Different Types of Cremation Urns

A cremation urn serves as a vessel to house the cremated remains of a person who has passed away. But for a family who has suffered a loss, it serves much more than a functional purpose. The urn is a dignified memorial that represents and pays tribute to the spirit of their loved one.

Families today can choose from hundreds, if not thousands, of urns. As a matter of fact, if you were to Google “cremation urn” and view the images the search returned, you would see a plethora of urns in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

I realize that not everyone is overly familiar with cremation urns and would like to share some of my knowledge with you.

Let’s get started by taking a look at three different types of cremation urns.

Individual Urns

Single capacity urns are designed to hold the cremated remains of one person. The terms individual, full-size, and adult can be used interchangeably to describe a vessel of this size.

Full-size urns have interior volumes ranging from 195 cubic inches to 260 cubic inches. One cubic inch will accommodate approximately one pound of body weight. This means that a person who weighs 175 pounds would require an urn with a capacity of at least 175 cubic inches.

Companion Urns

As the name suggests, companion urns are intended to house the cremated remains of two individuals. They are ideal for those who share a special bond in life and want to be remembered together in death.

Companion urns, which are also known as dual-capacity or double urns, will hold between 350 and 450 cubic inches of remains. Depending on the vessel’s construction, it will either have one large chamber or two small chambers to contain and protect its contents.

Keepsake Urns

Sized to accommodate a small portion of cremation remains, keepsake urns make it possible for a loved one’s remains to be divided and shared among multiple people.

You can find keepsakes that will hold anywhere from 3 to 100 cubic inches of remains.

A family may choose to put soil from the burial site, dried funeral flowers, or a small lock of their loved ones’ hair inside a keepsake rather than cremated remains.

Materials, Design, and Style

Full-size, companion, and keepsake urns can be made from virtually any type of material. Wood, metal, ceramic, and marble products tend to be the most popular.

In terms of design, vase and box-shaped urns typically have a traditional look and feel. Contemporary urns, on the other hand, boast clean lines, sleek silhouettes, and smooth finishes.

And in regard to style, handmade and custom products are particularly unique and often have unexpected decorative features.

Specialty Urns

Full-service funeral homes generally offer an assortment of specialty urns including, but not limited to, the products below.

Children and Infant Urns

Children and infant urns are designed to hold a small amount of cremated remains in memory of a little one.

They are also sometimes used to hold small momentos to remember a baby lost through miscarriage.

Many youth urns are crafted into a specific theme and customized according to the wishes of grieving parents.

Pet Urns

A pet owner can honor their cherished companion’s life by placing its cremated remains in an urn.

Some urns are large enough to hold the cremated remains of a 1,000-pound horse. Others will hold no more cremated remains than that of a 1-pound bearded dragon.

If there is adequate space inside the urn, a toy, leash, or collar can be included with the remains.

Eco-Friendly Urns

Eco-friendly urns are constructed from biodegradable materials that are safe for the environment. They decompose naturally and will eventually become part of the soil.

Examples of materials used to make eco-friendly urns are recycled paper, cornstarch, mulberry bark, and rock salt. Biodegradable urns are suitable for ground burials as well as scattering on land.

Water-Soluble Urns

Water-soluble urns are made with recycled, earth-friendly materials. They are designed to be placed in a lake or ocean, float for a short time, and then gracefully sink.

The bottom portion of the urn begins to dissolve immediately and releases the cremated remains, freeing them to spread underwater.

The remaining decorative top will continue to be visible for several minutes, giving family members and friends who have gathered a chance to say a final farewell.

Picture Urns

More and more families are commemorating their loved ones with picture urns.

Incorporating a photo or rendering into an urn’s design is a heartfelt way to preserve a person’s memory for years to come.

A photo urn is a great way to display a treasured photograph of the departed. Products that allow for digital printing and laser engraving will also have a lasting impact on those left behind.

Jewelry

Cremation jewelry, also known as remembrance or memorial jewelry, is designed to hold a nominal amount of cremated remains.

Cremation jewelry is offered in the form of pendants, rings, bracelets, necklaces, lockets, etc.

Many people wear remembrance jewelry because it brings them comfort and allows them to feel a sense of closeness to their loved ones.

The Power of Personalization

Before wrapping up, I want to briefly touch on personalization.

A former colleague of mine once posed the question, “You wouldn’t purchase a grave marker without the deceased’s name and dates of birth and death so why would you purchase a cremation urn without the deceased’s name and a set of dates?”.

This question has stuck with me through the years as I am a firm believer in memorialization through personalization.

I have witnessed time and time again how customization can transform a basic urn into a timeless, permanent memorial.

If you will be selecting an urn for a loved one, I encourage you to personalize it to reflect the deceased’s character and offer a glimpse into his or her life story.

Engraving is a simple, yet heartfelt form of personalization. Words of endearment and emblems that reflect a person’s interests, values, or beliefs can also be used to further individualize the urn.

Embellishments such as nameplates, plaques, and appliques make for meaningful additions as well.