How To Select the Right Size Cremation Urn
Cremation urns hold the ashes of a loved one – perhaps the remains of a family member, a dear friend, a beloved, or a family pet. Naturally, we think of the urn as a final resting place. The wish and responsibility to honor the deceased often accompanies the practical aspects of choosing an urn, and it's a decision to be made with thoughtfulness.
“What size urn should I choose?” -
A question our customers often ask
By exploring a few questions, the appropriate cremation urn size will become clear. Foremost, it’s essential the cremated remains fit in the urn. It is also important that the urn style supports the vision of the final resting place for the ashes. There are important questions to consider before determining the size.
Decide what you will do with the cremated remains.
- Will the urn contain all of the cremated remains?
- Will the urn be interred in a family cemetery plot or in a mausoleum?
- Will the urn be held in a columbarium niche?
- Will all or some of the ashes be stored in a memorial urn displayed in your home?
- Do family members wish to share the ashes and take home a small keepsake urn?
- Do you wish to place a portion of the ashes in cremation jewelry?
- Are companion urns, which are large enough to hold the remains of two adults, a possibility?
- Will the urn be placed inside an urn vault?
- Know the approximate weight of the deceased person or pet in order to select the correct size.
- The industry standard indicates that one cubic inch of urn capacity is required for one pound of body weight. By way of example, a person weighing approximately 150 pounds will need a cremation urn of at least 150 cubic inches.
- Therefore, incorporate the weight of the deceased into this formula: 1 pound weight = 1 cubic inch.
- Select the urn size by specifications of size in cubic inches. These specifications are listed on each product page.
The Blue Haven ceramic cremation urn is an example of an extra-small cremation urn with a capacity of 19 cubic inches, or is large enough to hold the ashes of a person or pet weighing up to 19 pounds prior to cremation.
The ceramic Cherry Cremation Urn is a small urn and will hold the ashes of a person or pet weighing up to 50 pounds prior to cremation.
The Remembered Ceramic Cremation Urn has a capacity of 100 cubic inches, and is a medium sized urn. The capacity of medium urns is generally between 51–130 cubic inches.
The Classic Bronze Cremation Urn is a large urn with a capacity of 190 cubic inches.
OneWorld Memorials provides detailed information about each of its cremation urns, including the size, or capacity, of the urn in cubic inches on each product page.
Remember that an urn for ashes cannot be too large; it can only be too small. It is okay to have extra space in the memorial urn you select.