Pet Urn Options: Sizes, Materials and How to Choose

A pet urn is a container for some or all of your pet's ashes. Choose by capacity first, then by material and where it will live. Urn sellers commonly suggest about one cubic inch of space for every pound your pet weighed, and aquamation may return more remains than flame cremation, so ask the crematory how much you will receive before you order. You do not have to decide quickly.

What size pet urn do you need?

Check the capacity before anything else. Makers list it in cubic inches, liters or pounds of ashes, and the units are not interchangeable, so read the listing closely. One liter is about 61 cubic inches.

• Start with the rule of thumb. Sellers commonly suggest about one cubic inch of capacity per pound of your pet's body weight. It is a rule of thumb from sellers, not an official standard, and we could not tie it to an authoritative source, so a 50-pound dog would call for an urn of roughly 50 cubic inches or more.
• Ask the crematory. The provider knows what it will return and can give you a better estimate than any chart. The amount depends on your pet's size and bone structure.
• Expect more after aquamation. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) says alkaline hydrolysis produces about 32 percent more cremated remains than flame cremation for people, and that a larger urn may be needed. Ask your pet's provider whether the same applies.
• Leave a little room. Ashes often come in a sealed plastic bag inside a box. A slightly larger urn lets you place the whole bag inside, and some people add a collar tag or a lock of fur.
• Check for sealing. A threaded lid or a screw-in base keeps ashes secure. A loose lid lets in moisture and dust.

CANA describes cremated remains as bone fragments, mostly calcium phosphates, processed to less than one-eighth of an inch. Pouring them into an urn can be upsetting, so top-opening urns and a bag placed whole make the job easier.

What are the main materials for pet urns?

The best material depends on where the urn will go.

Prices vary widely by material, size and engraving, so ask for the total with engraving and shipping before you order. A simple wooden box and a custom sculpture are very different purchases.

Keepsake and companion urns

A keepsake urn holds a small portion of the ashes so that each person in the family can keep some, or so you can keep a little apart from the main urn. A companion urn is made to hold the remains of more than one pet. Ask the crematory how it keeps each pet's remains separate first. Our guide on keepsake urns covers sizes and uses, and companion urns covers sharing a space.

Dog and cat urns

Dog urns vary more in size because dogs vary more. Capacity is the main question, and a chest or vase style may be needed for a large dog. For a cat, size is less of an issue, and many people choose by appearance, such as a resin cat figurine or a ceramic vessel. For small animals such as birds, rabbits and guinea pigs, a keepsake-sized urn often suffices. Check the listed capacity and ask the crematory how much to expect.

Can you bury or scatter from an urn?

Yes, but the urn type matters.

• Burial. A ceramic, metal or stone urn will not break down, while a biodegradable one is made to. Rules on burying a pet or ashes differ by state, city and property, and the ASPCA notes that it is typically illegal to bury an animal on public lands such as parks. See our guides to home pet burial laws and pet cemetery burial.
• Tree or plant urns. These are made for planting, and their capacity can be much smaller than a full-size urn. The Bios Urn Pets, for example, lists a capacity of 2.9 pounds (1.25 liters), so check it against your pet's expected amount. See our guide to memorial trees.
• Scattering. A scattering urn or tube lets you release ashes in a chosen place. Rules depend on the land, and the EPA's burial at sea permit covers human remains only, so ask before scattering pet ashes on water. See what to do with pet ashes.

Can you fly or mail an urn?

If you are traveling with ashes, the material matters. TSA allows cremated remains in carry-on and checked bags, though some airlines restrict them in checked luggage. It recommends a lightweight temporary or permanent container made of wood or plastic, because a container that blocks the X-ray image cannot be cleared. Officers will not open the container, even on request. Our guide to flying with ashes has more.

To mail ashes, USPS Publication 52 says domestic cremated remains may go by Priority Mail Express only, in a strong, sift-proof container inside the USPS cremated remains box. It covers human and animal remains, including keepsakes and jewelry.

What should you check before you buy?

1. Capacity units. Cubic inches, liters and pounds are not the same, and a listing may use any of them.
2. The closure. Is it threaded, screwed or sealed with adhesive? How is it opened?
3. How the name is added. Engraved, printed or on a plate. Ask how the lettering will wear.
4. Return policy. Custom engraving and made-to-order pieces are often final.
5. Delivery time. Custom work takes time, which is another reason not to rush.
6. The seller. A specialist memorial maker or a funeral home can answer questions about sizing. A marketplace listing may not. Ask for a clear capacity figure and photos of the closure.

Whoever you buy from, ask for the price, including engraving and shipping, in writing, and read the terms before you pay.

What mistakes do people make?

• Buying before the ashes arrive. Wait until you know how much you have.
• Ignoring the closure. A decorative jar without a seal can leak or let in moisture.
• Forgetting aquamation. If you chose it, ask the provider about extra volume. CANA puts it at about 32 percent more for human remains.
• Picking a fragile urn for a busy home. Metal or sealed wood may suit better than glass.
• Feeling pressure to spend. A photo, a plant and a simple container can be as meaningful as a costly piece. The ASPCA suggests memorializing a pet in a way that includes the others who cared for them, so the choice does not have to be yours alone. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement runs chat rooms and support groups if you want to talk.

What to do next

1. Ask the crematory how much ashes to expect and what container they come in.
2. Decide where the urn will live: a shelf, the ground, travel or shared among family.
3. Compare two or three urns on capacity, material and closure, and read the return policy.
4. Take your time. The temporary container is fine until you are ready. See pet memorial products and pet memorial jewelry for other options.