Help Center | 07.02.2025

What are Different Types of Cremation Urns?

What are Different Types of Cremation Urns?

Reviewed By: Elizabeth Siegel

Cross Checked By: Scott Ginsberg

There are many types of cremation urns, each designed for a specific use — whether you're planning to keep, bury, scatter, or share the ashes. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand the most common types.

1. Display Urns

  • Purpose: Designed to be kept at home or in a columbarium niche

  • Materials: Metal, wood, ceramic, or marble

  • Features: Durable, decorative, often engraved

2. Burial Urns

  • Purpose: Made for underground burial

  • Materials: Metal, stone, or composite

  • Features: Often paired with an urn vault for protection in the ground

3. Biodegradable Urns

  • Purpose: For eco-friendly ground or water burials

  • Materials: Paper, salt, sand, cornstarch, or bamboo

  • Features: Breaks down naturally in soil or water over time

4. Scattering Urns

  • Purpose: Designed for spreading ashes in a meaningful location

  • Materials: Cardboard, paper, or lightweight metal

  • Features: Portable, often shaped for easy handling during ceremonies

5. Keepsake Urns

  • Purpose: Hold a small portion of ashes — meant for sharing among family members

  • Materials: Same as full-size urns, but mini-sized

  • Features: Can be matched with the main urn or designed individually

6. Companion Urns

  • Purpose: Designed to hold the ashes of two people (usually a couple)

  • Materials: Metal, wood, ceramic

  • Features: Larger capacity (usually 400 cubic inches or more)

7. Cremation Jewelry

  • Purpose: Tiny urns in the form of wearable pendants, bracelets, or rings

  • Materials: Stainless steel, silver, gold, or glass

  • Features: Holds a very small amount of ashes, perfect for keeping close

Here’s a clean and presentable table format to explain different types of cremation urns:

Type Purpose Common Materials Key Features
Display Urns Meant to be kept at home or in a columbarium niche Metal, wood, ceramic, marble Durable, decorative, often engravable
Burial Urns Designed for underground burial Metal, stone, composite Often used with an urn vault for added protection
Biodegradable Urns For eco-friendly ground or water burials Paper, salt, sand, cornstarch, bamboo Breaks down naturally in soil or water over time
Scattering Urns Used for spreading ashes in a meaningful location Cardboard, paper, lightweight metal Portable, shaped for easy handling during ceremonies
Keepsake Urns Holds a small portion of ashes — ideal for sharing among family Miniature versions of display or burial urn materials Small, can match main urn or have a unique design
Companion Urns Made to hold the ashes of two people (typically a couple) Metal, wood, ceramic Larger capacity (400+ cubic inches)
Cremation Jewelry Wearable miniature urns like pendants, bracelets, or rings Stainless steel, silver, gold, glass Holds a tiny amount of ashes, personal and wearable

Final Answer

Cremation urns come in many types — from display and burial urns to biodegradable, keepsake, and jewelry options. The right choice depends on how you plan to honor and remember your loved one.

Related FAQs

What’s the most common type of urn?

Display urns are the most common, often chosen for home memorials or columbarium storage.

Do I need a special urn for burial?

Yes. Burial urns are made to withstand soil pressure, and most cemeteries require a vault.

Can you split ashes between urns?

Yes. Keepsake urns or cremation jewelry are designed for this purpose.

Joshua Siegel

Joshua Siegel Joshua Siegel

Joshua Siegel

About Josh

eCommerce veteran and technologist Joshua Siegel is a co-founder of Titan Casket overseeing technology, marketing, operations, and finance.

After spending more than eight years at Amazon first leading high consideration, large-item retail categories and later product, UX design, and technology across consumer electronics and heavy-bulky last mile logistics, Josh and Scott connected through the Columbia Business School network. Josh paired with Scott’s industry expertise to build Titan Casket’s successful direct-to-consumer model.

Previously, Josh served as Chief Product Officer at RealSelf, a healthcare marketplace, and he is based in Seattle. He joined RealSelf after time at McKinsey & Company and Amazon. He has a BA from Colgate University in New York, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.