How to Choose a Funeral Urn
With thousands of urns available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming — especially during a time of grief. This practical guide helps you quickly identify the funeral urn that's right for your situation.
1. What will you do with the urn?
The final resting place of the ashes is the first criterion to define. Here are the main options:
Displaying the urn in a meaningful place is a tangible way to preserve the memory of a loved one. Note: In France, the law prohibits keeping a human's ashes at home — this option is only permitted for animals.
If you wish to scatter ashes in nature (at sea, in the mountains…), a simple urn with an easy-to-open lid is ideal. In France, scattering is permitted in open nature away from public roads, and at sea at more than 300 m from the coast — declaration at the town hall is required. See the official regulations.
Made from natural materials, they dissolve in water or soil. Perfect for sea burial or eco-friendly interment. Browse our selection: biodegradable urns.
Size is the key factor: check the niche dimensions (height, width, depth) with the cemetery before ordering. Standard niches are generally 30×30×30 cm, but this varies.
Some families choose to share the ashes. Memorial jewelry allows a symbolic portion to be kept close to the heart, alongside a main urn.
2. What size urn do you need?
Urn volume is measured in litres. As a general rule, 1 kg of body weight = approximately 30–35 ml of ashes.
| Urn volume | For humans (weight) | For animals (weight) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 ml | up to 10 kg | cat, small dog (<10 kg) |
| 1 litre | up to 20 kg | medium dog (<20 kg) |
| 2 litres | up to 50 kg | large dog (<50 kg) |
| 3 litres | up to 80 kg | very large dog |
| 3+ litres | over 80 kg | — |
3. Which material and style?
Frequently asked questions
Ashes are returned in a sealed plastic bag by the crematorium. Simply transfer the bag into your urn. If you'd rather not do it yourself, any crematorium or funeral home can do it for you, usually at no extra charge.
Most urns don't have a wide enough opening to accommodate the temporary urn. It's better to transfer the ashes bag directly. If in doubt, contact us — we can advise based on the model you choose.
Yes, absolutely. Ordering in advance gives you time to choose calmly, without pressure. You can hand the urn directly to the crematorium on the day.
Ready to choose your urn?