The definitive guide to buying an urn for ashes.
In the UK there’s a lot of online retailers selling urns for human ashes, but it’s important that before you start your search, you know what you are looking for. We have gathered together all the information into one place, from the price of an urn to the material, size, durability, and where to buy it from.
Contents:
What size urn should I buy?
Ash Calculator
What material should the urn be?
How much does an urn for ashes cost?
Where to buy an urn in the UK?
What size urn should I buy?
It can be difficult to know what size urn to buy so we have put together the below size chart. In general, it is not standard in the UK that a crematorium will let you know how much ash you will get back, but the average for adults is between 3-3.5 litres, with some variation for size. Because of the components of the body fibres, height tends to matter more than weight, so you are more likely to get more ash back for taller people and less for shorter, likewise for younger people versus old as they tend to have greater bone density.
There is also no standard size for urns in the UK so it is important to double check what size you are buying before going through the checkout. It’s always a good idea to size up slightly to leave some space at the top.
| Height (Metric) | Weight (Metric) | Height (Imperial) | Weight (Imperial) | Litres of Ash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1.78 metres | 85.5kg | 5'10" | 13 Stone 7 llbs | 3.1 litres |
| Female | 1.62m | 72kg | 5'4 | 11 stone 4 llbs | 2.6 litres |
Alternatively, you can use this calculator below, which uses a rough guide of 0.03613 litres of ash for each kg of body weight. If you know roughly how much the person weighed you can then estimate the amount of ash to expect.
Ash Volume Calculator:
Ash Volume Estimate
0.00 litres
This is an estimate only. Actual ash volumes may vary depending on several factors.
What material should the urn be?
The material for the urn comes down to a mix of personal preference and practicality as it depends what your intentions are for the ashes.
Urn to bury ashes:
The UK government permits ashes to be buried in consecrated ground such as a cemetery or columbarium. It’s important that you choose an urn made from a biodegradable material such as wood, bamboo, recycled paper, plant fibres, or coconut shells, this helps the material to eventually breakdown within the soil, releasing the ashes back into the earth.
Also consider that the shape of the urn needs to be suitable for burial and therefore should not be too extravagant.
Urn to spread the ashes at sea:
A few considerations for scattering ashes at sea include:
The Urn needs to be lightweight as you are likely to be leaning over the side of a boat or deck.
The Urn should be made of a biodegradable material - there are some elegant designs using paper.
You can also get floating urns that are biodegradable. The idea is that these float on the surface for a few minutes, before sinking and dissolving. This is an elegant solution and avoids any concerns about wind direction or leaning over the side of a boat.
Display urn to keep the ashes within the home:
If you wish to keep the ashes at home, or even a small portion of the ashes, then there are a large variety of options. Depending on your price sensitivity you can opt for something off the shelf on sites like Amazon or Infinity Urns, or you can commission a custom design via Etsy.
Ceramic is the most popular choice for this type or urn, but stone is also worth considering for garden or outdoor display.
How much does an urn for ashes cost?
There are urns available for all price ranges and what matters most is spending what you are comfortable with. It is natural when you lose someone you love to want to give them the best of everything. Try to balance this with what you can afford.
An indication of costs:
A simple adult 3.5 litre urn is usually between £70 – £150 (simple designs, basic materials).
Mid‑range decorative adult 3.5 litre urns are typically between £150 – £400.
High‑end artisanal urns: £400 – £1,700+.
Below is a pricing table to give you a guide to how much an urn can cost. This is for a 3.5 litre adult urn and is only designed to give an indication on the cost you can expect.
Pricing guide for buying an urn
| Material | Size | Cost | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | 3.5 litres | £250-£450 | A traditional choice. |
| Stone / granite | 3.5 litres | £295 - £400 | Popular for outdoors or garden. | Marble | 3.5 litres | £190 - £350+ | A natural stone with premium look. | Bamboo | 3.5 litres | £90 - £200 | Biodegradable and ecofriendly. | Wood | 3.5 litres | £160 - £1,700+ | Cost depends on the level of craftsmanship. | Biodegradable (eg. paper) | 3.5 litres | £50 - £150+ | Ecofriendly and compostable materials. | Floating (water burial) | 3.5 litres | £125 - £250 | Designed for sea, lakes or rivers. |
Where to buy an urn in the UK?
There are a number of online specialist retailers such as Legend URN or Urns For Ashes, but many people also buy them from Amazon. Alternatively you can buy direct from your funeral director and they can advise you on what works best for your personal scenario. However, it is important to shop around if price is a restriction.
If you are looking for a floating urn there are a number of options on Scattering-Ashes. It’s best to research this well and check the reviews as some reportedly don’t sink for a while so you may need to adjust your expectations of the urn floating gently away rather than sinking whilst in sight. This is also a less ideal scenario when scattering on a river for example in comparison to being out at sea.
For custom-made urns and specific designs, it’s best to take a look at Etsy for a craftsman that either has similar examples to what you have in mind or look for a producer who has a few basic examples with multiple customisation options so that you get something that feels unique.
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