Suppose you opted for a cremation service for a family member and are considering an ash-scattering memorial. In that case, this ash-scattering guide will walk you through the safe way to scatter cremation ashes, the different options available to you, the laws on scattering cremated remains, and what service providers offer scattering service options.
How to scatter ashes safely
Firstly, let’s consider how important it is to safely scatter cremated remains. Cremation ashes are sterile, organic matter, so it is safe to disperse them into the environment. However, there are some important points you need to consider if you are planning on scattering a loved one’s cremation ashes.
Cremated remains are not always a white powder-like consistency (despite the common myth). Although they are organic matter, it is important to follow certain safe dispersal considerantions.
If you plan to personally scatter by dispersing the ashes into the air, ocean, waterway, or ground, here are some tips to ensure you can scatter the remains safely and respectfully.
Remember the texture of cremated remains & how this affects the dispersal.
Cremains are the crushed bone fragments that remain after cremation. The cremation ashes are not always uniform in texture. The cremation ash can contain ashes that are as light as dust or powder and will easily disperse, but there can be coarser pieces that will not disperse as easily.
Sometimes, cremated remains may ‘clump’ together inside a cremation container, especially if the ashes have been sitting in an urn for some time. It may be advisable to check the consistency of the ashes. You can gently shake the urn or use a tool (like a wooden spoon) to carefully check, stir, and separate the cremated remains if they seem ‘lumpy.’
#1. Consider wind direction before the dispersal of cremation ashes from a container
If you plan to empty cremains from a container or urn, bear in mind the wind direction. The light, powder-like cremains can easily blow back on you as you empty the container.
Remember the Big Lebowski moment where the ‘Dude’ played by Jeff Bridges, ends up covered in Donnie’s ashes as they scatter them from a coffee tin on the Pacific coast?
This is definitely NOT how an ash-scattering should go.
Aside from the fact that there is an ick factor in being covered with cremated remains, it is also not safe to have cremated remains blow into your eyes. It is possible that small particles (as they are bone fragments) could be sharp and irritate the eyes.
So, check the wind direction BEFORE you empty the cremation urn!
If a group is gathered to disperse the ashes, ensure everyone is together grouped perpendicular to the wind.
Expect some of the cremains to fall as lumps, or a ‘clot,’ of cremated ash.
As mentioned above, it is common for some particles to bind together in the cremation container, which means that not all the ash will disperse as powder.
Do not be surprised if some larger particles and lumps of ash fall to the ground as you attempt to disperse. Consider using the tips above to gently separate cremated remains that appear stuck together.
#2. Only use organic material for any scattering memorial tribute
The cremains are organic and safe for the environment. If you want to do something to accompany the scattering to pay tribute, bear in mind that it should also be organic in nature.
For example, some people like to scatter flower petals as they release the ashes or even small handwritten goodbye notes on paper or tissue. Anything that poses no environmental harm and will naturally decompose is safe and acceptable.
#3. Be respectful of other people’s feelings about ash-scattering
Different folks have differing feelings about scattering ashes. Not everyone is comfortable with it. Although the Catholic Church has now accepted cremation, it still mandates against ash-scattering and that cremated remains should be interred in ‘sacred ground.’
Be discreet when choosing a public area, and/or choose a time to scatter when fewer people are around. Find some distance from the beaten path on a beach or in a public park!
#4. Be mindful of your choice of location for scattering ashes
The laws governing the scattering of ashes are somewhat vague at present, except in places that prohibit it or require permits, such as sports grounds, national parks, and historic landmarks.
Be mindful of where you choose to scatter. Will the location exist in perpetuity? As a legacy to a loved one, or for any future family who may wish to know or visit the tribute site.
Important considerations when choosing a scattering site include accessibility and long-term access to the site. Some families have no intention of returning to an ash-scattering site, but future generations may, at some point, wish to feel ‘connected’ to a lost family member. Will the location still be there and accessible in the years to come?
These points should help you plan a safe ash scattering in which family and friends can participate and pay a fitting tribute to your lost loved one.
Check out your State Funeral Planning Guides on US Funerals Online for local ash scattering guidance in your state. Each state guide includes a section on local laws and popular ash-scattering sites.
#5. Where can I scatter cremation ashes?
This is a BIG question! There are relatively few places that have mandated the prohibition of scattering cremated remains. So, apart from some Sports Grounds, Historic Landmarks, and Public Parks, you have a lot of choices.
Because of several wildcat* scatterings in recent years, several places that were popular for this type of wildcat scattering have now prohibited it.
These include football and baseball stadiums, race tracks, and large public parks such as Central Park in NYC.
Most National Parks will permit the scattering of ashes as long as the points raised above about safe scattering are observed. However, a few parks require families to obtain a permit before scattering cremains.
Any private land requires only the landowner’s permission, and many clubs and outdoor business locations have benefited from embracing the demand for ash scattering. For example, many golf courses facilitate the scattering of ashes on a favorite hole.
Scattering at the ocean side or out at sea is a common practice in coastal states. This can take two forms: dispersing the ashes on the beach or from rocks, or taking a boat out to sea.
Scattering ashes on the beach or ground
Creating a trench for cremation ashes:
Trenching is the term for digging a shallow trench in which to place the cremated remains. The ashes can be emptied directly into the trench, or a biodegradable urn can be buried in the trench.
This is the closest compromise to a traditional burial. It can be done at a bespoke green cemetery or in a natural green place.
This is generally done at low tide at a beach, allowing the ashes to wash into the ocean as the tide comes in.
Points to consider:
- Ensure you take the correct tools to dig a suitable trench, bearing in mind the ground you need to open.
- Generally, about a foot is deep enough to bury a biodegradable urn or to disperse ashes.
- If you wish to place a memorial marker, ensure it is suitable for the location. Rocks, pebbles, wood, or flowers would be acceptable in most natural landscapes.
Raking the cremated remains into soil or sand:
Raking of ashes is just that! Raking the scattered ashes into loose soil or sand. This exposes the ashes to the elements, so they break down more quickly and are absorbed into the ground. Organic cremated remains can be raked into topsoil in flower gardens or other natural locales.
Points to consider:
- Use an appropriate tool to rake the cremains into the ground.
- Like trenching, be sure to consider how the location may change over time.
Scattering cremains in water – Ocean, Lake, River, or waterway
Scattering cremated remains in a body of water is probably one of the most popular ways that people choose to scatter cremated remains. And there are so many water options….from scattering ash in the ocean, at a beach, a roaring river, or a peaceful lake.
If you choose to scatter on a beach or from the edge of a lake, hosting your own ash-scattering memorial is quite simple. A boat will be required if a family wishes to go to sea to scatter or onto a lake.
Both can be done relatively inexpensively, especially if you have a boat.
Several charter services also offer sea scatterings. A scattering of ashes at sea can be accompanied or unaccompanied.
Some charter companies offer unaccompanied sea scattering services at an affordable price, as they can take out several remains in one charter to perform sea scatterings.
A chartered, accompanied sea scattering can cost anything upwards of $450, depending on the size of the boat and the length of the charter. Unaccompanied scattering services can start at around $100 – $150 as an incremental add-on to a cremation package.
Generally, the charter will provide the family with GPS coordinates for scattering and a sea scattering certificate.
Scattering cremation remains by airplane.
Scattering ashes by air is an option for those who are landlocked. It is less common than sea scattering because it requires specialized aircraft and a pilot, and can be expensive.
Air transport can be unaccompanied or accompanied, but since most services are offered by small planes, it is not suitable for large groups.
One of the most challenging aspects of air scattering is preventing cremains from blowing back into the cabin. Most specialized air-scattering companies have the equipment to safely disperse ashes without the risk of cremains blowing into the aircraft.
Points to consider:
- Remember that ashes scattered in the air will spread and disperse over a wide area.
- If you have a large family or group that wishes to participate, this option may not be a good fit. If you are set on an air scattering, you could consider an unaccompanied scattering, in which the plane has a video camera attached to record the event.
Laws about scattering cremated remains
As of yet, the scattering of cremains is not especially legislated. Technically, the EPA mandates that a burial (or scattering) at sea should be conducted three nautical miles from the coast.
Cemeteries that offer memorial scattering gardens have regulations that families must abide by. If you are considering a public venue, contact the venue to confirm its regulations.
As cremation and ash-scattering memorials grow in popularity, many places have seen an opportunity to offer memorial services for scattering. For example, golf courses have become popular as venues for former members to gather and as a way to memorialize, fertilize, and encourage the family to return to the club!
Some sporting venues have consented to allow the scattering of ashes. As with golf clubs, it has been viewed as a beneficial way to encourage families to have a lasting connection with the venue.
However, several public places have begun prohibiting the scattering of cremains within their boundaries. These places also mandate regulations and charges to facilitate the scattering service.
Different types of ash scattering options & services
Finally, we note that there are several other scattering options.
Balloon Scattering
This can take two forms: using a hot-air balloon to lift the cremated remains and then scatter them from the balloon, or using Eternal Ascent, which offers a service to fill a biodegradable balloon with helium and ashes and release it into the atmosphere. At 30,000 feet, the balloon will freeze and shatter, releasing the ash at a great height. The key point is that there is little control over where the balloon will ultimately release the ashes.
Shotgun shell firing
You can have the cremated remains added to shotgun shells, which can then be fired into the air, and the remains scattered.
Memorial Spaceflight
Celestis is a company that offers a service to blast a capsule with a few grams of cremated remains into space.
What is the estimated percentage of Cremation Families Who Scatter Cremation Ashes
At present, there is no official government source that tracks the exact proportion of cremation families who scatter ashes, but industry surveys and reports provide a useful picture of current practice in the U.S.
It is estimated that 37–39% of people who prefer cremation express a desire to have their remains scattered in a sentimental or chosen location. This figure is based on an analysis of consumer preference data from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2025 report.
Additional data about what happens to cremated remains
- Some industry reports indicate that roughly one-third of families scatter ashes, another third bury them, and another third keep them in an urn.
- Older NFDA/industry data (e.g., 2022 surveys) indicated that approximately 18–20% of cremated remains were scattered at the time, though many families scatter only part of the ashes or later.
How to Interpret These Numbers
- “Prefer to scatter” reflects what people say they want, which may differ from what actually happens afterward.
- Some families split ashes—scattering some and burying or keeping the rest—so totals across categories can overlap.
- Differences in survey year, methodology, and sample mean figures vary between sources.
Hopefully, this guide has answered some of your questions about scattering cremated remains and provided ideas for arranging a fitting ash-scattering tribute for a loved one. If you have any questions about scattering cremains, please contact us, and we will do our best to assist.
For further reading on ash scattering and holding your own memorial tribute service – check out our post on Cremation & Ash Scattering: How Families are Conducting their own Memorial Services.
Wildcat ash scattering: This term was coined in recent years to describe how families are choosing to do their own scattering of remains, which the funeral industry frowns upon, as it takes away the process of memorialization from the industry.
“In the past decade, more than 40 companies have been created to help people scatter ashes legally on land and sea by getting permissions and permits. But most families opt for wildcat scatterings, surreptitiously spreading ashes in favorite parks, stadiums, fishing spots, or wherever else feels meaningful.
Scientists agree that there is no health or environmental hazard from the spread of human ashes. . . . Despite this, theme parks, sports facilities, and other public facilities often discourage the scattering of ashes or decline requests, though some stadiums, typically overseas, designate certain areas where it is permitted.”
– Extract from WSJ Feb 3, 2010, Jeffrey Zaslow in Love, Honor, Cherish, and Scatter.
Further Scattering Cremains Resources:
Guide to Ash Scattering in Florida
Sara Marsden-Ille is a writer and researcher specialising in the death care industry. With more than 15 years covering end-of-life services, funeral trends, and consumer funeral planning, she writes for DFS Memorials and US Funerals Online to help families make informed decisions.
