diet and genetics. Claims of koi living over 200 years are based on scale-ring counts that experts now consider unreliable. A well-kept koi can still outlive several family dogs.
Why don't you give an exact ash weight for fish?
Because nobody has published good data on fish specifically. The general rule of about 3 to 5% of body weight comes mainly from mammals, and fish skeletons are lighter. We present it as an upper guide and suggest asking the provider what they expect.
What counts as a primary source on your site?
One that measured the figure directly: a government or national survey, a peer-reviewed study, a regulator or an official agency. Secondary sources, like retailers and insurers, are still useful, particularly for prices, and each is labelled.
Are your fish poll results scientific?
No. Our polls are open to anyone, anonymous and live, so they show what readers chose rather than what all fish owners think. We never use them as evidence on research pages.
Can I suggest research you've missed?
Yes, please do. Use the form on this page, choose "Something else" and paste a link or the name of the study. We'll read it, add it if it meets our standards, and let you know by email.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] About 10 million US households keep freshwater fish. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, 2025.
- [2] About 2 million US households keep saltwater fish. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 National Pet Owners Survey release, 2025.
- [3] Europe has about 17.6 million home aquariums. FEDIAF European Pet Food, Facts & Figures 2025 (2023 data), 2023.
- [4] 11% of UK households keep an outdoor pond with fish. UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) Pet Population 2026, 2026.
- [5] Nishikigoi (koi) typically live about 30 to 40 years depending on their environment. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association - Ancient koi 'Hanako', 2024.
- [6] Goldfish typically live 6-7 years, usually grow 5-8 inches but can approach 2 feet and 6 pounds; releasing them into Minnesota waters is illegal. Minnesota DNR - Goldfish (Carassius auratus) invasive species page.
- [7] Embrace notes cremated remains typically weigh about 3-5% of the pet's original body weight. Embrace Pet Insurance - Bury or Cremate Your Dog? Costs, Pros & Cons, 2025.
- [8] An ashes pendant holds only a pinch of cremated remains (the retailer says at most about a teaspoon; most pendants hold far less), and most come with a small funnel fill kit. Memorials.com – Pet ashes necklaces, 2026.
- [9] A koi (30-40 years) can be expected to live about 5.4 times as long as a typical goldfish (6-7 years). Our estimate: 35 / 6.5 (range midpoints). How we calculate.
- [10] The famous koi 'Hanako' was listed at 223 years old from scale rings, but the Japanese koi association now says the age is considered incorrect because koi scales form multiple ridges per year. All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association - Ancient koi 'Hanako', 1977.
- [11] From 2000-2013 the U.S. imported about 11 billion wildlife specimens; tropical fish were 25% of specimens and one-third of shipments contained live animals, mostly for the aquatic and pet industries. Smith KM et al. Summarizing US Wildlife Trade with an Eye Toward Assessing the Risk of Infectious Disease Introduction. EcoHealth, 2017 (PMID 28176029), 2017.
- [12] 13% of UK households keep indoor fish and 11% keep outdoor pond fish (2026). UK Pet Food (industry association) - UK Pet Population 2026, 2026.
Spotted an error? Tell us
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.