Determining Urn Size
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Probably the most common question that people ask when searching for a cremation urn is What size urn do I need? Here is the basic information you will need to answer that question.
The Simplest Answer:
In general, many memorial industry professionals have adopted the following easy to remember rule of thumb: For each pound a person weights you will need one cubic inch of urn space.
From a technical perspective this rule is not precise, but it generally produces a safe estimate of the size urn you will need. Memorial professionals often encourage following this rule when customers are shopping before the cremation ashes are available (if the cremation has not yet taken place, for example). Only on very rare occasions will the rule guide a customer to select an urn that is too small; if the estimate is in error, it will most likely be in the direction of being too large. And having too large an urn is, typically, not a significant concern for urn buyers.
 Although the rule of thumb is usually safe to depend upon, experts are careful to note that, if a scientifically certain estimate is needed, the rule is not sufficient. This is because the amount of ashes usually depends on many other factors besides body weight. Those who need a precise answer to the question of urn size must wait until the ashes are available from the crematory. Once they are available, the following method can be used:
Arriving at The Most Precise Answer:
- Measure the depth and width of the temporary container provided by the crematory. (A common size is 4.25 depth and 6 width.)
- Open the temporary container so that you can see the ashes (if you are uncomfortable doing this, do not be afraid to ask a friend or even a crematory employee to do it for you). Measure from the bottom of the container to the top of the ashes which are often packaged in a separate plastic bag.
- Multiply the measurement in step 2 by the depth of the container. Then multiply that product by the width of the container. Your result will be the number of cubic inches required for the ashes.
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