Choosing an urn is not something anyone has practice at. This page covers the one decision people worry about most — size — and then answers the questions we are asked most often.
- Choosing a size
- What our size names mean
- Special situations
- Sizing questions
- Ordering & engraving
- Shipping & returns
- Using the urn
Choosing a size
The short answer: allow one cubic inch of urn space for every pound of body weight before cremation. Someone who weighed 170 lbs needs about 170 cubic inches.
Most adults need between 150 and 200 cubic inches. If you are unsure of the weight, 200 cubic inches is the standard full-size adult urn and will be enough for the large majority of people.
This is the same rule funeral directors use, and it is deliberately generous — it already allows for the fact that cremated remains take up slightly more space than most people expect. An adult's ashes weigh roughly 4 to 6 lbs and have the texture of coarse sand.
When you are between two sizes
Always take the larger one. An urn that is slightly too big is never a problem — no one will know. An urn that is slightly too small is a problem you have to solve on a very hard day, usually by sending it back and waiting again. If the weight you have in mind is close to the limit of a size, move up.
Capacity and dimensions are not the same thing
Two urns of the same height can hold very different amounts, because what matters is the volume inside. Always check the capacity in cubic inches, not how large the urn looks in a photograph. If the urn has to fit a specific space — a cemetery niche, a particular shelf — check the outside dimensions as well, and measure the space before you order.
What our size names mean
We use the same size names across the range. Capacities vary a little from one piece to another, so the figures below are a guide — the exact capacity of each urn is listed on its own product page.
A keepsake is not a scaled-down adult urn. At around 20 cubic inches it holds roughly a tenth of an adult's ashes — a few tablespoons. Families dividing ashes usually order one keepsake for each person who wants to keep a portion, alongside one full-size urn for the remainder.
Special situations
Sharing ashes among family
There is no rule that says ashes must stay in one place, and many families divide them. The usual arrangement is one full-size urn for the main resting place and a keepsake for each person who wants to keep a portion. Work out the keepsakes first, then choose the main urn — you will not need to size it down, because keepsakes take so little.
After water cremation
Water cremation, also called alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation, returns noticeably more remains than flame cremation — roughly 20 to 30 per cent more, because the bone is left whiter and more complete. Add about 20 per cent to the size you would otherwise choose. Someone who weighed 170 lbs should be allowed around 200 to 210 cubic inches rather than 170.
Infants and children
The same rule applies, and it gives a very small figure. Many families choose a size larger than the calculation suggests, simply because a very small urn can feel wrong to hold. There is no right answer here, and no one will question the choice you make.
Cemetery niches and columbarium walls
If the urn is going into a niche, ask the cemetery for the internal measurements before you order — niches are often smaller than people expect, and the opening may be narrower than the space behind it. Check the urn's outside dimensions against that figure, not its capacity.
Pets
The rule is the same for animals: one cubic inch per pound of body weight. A 12 lb cat needs about 12 cubic inches; a 70 lb dog needs about 70. As with people, round up rather than down.
Sizing questions
What size urn do I need for an adult?
Allow one cubic inch for every pound of body weight before cremation. Most adults need 150 to 200 cubic inches, and a 200 cubic inch urn is the standard full-size adult choice. If you do not know the weight, 200 cubic inches is a safe decision.
Where do I find the exact capacity of a particular urn?
It is listed on that urn's own product page, along with its dimensions. The sizes on this page are general guidance, because capacity varies slightly between designs.
What if I am between two sizes?
Take the larger one. An urn that is a little too big is never noticed. An urn that is too small has to be returned and replaced, and that is the last thing anyone needs at such a time.
How much does a keepsake urn hold?
About 20 cubic inches, which is roughly a tenth of an adult's ashes — a few tablespoons. Keepsakes are meant for sharing a portion among family, not for holding a complete set of remains.
Do I need a larger urn after water cremation?
Yes. Water cremation, also called aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis, returns around 20 to 30 per cent more remains than flame cremation. Add about 20 per cent to the size you would otherwise choose.
Can one urn hold two people?
Only a companion urn, which is made at roughly double the capacity of an adult urn. A standard adult urn holds one person. If you are planning ahead for a couple, choose a companion urn rather than two adult sizes.
Ordering & engraving
Is engraving really free?
Yes. Laser engraving is included at no extra cost on every urn we sell. Most families choose a name with birth and passing dates, and many add a short tribute.
What can I have engraved?
A name, dates, and a short line of your own — a phrase they used, a line of scripture, or simply "Beloved Mother". The engraving is cut into the surface by laser, so it lasts as long as the urn.
How do I send you the wording?
There is a personalisation box on the product page. Type the wording exactly as you would like it to appear, including dates.
Can I order now and send the wording later?
Yes. Place the order and email us the wording when you are ready. Nothing is engraved until you have confirmed it, and we would far rather wait than get it wrong.
Can the carved design be changed?
No. On our hand-carved wooden urns the design is cut into the wood by hand before the urn reaches us, so it is part of the piece and cannot be altered. Personalisation is done by engraving instead.
Shipping & returns
How long will my urn take to arrive?
Orders ship the next business day and reach most US addresses in 4 to 7 days. Shipping is free anywhere in the United States, and tracking is emailed to you as soon as your urn is on its way.
I need it in time for a memorial. Can you help?
Tell us the date at checkout or by email and we will do everything we can. [CONFIRM — add the faster shipping option here if you offer one.]
Do you ship outside the United States?
Yes, we ship internationally. Enter your address at checkout and the cost and delivery time will be shown before you pay. Free shipping applies within the United States.
Can I return or exchange an urn?
Yes, as long as the urn has not been engraved. An unengraved urn can be returned or exchanged within 30 days, provided it is unused and in its original packaging.
Engraved urns cannot be returned, because the wording is cut permanently into the piece. This is why we never begin engraving until you have confirmed the wording, and why we are glad to check it with you first if you are unsure.
What if the urn arrives damaged?
Send us a photograph as soon as you can and we will replace it. Damage in transit is rare, but when it happens we deal with it quickly and without argument.
Using the urn
How do the ashes go inside?
The funeral home returns cremated remains in a sealed plastic bag, and that bag goes straight into the urn. Nothing needs to be opened or handled. Jar-shaped urns close with a threaded lid you turn by hand. Box urns have a panel in the base secured with screws — you open it once, place the bag inside, and close it for good.
Can the urn be buried or placed in a niche?
Yes to both. If the urn is going into a cemetery niche, check the internal measurements with the cemetery first. Wooden urns will break down naturally in soil over many years, which a good number of families see as fitting; if the cemetery requires a permanent container, ask them whether an urn vault is needed.
Can I take an urn on a plane?
Usually, but the material matters. TSA requires that an urn can be seen through by X-ray, and will not open it. Wood passes easily, which is why wooden urns are the usual choice for travelling. Dense metal or stone often cannot be scanned and may be refused at security. Carry the crematorium's certificate with you, keep the urn in your hand luggage, and check your airline's own rules before the day.
Will my urn look exactly like the photograph?
It will be the same design in the same material, but wood is a natural material and the grain and tone will be its own. Small variations between pieces are normal and are not a fault — they are what makes a hand-finished urn different from a moulded one.
How do I care for a wooden urn?
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from damp, and dust it with a dry soft cloth. Do not use polish or cleaning sprays on the carving. Treated this way a wooden urn will hold its colour and detail for decades.
Still not sure?
Write to us with the weight and we will tell you which size to choose. There is no obligation, and we would much rather answer a question than have you order the wrong thing.