Cremation urns

The main types of urn

Most urns fall into a handful of categories. Knowing which one fits your plan makes the rest of the decision much simpler.

• ✓Adult (standard) urns — sized to hold the full ashes of one person
• ✓Keepsake urns — small urns that hold a token portion, often shared among family members
• ✓Companion urns — larger urns designed to hold two people's ashes together
• ✓Biodegradable urns — made to break down naturally for burial or water release
• ✓Scattering urns — designed to make pouring or releasing ashes easy and dignified

How urn sizing works

Urn capacity is measured in cubic inches. The widely used rule of thumb is that you need roughly one cubic inch of urn space for each pound of the person's healthy body weight.

So a standard adult urn is usually around 200 cubic inches, which comfortably holds the ashes of most adults. If you are unsure, sizing up slightly is safer than sizing down.

Materials and styles

Urns are made in a wide range of materials, each with a different look, weight and price. Wood, ceramic and metal are the most common for display urns kept at home, while biodegradable urns use materials chosen to break down safely.

• ✓Wood — warm and traditional, often engravable
• ✓Metal (brass, aluminium, stainless) — durable and available in many finishes
• ✓Ceramic and glass — decorative, often handmade and one-of-a-kind
• ✓Stone and marble — heavier, well suited to permanent placement
• ✓Biodegradable (paper, salt, sand, plant fibre) — for green burial or water release

Choosing the right urn for your plan

Work backward from what you intend to do. If the urn will sit at home or in a niche, focus on the look and the material. If you plan to bury it, check the cemetery's vault or container rules first. If you plan to scatter, a biodegradable or scattering urn makes the moment easier.

Many families also choose small keepsake urns so several relatives can each keep a portion of the ashes.