Adult Urns for Ashes

These urns for ashes for adults come in solid wood, ceramic, porcelain, brass and hand-blown glass, and most hold 3 to 4 litres, enough for the full ashes of most people.

Most can carry a name on a plaque, and our engraved wooden urns have it carved into the wood. The guide below the products helps you check the size you need.

Finding the right size urn for an adult

The usual rule is one cubic inch of urn space for every pound the person weighed. That works out at about 2.8 litres for someone of 12 stone and 3.7 litres for 16 stone, so check each listing's capacity against that figure. Most adult cremations produce 2.5 to 3.5 litres.

For someone over about 15 stone, choose an urn of 3.8 litres or more. The hand-blown glass urns hold 4 litres, as do some ceramic designs, and a double urn gives you even more room. Our urn size guide shows how to work it out.

Choosing a material

Wood suits a box shape with an engraved plaque and can be buried later, and the solid oak vault casket is one of our best sellers. Ceramic and porcelain give you sculpted shapes and glazes, such as the Brown & Gold ceramic urn, while brass is hard-wearing and closes with a threaded lid.

Hand-blown glass carries its colour right through the urn. If you're torn between two materials, the full ranges sit on our wooden urns, ceramic and porcelain and metal urns pages.

Common questions about adult urns

How much do adult ashes weigh?

Usually between 2 and 4kg (about 4.5 to 9lb) for an adult, depending mostly on the size of their skeleton. Our guide to how much ashes weigh explains what changes it.

Is it OK to keep ashes at home?

Yes. Our urns are made to be kept at home, and you can still decide on scattering or burial later. Our guide to keeping ashes at home may help.

How much does an adult urn cost?

It depends mostly on the material. Wooden caskets and the bronze aluminium urn are our most affordable full-size options, while ceramic, porcelain and hand-blown glass cost more, as many are finished by hand. Klarna lets you split the cost into three interest-free payments.

How do I transfer ashes into an urn?

The crematorium returns the ashes in a temporary container. Work over a tray and pour or spoon the ashes into the ashes bag, if your urn comes with one, then seal it and place it inside. If you'd rather not do it yourself, your funeral director may be able to help.

Serenity Urns is an independent family business, and our founder, Rob Brett, is personally involved in engraving the plaques and preparing each order. We offer free UK delivery in 2-3 working days, and you can call us on 07951 033 670 if you'd like help choosing.