How to Fill a Cremation Urn

Filling an urn is a quiet, symbolic moment for many families, a final step in guiding a loved one to their resting place. The task itself is simple. You can do it yourself, or ask your funeral director or crematorium to do it for you.

Asking your funeral director or crematorium

Ashes are usually returned from the funeral home in a polyethylene bag inside a temporary cardboard container, with formal identification and, in some places, a cremation certificate. Your funeral director can transfer the ashes into your chosen urn, and most crematoria will do the same. Either may charge a small fee. You can also ask whether you would prefer the ashes placed loose or kept in their bag, since not every urn suits a rigid container.

Filling the urn yourself

If you would rather do it at home, a little preparation helps:

1. Lay a large sheet of paper on a flat surface, so any spill is easy to gather and return to the urn or the bag.
2. Either funnel the ashes directly into the urn, or place the sealed ashes bag inside the urn as it is.
3. Close and seal the lid so the urn is secure (see below for how, by material).

Sealing your urn

How you seal depends on the urn. Metal urns usually have a threaded lid that screws closed and needs nothing more. Wood urns tend to have a base plate that fixes tightly with screws. Ceramic urns are cast in delicate, intricate shapes, so they cannot take screws or a threaded lid. For most ceramics we recommend a small amount of glue applied to the lip of the lid to close it securely. We stock tubes of glue chosen specifically for our ceramic urns.

Frequently asked questions

How do you put ashes into an urn?

Open the urn on a clean, flat surface. You can place the sealed bag of ashes from the crematorium straight inside, or pour the ashes in using a funnel. Close and, if needed, seal the lid.

Do I need to seal the urn after filling it?

Only some urns need sealing. Threaded screw-lid urns close securely on their own. Others, such as certain ceramics, are sealed with a strong adhesive like super glue gel.

Can I fill the urn myself or should a funeral director do it?

Either is fine. Many families prefer to fill the urn themselves as a personal act, while a funeral director will gladly do it for you if you would rather not.

What if the ashes do not all fit?

Check the urn capacity against body weight first, around one cubic inch per pound. If you have chosen the right size there should be ample room. A keepsake urn can hold any small portion you wish to keep separately.