Cremation Urns: Types and Materials

The percentage of American citizens choosing cremation is now more than 50% from just 25% in 1962. The demand for cremation urn is rising as it is essential to perform the ritual.

Choosing a cremation urn is not an easy task. You can easily get overwhelmed as you have so many options available.

That is why picking a reputed manufacturer of urns is essential. Before proceeding, gain a clear understanding of what an urn is. 

What is an Urn?

A cremation urn happens to be a vessel crafted specifically to hold ashes after cremation. These are constructed from a wide variety of materials such as metal, marble, or wood. 

You will get a plethora of styles that range from basic to ornate ones to choose from. These are works of art that can be readily displayed to add a touch of elegance to your interiors, too. 

Types of Cremation Urns and What They Are Made Of

Here are some of the different types of cremation urns that are available today. 

Keepsake Urns – This is typically a smaller urn for people who want to distribute the deceased’s ashes among close friends or several family members who live away from each other or keep a smaller amount of cremation ashes after scattering the rest. 

These urns vary in sizes from 10 to 50 cubic inches and can be made of different materials from wood to metal. They are often used as infant or child urns as well. 

Individual Cremation Urns – These make up the largest majority of cremation urns. These urns are designed for holding 200 cubic inches of cremated ashes.

Most of the individual cremation urns are available in a wide range of materials like metal, wood, glass, and more. These urns can also be personalized with an engraved easel or plate and may or may not bear decorative accents. The individual cremation urns can be chosen in themes.

Companion Size Urns – The companion urns can hold the cremated remains of a couple or two people. The size is usually double the adult-sized urns ranging between 350 to 600 cubic inches. 

You will get this in various materials, from marble and hardwood to sculptured ones that can be further customized with an engraved easel or plate. They can have single or double compartments.

Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns – The eco-friendly cremation urns for ashes are biodegradable, and over an extended time, they break down. These are ideal for those who love the outdoors or are passionate about the environment.

This type of urn is crafted from biodegradable materials. It is excellent for families looking to bury the ashes of their relatives or close ones or even release them at sea. 

Such urns can also be used for scattering tubes in some instances, and that is an excellent option for families who want to place the ashes of their close ones in different locations that hold a special meaning to them. 

Apart from these, many other cremation urns like pets’ cremation urns and veteran cremation urns are available to respect the departed. 

You can choose according to your perspective of how you want to memorialize the deceased, your budget and requirement. Today you can get something tailor-made to suit your needs once you have made up your mind.