How to Determine the Right Size of an Urn for a Loved One's Ashes

Choosing the correct size for an urn is essential to ensure it can hold all of your loved one's ashes. Here's a straightforward guide to help you make the right decision.

Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting the Correct Urn Size

1. Estimate Healthy Body Weight: Begin by determining the approximate healthy body weight of the deceased individual or pet.

2. Conversion Ratio: Use the general rule that 1 pound of healthy body weight equates to about 1 cubic inch of ash. This makes it easy to estimate the volume of ashes you will receive.

   • For instance, a person who weighed 100 pounds will yield close to 100 cubic inches of ashes.

3. Account for Variations: Keep in mind that the actual volume of ashes can vary due to differences in cremation processes, temperatures, and bone structure. These factors can cause slight deviations in the final amount of cremains.

4. Choose a Larger Urn: To be on the safe side, it is usually recommended to select an urn that is slightly larger than your estimate. This helps ensure that the urn will not be too small to contain all the ashes.

   • If you estimate needing 100 cubic inches, consider looking at urns that are around 110-120 cubic inches or larger.

Special Considerations

• Keepsake Jewelry: Keepsake cremation jewelry is not intended to hold all of the ashes. It typically holds only a small trace amount, about the size of a ball-head sewing pin.

Additional Tips

• Consult a Professional: If you are unsure, contacting a professional or the crematorium can provide more personalized advice.

• Flexibility: Remember, an urn can never be too large, but it can be too small. It’s better to have a bit of extra space than not enough.

Following these guidelines will help you find an appropriately sized urn to honor and keep your loved one's ashes.