What Size Urn Do I Need?

By: Alterna Cremation
Friday, August 14, 2020

When it comes to planning your arrangements, selecting an urn can be a difficult choice. While you may have an idea of what style and shape you’d like your container to be, the sizing is another question altogether. The answer depends on your body weight, the type of urn, and the location of choice. We’ve created this guide to help you determine which urn would be most suitable for your needs.

 

The size of your container will depend on your weight. To determine what is required, it’s the capacity that’s important, not the exterior measurements. The urn capacity is measured in cubic inches. One pound of body weight is equivalent to one cubic inch. For example, a 100-pound person would need an urn with a capacity of 100 cubic inches. The average adult or individual cremation urn holds 200-250 cubic inches of ashes. You may wish to use some of your remains in items other than a container, like in cremation jewelry. Some families divide the ashes into multiple urns to distribute among loved ones. In these cases, smaller containers may be suitable, such as keepsake urns. These hold roughly 1-6 cubic inches of ashes. Furthermore, you might choose a companion urn - if you have a spouse, this allows for your ashes to be stored together when you both pass on. A companion urn can hold 350-500 cubic inches of cremated remains. Depending on the type of urn you prefer, different sizes are required.

 

Some families choose to add items of significance to the urn in addition to the ashes. This may include any belongings that carry a special meaning, like a wedding band or photograph. It will require a larger urn to accommodate the additional items. Consider purchasing an urn with extra capacity in case your family would like to put some special belongings in it. To avoid selecting an undersized urn, pick one that holds a few extra cubic inches than what is necessary.

 

Where will the urn be stored? This is another consideration that will affect its size. If it is kept in a home, then you will need to find a shelf that can support the size and weight of the urn. A simple and dignified wooden urn can fit on almost any shelf or dresser. More intricate and artistic designs may need a larger space to accommodate their shape. In a home with pets or children, the container should be placed in an area where it can’t be easily knocked over. For those who wish to display their urn at a burial plot, you will need a container that fits the dimensions of the location. Some find that an urn is best placed in a private area, such as a bedroom. Others wish to display it in a public area, like a foyer. There are many different styles of containers available, whether you prefer something classic or contemporary, to commemorate a loved one. 

 

An urn can be too small, but there is nothing wrong with buying an urn that holds more than what you need. In that sense, your options are limitless. Looking for urns for sale in Winnipeg? Alterna Cremation offers a beautiful selection of urns to choose from. Contact us today to learn more about our direct cremation package, or to see our selection of artistic and intricate urns. 

 

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

The Role Of Cremation In Eco-Friendly Funeral Planning

Many people prize the opportunity to be as eco-friendly as possible. Beyond just shopping at a local farmer's market, you might also want to look toward having a green funeral. An eco-friendly fune...

How To Properly Store An Urn In Your Home

When a loved one passes away, you want to do what you can to honour them and the life they lived. For many people, this means storing their loved one's ashes somewhere in their home. While keeping ...

Female-Owned Winnipeg Funeral Home Reflects On Five Years In Business As International Women’s Day Is Celebrated

WINNIPEG, MB:  Alterna Cremation, an alternative funeral home focused on dignified and direct cremation services, is in its fifth year of business.  And, with International Women’s Day be...

Burial & Cremation Cost Comparison: Understanding The Financial Implications

When a loved one passes away, several decisions must be made for the funeral. For many families, one of the most difficult decisions is whether to bury their beloved or have them cremated—and it of...

How To Talk To Kids About Death

Death is an inevitable part of life, but many parents face a unique challenge when a loved one passes on: Telling their kids and explaining what death means. Young children may have a hard time pro...

Music Suggestions For Funeral Services

Music expresses what words cannot and stirs human emotions in meaningful and powerful ways.  For this reason, life cycle events, like weddings and funerals, are often punctuated with poignant ...

Female-Owned Winnipeg Crematorium Continues To Serve The Community With Dignity & Innovation

WINNIPEG, Manitoba:  Alterna Cremation has nearly reached its one-hundredth five-star review on Google—no small feat for a female-owned business in what has traditionally been a male-dominated...

10 Meaningful Things To Do With Cremation Ashes

After a loved one is cremated, many people feel uncertain about what to do with the ashes.  What is the best way to memorialize the spirit of the person who has passed?     Of...

What Is The Difference Between A Funeral Director, Mortician, Undertaker, And Embalmer?

Technicalities such as the titles of people working in the funeral service industry may not be your foremost concern if a death has occurred in your immediate circle.  And certainly, the profe...

How To Make Room For Other People’s Grief

In today’s society, grief is often an avoided topic.  People aren’t sure what to say or how to help when someone they know is grieving the loss of a loved one.  And, to prevent saying the...