What to Know Before Buying a Cremation Urn

Cremation urns are a lasting tribute to someone you love, and choosing one can feel overwhelming once you see how many materials, styles and sizes there are. This guide walks you through the decision step by step, so you can find an urn that fits both your loved one and your home.

Who is the urn for?

Start with who the urn will hold. Whether you are looking for a family member, a friend or a much-loved pet, the choice of size and style follows from there. Urns For Angels has urns for adults, children, babies and pets, as well as companion urns sized to hold two people together.

What type of urn should you choose?

Cremation urns come in several materials, each suited to a different setting and final resting place.

Ceramic urns

Our ceramic urns are handcrafted in a wide range of shapes, colors and sizes, and suit both indoor display and a sheltered spot in a memorial garden.

Wood urns

Our wood urns are made from timbers such as walnut, mulberry and Swiss pine, for a natural look. Many can be oiled, varnished or engraved to personalize them.

Metal urns

Our metal urns are made from stainless steel, so they are strong and will not rust indoors or outdoors. They come in matte and bronze finishes as well as polished metal.

Crystal urns

Our crystal urns catch the light on a shelf at home and come as full-size adult urns, small keepsakes and tealight designs in many colors.

Biodegradable urns

A biodegradable urn breaks down naturally in soil or water and is safe for the environment. There are options for land burial and water burial, including living tree urns that grow into a memorial tree.

What size urn do you need?

Size is the one detail you cannot get wrong. The industry rule is one cubic inch of urn capacity for every pound of healthy body weight before cremation, so a typical adult needs about 200 cubic inches (3.3 litres). The sizes we offer are Large Adult, Adult, Child, Baby and Pet. Every product page lists capacity in litres and cubic inches, and our urn size guide explains it in full.

If you want to keep only a small amount of ashes, or share them across the family, small urns and keepsakes hold a portion rather than the full volume.

Where can you place the urn?

The material decides where an urn can rest. Ceramic, metal, crystal and wood urns all suit a home or a sheltered outdoor spot, while biodegradable urns are made to be buried in the ground or released in water. If you plan to travel with the ashes, travel urns are lighter and built for the journey.

Choosing for a pet

Pet urns use the same one cubic inch per pound guide as adults. For dogs, our breed-specific dog urns are sculpted to resemble the breed you loved, and we also have a full range of cat urns and paw print urns.

Frequently asked questions

What size urn do I need for an adult's ashes?

A standard adult cremation urn holds about 200 cubic inches, roughly 3.3 litres. The industry rule is one cubic inch of urn space for every pound of healthy body weight before cremation, so a 200 lb (90 kg) adult needs around 200 cubic inches. If you are unsure, size up. Every Urns For Angels product page lists capacity in litres and cubic inches.

What is the best material for a cremation urn?

There is no single best material, it depends on where the urn will rest. Ceramic suits indoor display and memorial gardens, metal is durable for indoors or outdoors, wood gives a natural look and can be engraved, biodegradable urns are made for land or water burial, and crystal catches the light on a shelf at home.

Can a cremation urn be kept at home?

Yes. Most families keep the urn at home on a shelf, mantel or in a memorial space. Ceramic, metal, wood and crystal urns are all suitable for indoor display, and many are sealed so they can later move outdoors or into a garden.

What is a keepsake urn?

A keepsake urn is a small urn that holds a portion of ashes rather than the full amount. Families use them to share ashes between relatives or to keep a small token while scattering or burying the rest.

Are biodegradable urns suitable for water burial?

Yes. Water burial urns are a type of biodegradable urn designed to float briefly on the surface, then sink and dissolve naturally. They are made from materials such as recycled paper, plant fibre or rock salt and leave no lasting trace.

How do I choose an urn for a pet or a specific dog breed?

Pet urns are sized by your pet's weight, using the same one cubic inch per pound guide as for adults. For dogs, breed-specific urns are sculpted to resemble the breed, from Labradors and Spaniels to Frenchies and Dachshunds, which many families find more personal than a plain container.