The Different Types of Urns That Are Used for Cremation Today
Did you know that US cremation rates are expected to reach 65.2% by 2025?
Needless to say, many people are going for a cremation ceremony instead of a traditional burial. And, as part of end-of-life preparations, whether for you or for a loved one, you might have decided that cremation urns are the way to go.
Of course, since it’s not an everyday purchase, you’ll want to do some research and figure out what’s on the market.
Generally speaking, urns are designed to retain cremation ashes in a unique way Most urns are made of wood, marble, or metal, but there are also more elaborate designs designed to be a piece of art that may be exhibited in the house as a memorial to the deceased.
Keep on reading for our breakdown of different types of urns, and what makes each of them unique.
Cremation Urns 101
An urn is a container holding the cremated remains (cremains) of a deceased person.
It is possible to keep the cremated ashes in an urn for a long period of time. You may choose to retain the urn containing the cremains of your loved one in your house or bury it in a columbarium niche for all time.
You can also use it as a temporary storage unit. You can scatter the ashes of your loved one in a private ceremony at a later date, or you may display an urn during the funeral.
The fundamental function of an urn is to contain the remains of someone, or rather their cremains. It’s regardless of how long you’ll keep those remains in the urn.
Types of Urns
There are many urn styles and materials available, but let’s tackle the basic type right from the start. It’s the individual cremation urn. Individual cremation urns make up the vast bulk of urn options.
An individual’s cremated remains will fit in a cremation urn with a capacity of 200 cubic inches (1 cubic inch of cremated ashes is equal to 1 pound of body weight).
There are many different types of materials that professionals use to make cremation urns for the particular deceased. With an engraved plate or easel, they can customize urns of this kind and may or may not have ornamental elements.
You can choose individual cremation urns in themes that are more acceptable for commemorating ladies as well as designs that are best suited for memorializing men.
Companion Cremation Urns
It’s a bigger urn that can carry the cremains of two people comfortably. When it comes to keeping the ashes separate, most companion urns accommodate around 400 cubic inches of cremated remains.
You can pick different materials to create companion memorial urns. An engraved plate or easel may frequently be added to companion urns made of hardwood, marble, or even sculpture. For instance, wood urns can be quite stunning.
It’s perfect for parents’ ashes to be kept together in a companion urn, or as a way to remember two persons who have died away.
Having the ashes of your departed loved ones in one container is a poignant way to remember them.
Pet ashes may be interred alongside the deceased owner’s in a companion urn, which can look stunning on a bookshelf or mantel.
Keepsake Cremation Urns
Cremation urns designed to contain just a tiny percentage of the deceased’s cremated ashes are “keepsake” urns. Most cremation urns can store between 20 and 100 cubic inches of cremains.
Specialists make keepsake urns from a broad variety of materials, making them a flexible alternative for many families. A memorial urn is a beautiful way to keep the ashes of a loved one close to your heart, whether it be a child, newborn, or a beloved pet.
Because they’re so inexpensive and customizable, keepsake cremation urns are ideal.
Choosing a keepsake memorial urn is a good option if you want to share the ashes of a deceased family member with other loved ones. You can also keep ashes in a keepsake urn to commemorate the life of a newborn or even a small pet.
Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns
Biodegradable cremation urns for the ashes will decompose slowly over time.
It is possible to find cremation urns that carry as little as 6 cubic inches of cremated remains in scattering urns and as much as 250 cubic inches in burial urns.
For those families who want to bury or even release their loved one’s ashes in the ocean, the biodegradable cremation urns are appropriate.
Urns may also be used as scattering tubes, which is a great choice for families who want to spread the ashes of a loved one at sites that have particular significance.
As a last tribute to a loved one who enjoyed the great outdoors, eco-friendly cremation urns for ashes are an excellent choice. Did they have a strong interest in environmental issues? Eco cremation urns are a great way to honor your loved one’s enthusiasm for the environment.
Travel and Airline-Friendly Urns
Many urns are inappropriate for travel on flights because X-ray machines are unable to see through them, making them unsuitable. To achieve this, the urns must be sifted through one at a time, which isn’t ideal when the urn is already full.
This is a behavior that many airlines forbid their personnel from doing at all. X-ray equipment at airports can readily scan urns made of felt or another non-metallic material, making them ideal for airline use.
Exploring the World of Affordable Urns
Simply thinking about end-of-life preparations can be rather difficult, never mind actually making a purchase. But, we hope that our guide has shed some light on the different types of urns that you can explore at your leisure.
And, if you’re still looking for more information, head straight to our lifestyle section. You’ll find a bounty of articles and explainers that can help you make better decisions.