Here’s What you need to know about Cremation Urns for Human Ashes

Size and material are the two main things to consider before buying a cremation urn for human ashes

Size

The standard size for a cremation urn for human ashes is 200 cubic inches - this size will hold the ashes of most adults. As a general rule, 1 cubic inch is required for every 1 lb. of the person’s weight before being cremated. Someone who weighed over 200 lbs may require a large urn. A child’s ashes could be kept in a small urn.

Keepsake urns are very popular and often much smaller than a standard adult urn. Typically, only a small portion of ashes are meant to be kept in a keepsake urn. The remaining ashes can be divided amongst other keepsake urns and given to family and friends or scattered or buried. Ask yourself the question, “Do I want to keep all of the ashes in one urn or divide them amongst several urns?”

Material

Cremation urns are made out of many different materials including:

• Stainless Steel

• Bronze

• Ceramic

• Wood

• Natural Stone

• Resin

• Plastic

• Paper Mache

Since an urn is only a container to store ashes, it can be made out of anything. Some families get creative and craft their own custom cremation urns for their loved ones.

What is the best type of urn for ashes?

The type of cremation urn you choose should be based on your aesthetic preferences and the durability that is needed based on your plans for the urn. A cremation urn kept in a climate controlled home or indoor columbarium does not need to be extra durable since it is sheltered from weather and extreme temperatures. If you’re keeping the urn in your home, you can prioritize the urn’s aesthetic and just choose an urn that you think is beautiful and right for your space. It can be made from any material.

Many cremation urns will be placed outside, either in an outdoor columbarium or buried in the ground. These urns need to be much more durable. Even though an urn in an outdoor columbarium is sheltered, extreme temperatures, moisture or bugs could cause an urn to break down and fall apart over time. Only the most durable materials should be used for outdoor urns - stainless steel, bronze and natural stone. High quality ceramic urns may work well in some outdoor columbaria too.

What type of cremation urn lasts the longest?

Cremation urns made from natural stone, stainless steel, bronze and ceramic last the longest. Stainless Steel and bronze urns can withstand forceful impacts, like being dropped on the ground. Some natural stone and ceramic urns may hold up perfectly fine in normal conditions, but are more likely to break if dropped or exposed to other severe impacts.

How much does a standard urn cost?

In 2023, expect to pay between $100 - $300 for the average adult cremation urn. More premium options can range up to $600 and some highly specialized options can range well into the thousands. How much a standard urn costs will largely depend on the quality of its materials and make.

Can you put ashes in an urn yourself?

Yes, you can put ashes in an urn yourself, and it’s very easy to do.

Is it ok to split up ashes?

Yes, it’s ok to split up ashes. Many families divide a loved one’s ashes among multiple keepsake urns or memorial jewelry urns and give them to family and friends. Personalized memorial urns for each family member are especially a great idea for families who are spread out across the country.

How long do human ashes last in an urn?

Human ashes will last for centuries in an urn under the right conditions. Some of the biggest risks include a house-fire where the urn is destroyed or a spill losing some or all of the ashes.

How long can you keep human ashes at home?

Many people choose to keep an urn in their home with an indefinite timeframe in mind. This is ok for a while, but ultimately a permanent, public spot is better. It could be many years, but what will happen to the urn and ashes after its caretaker has passed away? A public spot in a cemetery or memorial park will assure that the urn and ashes are cared for long after you are gone. Public columbaria or cremation headstones are great cemetery options that allow friends and family to visit and pay their respects.

Can you bury ashes without an urn?

Yes, you can bury ashes without an urn, and many people do. While many privately owned cemeteries require that ashes be buried in an urn vault, most rural cemeteries do not. Burying ashes in the ground without an urn is a great way to cut out unnecessary expense, and the process of “returning a body to the earth” is a natural and beautiful way to view end of life practices. Most often, a family will design and erect an upright tombstone or other custom memorial stone as a means to pay respect and mark the location of the ashes.

A common misconception is to think that a memorial tombstone for someone who has been cremated has to be different or less impressive than a headstone for someone who is traditionally buried. This thought is entirely wrong, in fact, some of our most creative memorials in recent years have been for those who were cremated. A headstone or tombstone is built because someone lived - it has nothing to do with their means of disposition after passing.

We’ve seen a healthy trend in recent years - families who save a lot of money on funeral expenses by choosing cremation are putting that savings into a custom cremation headstone so that their loved one’s memory is permanently and artistically preserved. Check out a few of our favorite cremation headstones below.

Cremation headstones