How to Choose Funeral Urns for Ashes

Funeral urns for the ashes of your loved one may seem like the last thing you want to think about right now, but we make the process easier for you and help you choose the right final resting place for your beloved.  

Funeral homes are obliged to use whatever container you choose for your loved one, so you don't have to buy from them if they don't have what you want.  If you buy online you can often pay a lot less as well.  It may take a bit more time and effort, but you will end up with a funeral cremation urn which really honours your loved one. There are various ways of choosing your memorial urn. 


This website has been built to help the grieving to cope.  Any sales of items on this page will result in us receiving a small commission which enables us to continue our work on the site.  This doesn't affect the price you are charged, and we only ever recommend pieces which we love ourselves. 


1.  Decide whether to get your urn now or give yourself more time

Choose your loved one's permanent urn immediately

Get an urn shipped to you quickly and deliver it to the funeral home in time for the cremation.  They will transfer the cremains into it for you. This might be expensive in shipping costs.  Check out this page for our recommendations for the most beautiful funeral urns for sale.  

OR:  Rent a cremation urn

Some funeral homes will allow you to rent for the memorial service and later transfer the remains once you have chosen an urn that really means something to you.

OR:  Use a temporary urn from the funeral home. 

This gives you plenty of time to choose your urn and really find something which you love. 

Transferring cremation remains

Most funeral services will be happy to transfer your loved ones remains from the temporary container into your chosen urn at a later date if you take them into the funeral home.

You can also buy urn covers which the temporary urns just slide into and these are usually airline safe if you need to travel with your loved one's cremains.  We have listed a selection of these below. 

2. Decide on your loved ones final resting place

Are you going to scatter the ashes, put the urn into a niche at the cemetery or bury the ashes?  This decision will affect what kind of urn you buy. 

3. Choose the size of your cremation urn

Urn capacity is measured in cubic inches, and most standard adult urns are about 200 cubic inches, which will hold the remains of an individual weighing roughly 200 lbs or 90 Kilos.  If you need a large or oversize urn, click here.  

4. Types of Funeral Cremation Urns

Decorative urns which fit temporary urns from funeral homes inside: 

These wooden urns are the right size for most temporary containers to slide inside, eliminating the need for the transfer of ashes from one container to another. They are also approved for air travel. 

Click here to see a selection of really beautiful quality funeral cremation urns

See also Biodegradable Urns





Where to get help: 


Have You Considered One-on-One Online Grief Counseling? 

Get Expert and Effective Help in the Comfort of Your Own Home

The following information about online counseling is sponsored by 'Betterhelp' but all the opinions are our own. To be upfront, we do receive a commission when you sign up with 'Betterhelp', but we have total faith in their expertise and would never recommend something we didn't completely approve.  

Do you feel alone and sad with no support and no idea how to move forward?  It can be tough when you are stuck in grief to find the motivation to get the most out of your precious life. 

Online counseling can help by giving you that support so you don't feel so alone. You can have someone to talk to anytime you like, a kind and understanding person who will help you to find meaning in life again, to treasure the memories of your loved one without being overwhelmed and to enjoy your activities, family and friends again.

  • Simply fill out the online questionnaire and you will be assigned the expert grief counselor most suitable for you.  It only takes a few minutes and you don't even have to use your name.  
  • Pay an affordable FLAT FEE FOR UNLIMITED SESSIONS.  
  • Contact your counselor whenever you like by chat, messaging, video or phone. 
  • You can change counselor at any time if you wish.
  • Click here to find out more and get started immediately.
  • Or read more about how online counseling works here.  
Woman Crying. Get Started with Online Counselling

Sales from our pages result in a small commission to us which helps us to continue our work supporting the grieving.  


Hypnosis for Grief - 10 Ways It Can Help You

Try a gentle hypnotherapy track to relax the mind. Learn how self-hypnosis can help you cope with grief at any time of the day or night.  

Read more about it here. 



For Remembrance: 

Sales from our pages result in a small commission to us which helps us to continue our work supporting the grieving.  


Heart Shaped Sterling Silver Pendant for Cremation Ashes, Engraved Forever Loved

Memorial Jewelry to Honour a Loved One

Check out our lovely range of memorial jewelry for any lost loved one.  Pendants, necklaces, rings or bracelets, we have them all in all kinds of styles.  Choose for yourself or buy as a sympathy gift. 

Click here to see our selection


Create an Online Memorial Website

Honour your loved one with their own memorial website.  Share photos, videos, memories and more with your family and friends in a permanent online website.  Free for basic plan with no ads. 

Find out more here.