Finding Your Perfect Memorial

4 Simple Steps to Choosing an Urn

1. Consider The Final Resting Place

Scattering Ashes Over Land or Water
For loved ones who wished to rest at a special location close to nature, biodegradable urns or scattering tubes are perfect options. Made of eco-friendly and natural materials, these urns will return ashes to the earth or water in a gentle, responsible way.

Urn Burial
If you plan to have a permanent memorial in a cemetery—in other words—bury the urn, then you have a wide selection to choose from. Almost any urn can be buried, however most cemeteries require them to be placed inside an urn vault—a separate container designed to protect it from the elements. TIP: Cultured marble urns are popular choices for ground burial as they often don't require a separate vault.

Placement at Home
If you choose to display the cremation urn in your home, such as on a mantelpiece or bookshelf, the style of the urn and durability of the material becomes important. Consider your home environment. You may want to choose the perfect memorial for your decor or one that is timeless, to be passed down for generations.

Columbarium Niche
Often located in cemeteries, columbariums are structures with dedicated resting places for individuals or entire families. Each urn is placed in a compartment, or niche. Some have very compact niches, while others have family niches with room for larger urns. It is important to know the dimensions of your niche before purchasing an urn.

2. Select The Correct Size

Capacity
The typical urn needed is adult-sized. Adult-sized urns are considered standard, holding the ashes of anyone who was under 200-220 lbs. prior to cremation. Medium urns are only needed when dividing one person’s ashes among several people, or for children. Keepsake urns are for very small amounts of ashes to be kept in remembrance or shared among family and friends. Extra large urns are available for very tall or larger framed individuals (over 6 feet tall).

Dimensions
The actual dimensions of the urn—height, width, diameter—may be important. If you are using a niche in a church or columbarium, it is crucial to call ahead to find out your niche size. For those who need an urn for a compact niche, we recommend our cultured marble urns at 6.5 inches high.

3. Narrow Down the Choices by Style and Material

For most people, the perfect memorial comes down to personal tastes. Choose genuine or cultured marble if permanence is most important to you. Cultured marble, unlike genuine marble, can be engraved, is more affordable, and can often be buried without the added expense of an urn vault. Wooden urns offer a wide variety of options, from sturdy hardwoods like walnut and maple to softwoods like aromatic cedar. Each showcases unique colors and grain patterns. Some, like cherry and mahogany, require more upkeep due to their rich finishes. Aluminum urns allow for hydro-printing, offering a wide range of artistic styles from nature scenes to classic patterns. This gives more ways to capture a loved one’s personality in a perfect memorial. If you are looking for a unique or artistic statement piece, check out our hand-blown glass, ceramic, or raku urns. Additionally, we offer a variety of artistic ceramic tiles to be placed on wooden urns.

TIP: Traveling on a plane? Be sure to choose an urn of material that can be x-rayed: wood, paper, or cultured marble.

4. Make It Personal

Many urns can be personalized with engraving of a name and even artwork. This can be done by directly engraving onto the urn or engraving a separate pendant or plate. You might also choose an urn in their favorite color, one that can include a photo or a special theme such as a lighthouse, motorcycle, fish, bird, or flowers.

Need help finding your perfect memorial? Contact us!

If you're still having trouble deciding, remember you aren't alone. Most people have never purchased an urn before. Our staff is trained to answer your questions and help you select the cremation urn that best suits your family. Call our experts for personal assistance:

Call us: (888) 872-0228

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