There are a wide variety of urns available and the choices can be overwhelming, but filled with possibility and challenges.Finding an urn that perfectly matches your memorial service needs to commemorate yourself or a loved one. The challenge of wading through the design options, shapes and materials can be broken down into a few key questions.
Permanent cremation urns
Permanent cremation urns do not lose form or structure due to natural elements, keeping cremated ashes safe and secure. Urns made of stone—such as marble or granite, and metals of bronze, aluminum, or stainless steel—are good choices. Sometimes wooden burial urns serve as permanent urns.
Permanent cremation urns are appropriate for interment, entombing in a mausoleum, or resting in a columbarium niche.
Biodegradable urns
(Also known as non-permanent burial urns)
Biodegradable urns slowly decompose over time, releasing the remains into the ground or water as the materials gradually break down. These urns are made of non-toxic and natural materials such as Himalayan rock salt, handcrafted papers made from Mulberry bark, cornstarch, coconut shell, gelatin mixed with sand, and bamboo. Many wooden cremation urns are also biodegradable; the material poses no threat to the environment. Biodegradable urns are great for burial and sometimes as scattering urns.
Urns for scattering ashes.
These urns are made from lightweight, natural materials and they come in the form of paper scattering tubes, water soluble urns for scattering on water, biodegradable urns for releasing into nature, and fabric urns made of silk. Most importantly, they are lightweight, easy to carry to the scattering destination and can be securely held while performing the scattering ceremony.
Questions To consider
In choosing a cremation urn there are four simple questions to consider:
- How will the urn be used or displayed?
- What are the materials used for urns?
- What design options are there?
- How much can I afford for an urn?
How will the urn be used?
There are many ways to honor the memory of a loved one and knowing how you plan to use the urn will help determine everything else.
Display urn
If you would like to display an urn in the home or elsewhere, permanent urns are a great option. They are available in metal, ceramic, marble or stone, wood and glass.
Columbarium niche
Storing the ashes urn in a columbarium allows for a wide selection of urn types, sizes and styles. The most important factors are size of the niche and the lasting quality of the urn materials. First find the size of the niche before deciding on any urn.
Scattering ashes
Choose an urn that is lightweight with an easily removable lid.
Land or Water Burials
Land or water burials allow you to pay homage with a biodegradable cremation urn. Or, an urn of any material can be used for land burial under the right conditions.
Keepsake
Keepsake urns include mini urns and cremation jewelry. They are popular when sharing ashes among family and friends.
What are the best materials for an urn?
Answering a few questions can greatly narrow the possibilities of which urn to choose.
- Do you plan to keep the urn or recycle it after the memorial service?
- Is it to be placed it in the ground or water to biodegrade?
- Intending to scatter the ashes? How far will you carry the urn? Will weight be an issue?
- Will you travel with the urn?
What is an appropriate design for an urn?
Urn styles and themes are almost limitless. The appropriateness of any urn design is defined foremost by the deceased’s personal wishes. Secondly, if wishes remain unknown, the loved one's personality, passions, hobbies, or special interests can be a guide to a style reflective of the individual.
Engraving is a great option for those who want to further personalize the cremation urn. Names, dates, or even quotes can be inscribed onto many urns for a unique touch. Also, as noted in the previous section, look for easy to handle designs for scattering ashes.
How much should I pay for an urn?
Cremation urns come in all price ranges, so the first step is to know what you'd like to budget. If your budget is modest (up to $100), there are many high quality urns in the $45 - $100 range. You may even be able to find sale items that are being sold at as much as 80% off their original retail price. With companies now selling over the Internet, the competitive pricing of urns has made them very affordable without sacrificing quality or the beauty of the design.
If you have a moderate budget you can find cremation urns with greater production value, meaning they require more man-hours to create. Cloisonné urns, highly crafted wood urns, metal urns with intricate decorations, marble urns, ceramic urns and some glass urns generally fall into a higher, but moderate, price bracket of $100 - $350.
For higher or unlimited budgets, you can invest in high priced urns that exhibit rare craftsmanship, use more expensive materials and require more man-hours. Artisan urns are one of a kind and made by hand. They usually warrant a premium price for the unique design. Urns can be commissioned and handcrafted by an artist for a one-of-a-kind purchase. Such urns can go for $350 up to thousands of dollars. They are often made from glass, wood, ceramic or more expensive metals.
Urn Buying Tip: Most funeral homes have a limited selection of urns and charge a premium for them. There can be a considerable price difference between an urn online and the exact same urn at a funeral home. Doing research will help you feel satisfied with your final purchase.
Overcoming The Challenge of Many Urn Choices
Arriving at a decision for a final resting place for the ashes will also leave you with a sense of resolution. Answering a few simple questions will narrow your choices and turn a challenging situation into a satisfying outcome.
