What are the different types of urns?

Choosing a cremation urn is not an everyday task and with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Everlasting Memories has a complete selection of cremation urns and can answer all of your questions, including “What is an urn?” “What options are available to me?” and much more!

What Is An Urn?

A cremation urn is a vessel that is specially crafted to hold cremation ashes. Cremation urns are constructed from a wide variety of materials, such as wood, marble, or metal, and they range from basic to more ornate styles that are meant to be a work of art and displayed in the home.

There are also many different types of cremation urns for ashes. Individual urns will hold the ashes of one person while companion urns are crafted to hold the ashes of more than one person. Keepsake urns, child urns, and pet urns are designed to hold a significantly smaller amount of cremains. There are also specialized memorial urns that are created to recognize a particular profession or passion, such as the veteran cremation urn. Our complete selection of one-of-a-kind cremation urns was designed to give families as many different and unique options possible so that they can choose exactly what best honors their loved one.


Individual Cremation Urns

The largest majority of cremation urns available are individual cremation urns.  Individual cremation urns for ashes are designed to hold 200 cubic inches of cremated ashes (1 cubic inch of cremated ashes is equal to 1 pound of body weight).

Most individual cremation urns can come in a wide range of materials, such as wood, metal, glass, and more.  These urns can typically be personalized with an engraved plate or easel and may or may not have decorative accents.  Individual cremation urns can be selected in themes that are more appropriate for remembering women as well as styles that are ideal for memorializing men. 

Individual cremation urns for ashes are ideal for most families. The wide variety allows families to narrow down their choices based off of a particular passion, a favorite color or even by just using our convenient pricing tool on the left hand side where families can input a minimum and maximum price they want to spend.

How To Choose The Correct Size Urn?


Companion Cremation Urns

A companion cremation urn is a larger urn that will comfortably hold the cremains of two individuals.  Most companion urns hold approximately 400 cubic inches of cremated remains and come with either a single chamber two chambers to keep the ashes separate.

Companion memorial urns are available in a varied assortment of materials.  Hardwood companion urns, marble companion urns, and even sculpture companion cremation urns can often be further personalized with an engraved plate or easel.  Companion urns are ideal as a resting place for the ashes of parents or as a way to commemorate the lives of two people who have passed.

Couples cremation urns are a touching way to have the ashes of your parents, grandparents or even a spouse and sibling or child that has passed together in one vessel. The ashes of a pet can be placed in a companion urn along with their owner's ashes and beautifully displayed in the home.

How To Select A Perfect Companion Urn


Keepsake Cremation Urns

Keepsake cremation urns are smaller in size and crafted to hold only a portion of the cremated remains.  Most keepsake cremation urns will hold anywhere from 20 to 100 cubic inches of cremains.

The wide assortment of materials that keepsake urns are created from makes them a versatile option for families.  Keepsake memorial urns are available in wood, ceramic, marble, and more and are ideal for families looking to share the ashes of their loved one or to honor the life of a child, infant, or pet. Keepsake cremation urns are very affordable and can also be personalized.

Select keepsake memorial urns if you are looking for a way to share the ashes of a loved one with other family members. Keepsake urns for ashes can also be used to honor the life of an infant that passed or even a small pet.

Know How You Can Personalize Your Urn


3D Artisan Portrait Cremation Urns

3D Artisan Portrait cremation urns combine a hardwood cremation urn with a photo background and the image of your loved one.  The photo memorial urn is an individual-sized cremation urn, and each will hold 190 cubic inches of cremated remains.

3D Artisan Portrait cremation urns for ashes offer great versatility and personalization opportunities.  The photo hardwood urns come with 30 different backgrounds to choose from and can be personalized to your desire.  The urns are also enhanced with a semi-transparent image of your loved one and personalized text.

Choose 3D Artisan Portrait urns for ashes as a highly unique way to honor anyone in your life. Choose a picture of your spouse, your pet or a parent and have that image preserved on a beautiful hardwood cremation urn. The vibrant colors combined with the image of your loved one makes 3D Artisan Portrait cremation urns highly visual and very personal.

Know How To Choose A Personalized Photo Urn


Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns

Eco-friendly cremation urns for ashes are designed to be biodegradable and they breakdown over an extended period of time.  The shape and style of eco-friendly urns varies and the cremation urns will hold anywhere from 6 cubic inches of ashes for scattering urns up to 250 cubic inches of cremated ashes.

The eco-friendly cremation urns are crafted from biodegradable materials and are ideal for those families looking to bury the ashes of their loved one or even release them at sea.  The urns can also be used as scattering tubes in some instances and this is a terrific option for families that are looking to place ashes of their loved one in different locations that hold special meaning.

Eco-friendly cremation urns for ashes are also a wonderful option for those that had a loved one that loved the outdoors. Were they passionate about the environment and all things Green? Why not pay homage to that passion with a beautiful, earth friend Eco cremation urn!

Click here to browse the latest trends.


Veteran Cremation Urns

The veteran cremation urn is an individual-sized cremation urn that will hold the cremated remains of one person.  Most veteran urns hold anywhere from 150 to 250 cubic inches of ashes.

The veteran memorial urn is available in a wide variety of materials, such as hardwood, resin, and more, and can be personalized by indicating a particular military branch of service.  Veteran urns provide a beautiful memorial to honor a life of service and can be enhanced with a loved one’s image, a brass plate, and more.

Our selection of veterans cremation urns and military cremation urns are a beautiful tribute to any loved one that served in the military and lived a life of service. Had a patriotic father? A mom that was in the Air National Guard? Celebrate their dedication to their country with hand-selected cremation urns with military inspired themes.


Child and Infant Cremation Urns

Child and infant cremation urns are specifically designed to hold a very small amount of ashes in memory of a child.  Cremation urns for infants and children will hold anywhere from 12 to 80 cubic inches of cremated remains.

There are several choices when it comes to materials for child and infant cremation urns.  Marble and glass cremation urns offer simple beauty while specialty hardwood cremation urns for children highlight beautiful depth and contrast.  All child and infant memorial urns can be personalized with an engraved plate or easel.

Child and infant cremation urns can be selected to hold the ashes of a young child or infant or can be used to hold small mementos in memory of an older child or perhaps to remember a baby loss through miscarriage. The urns can also be used as a keepsake urn to hold a portion of ashes and given to a sibling, grandparent or godparent.


Pet Cremation Urns

Our pets are family members too and pet cremation urns are designed to hold the ashes of our furry loved ones.  Most pet memorial urns will hold 30 to 85 cubic inches of pet ashes.

The wide variety that these pet cremation urns come in makes it easy for families to choose one that perfectly embodies their family pet.  Ceramic pet urns with a cat, dog, bird, or other hand-painted scenes can be beautifully displayed anywhere in the home.  Hardwood urns for pets will not only hold the ashes of a beloved animal, but they can also be personalized with an engraved plate or easel.

Personalized pet urns for dogs are a wonderful way for families to show their dedication to an animal they cherished. Urns for pet ashes can also be used as a keepsake for children to have a bit of the ashes of their first pet and give them a tangible way to remember them.

15 Ideas On What To Do With My Pet's Ashes

Choosing A Cremation Urn For Ashes

Selecting a cremation urn to hold the ashes of your loved one is not an everyday task, but we’ve got some ideas to help you choose the cremation urn that best fits your need.

Popular Vote

Stick with the popular vote!  We have a selection of popular cremation urns that are our customer’s tried and true favorites.  These cremation urns are available in several different styles and families will be assured they are getting an urn that has been given our customers’ stamp of approval time and time again. All of our popular cremation urns for ashes have personalization options such as engraved plates and easels and most ship within 24-48 hours.

Budget Friendly

There are thousands of dollars that are associated with the loss of a loved one and we understand that families have to adhere to a budget.  We have conveniently collected all of our most affordable individual cremation urns into one location so that families can find exactly what they’re looking for at a price they can afford.  We also provide a pricing tool on the sidebar where families can input the minimum and maximum price they are searching for.

Home Display

The home display of a cremation urn can play a significant factor when it comes to choosing the cremation urn for ashes that is right for you.  Sculpture urns make for a beautiful artistic display in a family room, living room, or office.  If looking for something a little more discreet, such as an urn to place in the bedroom or something more nondescript, a marble cremation urn may be a more ideal option.  All of our cremation urns can be personalized with an engraved plate or easel.

Our Top Picks - Cremation Urns We Love!

Sometimes what’s easiest is to choose the urn based off of who it is that is being memorialized and we have a list of our favorites for you!  Select one of the cremation urns we love most, choose their favorite color, a particular passion or profession, or a symbol that holds particular meaning to them - the options are endless!

For Women

Select the Daisies Ceramic Cremation Urn for the woman who loved gardening.  Beautifully made of ceramic, this individual urn holds over 259 cubic inches of cremains and has a colorful display of springtime daisies in the garden.

For Men

Choose the Strumming Cremation Urn for the man in your life who loved all things musical.  This cremation urn holds 260 cubic inches of ashes and features a hardwood urn with a subliminated plaque with a a guitar on the front .

For Children

The Alphabet Blocks Urn is a touching and personal way to remember the life of a child or infant.  The child urn will hold up to 150 cubic inches of cremated ashes and it is made from resin cultured wood.  A small votive candle holder sits at the top.

For Couples

Remember and pay homage to parents with the Best Friends Bronze Couples Cremation Urn.  The cast bronze companion urn has a marble base and will hold up to 400 cubic inches of cremated ashes.  The urn features a couple sitting on a bench with the man’s arm around the woman’s shoulders.

For Military or Veterans

Honor the life of a veteran or a life of dedicated service with the Americana Individual Brass Cremation Urn.  This brass vase style urn has a red, white and blue flag motif in exquisite detail and the urn holds 202 cubic inches of cremated ashes. Personalize with an engraved easel.

For Everyone

3D Artisan Portrait urns are ideal for every situation.  The urns feature a full color photo plate that is personalized with one of 30 scenic backgrounds and the image of your loved one.  You can even choose your own image for the background and each photo memorial urn can be further enhanced with text.

Adding Ashes To The Cremation Urn

When a loved one passes, families are faced with many tasks and challenges that they have not tackled before.  Placing the ashes of their loved one into a cremation urn is one of those challenges, and many families have no idea how to approach the task.  We’ve created a simple step-by-step guide that is easy to follow to help families learn what to do with their cremation urn.

Step 1: Create your workspace

Choose a flat surface, preferably indoors, that is void of any air disturbance - wind, blowing fans, etc.  The surface doesn’t need to be large, but it should be big enough to accommodate the ashes and the urn and any of the necessary tools needed.

Place the urn, the ashes, and additional tools on the table, ascertaining that you have ample room to move things around if need be. Additional tools may include a screwdriver, adhesive, and, in some instances, room for more than one urn if filling keepsake urns, scattering urns, or dividing up the ashes between multiple urns.

Step 2: Undo the screws

Undo the screws that attach the plate to the opening of the urn. The urn may be top-opening or bottom-opening.

Step 3: Remove plate

Two of the screws may need to be partially screwed into the plate if the plate is recessed, for example. This enables the screws to be utilized as something to grab hold of and lift the plate from the urn opening as opposed to trying to pry the plate out and risk damaging the urn. Remove the screws and place the screws and the plate over to the side so as not to interfere with the process of adding the ashes and prevent the misplacement of any parts.

Step 4: Place ashes in the urn

Retrieve the cremated ashes and prepare to add them to the urn. For some, the ashes may be in a temporary box or the ashes may have been placed in plastic bag that closes at the top.

Place the bag of ashes into the urn. The ashes can be left in the bag and the bag can be placed inside the urn. This is a nice option for families that are not comfortable handling the ashes or removing them from the plastic bag. The bag can be placed in the urn and gently pressed upon to spread the bag of ashes evenly within the urn.

Tip: There may be additional spaces left in the urn after the ashes have been placed inside. If there are additional special items to be placed in the urn such as a picture, a lock of hair, a piece of clothing that holds particular meaning, etc., now would be the time to add it.

Step 5: Replace the plate

Replace the attaching plate back onto the urn. Adding adhesive to seal the edges is another option and the adhesive can be applied with a fingertip or a q-tip around the edges of the plate. Tighten the screws securely.

Step 6: Polish the urn

Use a lint-free cloth to remove any sealant, if applicable, and to polish the surface of the urn.

If adding the ashes to a cremation urn is not something that a family is emotionally prepared to do, that’s okay. Most funeral homes or crematoriums will add the ashes into the urn as a courtesy to the family in mourning. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from other family members or close friends. Families can still be a part of adding the ashes to the cremation urn without physically taking on the task themselves.

Cremation Urn FAQ's

Everlasting Memories fully realizes what a difficult time this is for you, which is we strive to provide you with all the answers you need to make this process easiest for you. If your question is not answered below, please feel free to contact our customer service representative at 1-877-723-4242 or email us at sales@evrmemories.com and we will be more than happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.

What size urn do I need?

The industry rule of thumb is that one pound of body weight will create one cubic inch of cremated remains. Standard-sized urns tend to have around 200 cubic inches of internal volume. The cremains of an average adult will require 100 to 180 cubic inches, depending on their weight. Learn more on how to choose the correct size urn to hold a loved ones cremains.  Please call us at 1-877-723-4242 or email us at sales@evrmemories.com with urn size questions and we will be happy to assist you.

 

What is a keepsake urn?

The keepsake urn will hold a small amount of cremains and, like our individual urn, comes in a large variety of materials. Keepsake urns are a wonderful way to keep a loved one’s memory close and allow you to share the same memory with other loved ones.

Do I seal my urn?

Most of our urns are semi-permanently sealed by screws that hold the base or some type of access panel on the urn. The screws allow you to re-open the urn at a later date if you wish. This would be to possibly add the remains of another loved one or to add a special memento in with the remains, such as a watch or a ring. If you wish, your urn can be permanently sealed with a regular epoxy adhesive that you can find in any hardware store. Simply apply the epoxy around the rim of the access panel, and then securely fasten the panel onto the urn.

Do you put the ashes in the urn for me?

When you receive the cremated remains back from the crematory or funeral home, the remains are normally contained in some type of plastic bag. We recommend keeping the remains in the plastic bag and then placing them in the urn.  The ashes can then easily be placed in the urn by the family.

If you do not feel comfortable with this procedure, most funeral homes provide this service at no extra cost.  We can also ship the urn directly to the funeral home and make arrangements with them to place the ashes in the urn for the family.  Please call us at 1-877-723-4242 or email us at sales@evrmemories.com and we’d be happy to help.

Can my urn be custom engraved?

Every urn has the option of adding an engraved plate that will adhere to a flat surface on a cremation urn or to add an engraved plate that adheres to a small easel that is displayed next to the urn.  Additionally, many of our urns offer engraving onto the surface of the urn and our 3D Artisan Portrait cremation urns for ashes are completely customizable with a background image of your choice, a photo of your loved one, and personalized text.

Can I make changes to my order?

As we do have a very quick turnaround time, we encourage you to call immediately with regards to any changes. Given the sensitive nature of our products, we do try to fill your order as quickly as possible, so please contact us at 1-877-723-4242 or via email at sales@evrmemories.com and we will make every effort to accommodate your requested changes.

Do your urns have a felt bottom?

Most of our cremation urns do have a felt bottom or felt pads in order to protect the surface that they sit on.  Should the cremation urn that you select not have a felt bottom, most hardware stores and grocery stores offer inexpensive felt pads that adhere to virtually any flat surface.

The person being cremated weighed close to 300 pounds. Do you have individual urns that will hold that much?

A companion-style cremation urn can be used to accommodate a person weighing close to 300 pounds.  Additionally, we can custom order a wooden individual urn and have it made to accommodate a greater volume.  Simply call us at 1-877-723-4242 or email us at sales@evrmemories.com and we will be more than happy to assist you.

I really wanted to add an engraving, but the urn I want doesn’t offer it. What do I do?

Don’t worry!  All of our urns can be personalized with an engraved plate that adheres to the flat surface of the urn or to a small easel that can be placed next to it.  The plates and easels are available in several different finish combinations and make for a beautiful way to personalize your selection.  Email us at sales@evrmemories.com or give us a call at 1-877-723-4242 and we’ll take you through your options for engraving!

Can I travel on an airplane with the urn?

Yes you can!  Simply inform security that you are traveling with a cremation urn and they will accommodate you accordingly.  To learn more about traveling with a cremation urn with ashes visit our TSA and Airline Requirements for urns and ashes page.

Can the urn be opened after I put the ashes in it?

Yes, the urn can be opened again.  After you add the ashes to the urn, replace the plate and screw it back in to place, but do not add sealant.  This will allow you to open the urn at another point in time by simply removing the screws and then removing the plate.

My dad was cremated and his parents won’t share the ashes. Can I put something else in the urn?

Absolutely!  Any memento that holds special meaning for your loved one can be placed inside an urn.  A favorite t-shirt, a photo, even the collar and leash from your pet! As long as what you select for the interior of the urn will fit inside the cavity, the options are limitless.

Today is Wednesday and the services are on Friday! Can you overnight the urn to the funeral home?

Absolutely!  Almost all of our cremation urns can be shipped using standard, two-day air, or overnight delivery.  Simply add the shipping when checking out or call us at 1-877-723-4242 and let us know when you need the urn.  We will go above and beyond to get the urn to you in the timeframe required.

Can the urn be buried in a cemetery?

Most cremation urns can be buried in a cemetery, however, it is always best to check with a given cemetery beforehand.  Cemeteries have different rules and guidelines they are required to follow and they may or may not allow certain types of containers to be buried on the grounds.  It is best to double check with the cemetery before purchasing your urn and to ensure they will be able to accommodate your particular urn.

I love a particular urn, but it is much too big! Is it offered in a smaller size?

Some of our urns are offered in a smaller keepsake size or a smaller individual size.  Give us a call at 1-877-723-4242 or email us at sales@evrmemories.com with your urn sizing needs and we will make every effort to get you the cremation urn size you’re searching for.

I want an urn that will hold the ashes of my husband, myself, and our dogs - probably around 600 cubic inches. Do you have any?

We can special order a cremation urn and have it sized to fit your needs!  Send us an email at sales@evrmemories.com or call us at 1-877-723-4242 and let us know what you’re looking for.  We can work together to come up with a unique, one-of-a-kind cremation urn that will be perfect for your situation.

Do you take the ashes out of the bag they come in and place them in the urn or do you keep them in the plastic bag and place all of it in the individual urn?

That’s a personal family decision and there really is no right or wrong answer here.  We do suggest that families leave the ashes in the bag because should you ever decide down the road to remove the ashes from the urn, it will be much easier to simply remove the plastic bag containing the ashes rather than to risk losing some of the cremated remains.

Updated on July 16, 2019 by Frances Kay.