The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Cremation Urn for Your Loved One

The passing away of a loved one is a painful and challenging time for the family. More so, critical decisions about cremation services need to be made. Although an overwhelming task, the family must decide what should be done with the cremated remains. Typically, they are stored in an urn and kept safely at home or in a cemetery unless the deceased person desires to scatter it in a place of significance.

Cremation urns are a meaningful way to honour and commemorate a loved one’s life after they have passed away. They provide a tangible way of memorialising a loved one, allowing for a physical connection to their life. Choosing a suitable urn for human ashes requires considering several factors, including the final resting place, size, materials, style and look, and budget. 

We have created this guide to make the process easy for you. 

Selecting The Final Resting Place

Home Display: Select an aesthetic and purposeful urn if you plan to display the urn in your home. Many families choose urns that either fit the style of their home or have a design or material that was important to the deceased. For instance, a wooden urn with beautiful carvings might be suitable for someone who had a passion for the outdoors, while a ceramic urn with a floral motif may be suitable for someone who cherished gardening.

Scattering ashes: For those who want to be incorporated back into nature or placed in a location of personal significance, scattering tubes made of biodegradable paper are ideal. These are designed specifically for scattering and can be easily opened to release the ashes.

Burial: If you want to bury an urn, opting for a biodegradable one is the best choice. Paper, salt, and sand urns are created with the purpose of breaking down, allowing the ashes to eventually become part of the environment.

Columbarium: A columbarium is a structure that contains niches for cremation urns. If you plan to place the urn in a columbarium, you will need to choose an urn that fits the size requirements of the niche. Many columbaria have specific guidelines for the type of urn that can be placed in each niche. Make sure to check those before making the final purchase decision.

Splitting cremated remains among close ones: If two or more family members wish to keep the remains of a loved one, they can divide the ashes into the required number of keepsake or sharing urns. Alternatively, cremation jewellery can be worn to keep their memory close to the heart.

Selecting The Right Size of Cremation Urns

Capacity: When selecting an urn, it is important to consider the volume of the urn. You should choose an urn with at least one cubic inch of space for each pound of the person’s body weight prior to cremation. Cremation urns for adults can hold the ashes of anyone weighing nearly 200-220 lbs and is the most sought-after urn size. Medium-sized urns are recommended if the ashes need to be divided among multiple people or if children’s ashes need to be stored. A keepsake urn is ideal for storing smaller amounts. For taller or larger-framed people, an extra-large urn is the best choice.

Dimensions: The dimensions of the urn, height, width, and diameter, are important considerations. If you decide to place the urn in a mausoleum or columbarium, call ahead to find the niche size before purchasing the urn. Some columbariums have very compact niches, while others have family niches, so note the exact dimensions.

Selecting The Material Of Urns

Metal urns: Made from various metals, including steel, copper, bronze, pewter and brass, metal urns are durable and can be buried or displayed at home.

Cultured urns: Built from synthetic material for durability, cultured urns are made from wood, bronze, ceramic or marble and can be carved into unique shapes and colours. 

Quarried urns: Ideal for burial or home display, quarried urns are unique as the material they are made from is sourced from all over the world, including marble, granite, onyx, quartz, slate, alabaster and fossil stone. Price-wise, they are more expensive than other options.

Cast bronze urns: It is often used for sculptured urns and is made using standardised casting techniques and with lost wax or sand. As bronze is an alloy of copper and zinc, it provides durability to the urn.

Wood Urns: These are made from various kinds of wood, the most common being cherry, maple, pine, oak, walnut and poplar. Other not-so-popular wood types include mahogany, padauk, yellow heart and zebrawood. The wood urn is ideal for display in a home or cemetery columbarium.

Ceramic and Glass Urns: These are crafted from artistic processes, including glazing, colouring, firing, and glass blowing. Ceramic and glass urns are ideal for display in a home or cemetery columbarium but are delicate and must be handled with care.

Biodegradable Urns: These urn types are an environmentally-friendly option. Made from recycled and natural materials, biodegradable urns break down easily in water or land.

Keepsake Urns and Pendants: Some people prefer keeping the ashes of their loved ones close to them, either in a small keepsake or wearable pendant. They are commonly made from gold, silver, brass or pewter.

Selecting The Style Of Urns 

Traditional Urns have a classic design and may feature intricate details or engravings. These are best for families that prefer timeless and elegant styles.

Modern Urns feature contemporary designs and often use unconventional materials like glass or metal. These can be minimalist in design or feature bold, artistic details. These are best for families that prefer modern aesthetics.

Nature-inspired Urns feature designs inspired by nature, like trees, leaves and animals. These are made from natural materials such as wood and stone. They are a good choice for families who want to honour their loved one’s love for nature.

Cost Of Cremation Urns In Melbourne

Cremation urns can vary widely in price, so it’s crucial to consider your budget while choosing one for your loved ones. While a more expensive urn may offer more intricate designs and higher-quality materials, many affordable options are still meaningful and appropriate.

Fixed Price Cremations helps clients alleviate their stress with our affordable cremation services, carried out with great respect and care. And, as a part of making funeral arrangements, if you are looking for cremation urn suppliers that would serve as a befitting tribute to your loved ones, we offer a range of unique cremation urns. Available in varied styles and themes, you can find the option that best suits your requirements.

If you’re interested in finding out more about an unattended cremation service or cremation urns, please get in touch with our cremation specialists, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, on 1300 262 797.