Scattering Tubes: Sizes, Materials and How to Use One

A scattering tube is a light container, usually cardboard, paper or bamboo, made for pouring cremated remains out slowly. Most standard adult urns hold about 200 cubic inches, tubes come in similar sizes, and the usual rule of thumb is one cubic inch of capacity for each pound of the person's body weight before cremation.

A tube suits a scattering on land, on a mountain or from a boat. It is not designed to sit on a shelf for years, and it is not something to drop into the sea. This guide covers sizes, materials, travel and the rules that affect how you use one.

What is a scattering tube?

It is a container made to be opened and poured, in contrast to a traditional urn, which is usually made to be kept, buried or placed in a niche. Many tubes have a removable cap or a tab you open, and some are decorated with a landscape or a printed design. Some are made from recycled paper or from bamboo.

Tubes differ from one maker to the next, so read the product description for how the closure works and what the tube is made of. A closely related product is a scattering urn, which is usually sturdier and reusable. If you are comparing biodegradable urns, check whether they are meant for pouring, burial or water.

What size scattering tube do you need?

Adult cremated remains average four to six pounds, says the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), and they are ground to less than 1/8 inch. The weight is not the same as the volume, so containers are sized in cubic inches.

One retailer's sizing guide gives the common rule of thumb: about one cubic inch of capacity for every pound of body weight before cremation, with most standard adult urns holding around 200 cubic inches. It is a trade guideline, not a legal standard. Extra space is fine, and a tube that is too small is the real problem.

If the remains are still in the crematory's plastic bag, you can ask the crematory to process them for scattering and to divide them if you want to keep some. Our guide to dividing ashes among family explains how families handle it.

What are scattering tubes made of?

• Cardboard or recycled paper: the most common, light and inexpensive. They can weaken in damp conditions.
• Bamboo or wood: sturdier, often with a lid that screws or locks, which helps if you will carry the tube on a long walk.
• Plastic: light and strong, but not suitable for any scattering where the container stays behind.

Ask the maker how the tube breaks down if you plan to leave it in the ground. "Biodegradable" claims differ, and a coated or glossy finish may take longer to decompose. Laws and cemetery or park rules may not let you leave a container behind at all, so ask the place first.

Where can you use a scattering tube?

The container does not change the rules for the place. Our guides on scattering ashes and scattering ashes anywhere cover them in detail. In short:

• Private land: you need the owner's permission.
• National Park Service areas: scattering human ashes is prohibited except under a permit or in designated areas, according to 36 CFR 2.62. Contact the park first.
• At sea: the EPA's general permit requires you to be at least three nautical miles from land and to report within 30 days. The container itself must not contain plastic, float or add to marine debris. Pour the ashes out and bring the tube home. If you want a container that goes in the water, see scattering ashes at sea.
• Other places: state parks, forests, lakes, rivers and beaches each have their own rules.

How do you use a scattering tube on the day?

1. Look at the tube and the ashes first, at home, so nothing about the texture or closure surprises you at the site. Ashes look like coarse sand, not fine dust.
2. Fill it carefully. If the ashes are in a bag, a wide funnel or a folded sheet of paper helps. Close the tube as the maker directs.
3. Check the wind. Stand with the wind behind you or at your side, and pour low and slowly. Throwing ashes upward is what causes blowback.
4. Decide who pours. Some families take turns, or use several small tubes so each person has a portion.
5. Take the empty tube with you, unless the place and the maker say it can be left behind.

Our professional scattering services guide covers hiring someone to do it for you.

Can you fly with or mail a scattering tube?

For flying, TSA allows cremated remains in carry-on and checked bags, but the container must give a clear image on the X-ray machine. TSA recommends a lighter material such as wood or plastic, and officers will not open the container even if you ask. The final decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint, and some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked bags. The Funeral Consumers Alliance advises carrying documentation. See flying with ashes.

For mailing, USPS requires Priority Mail Express and its cremated remains box, with the ashes in a strong, sealed, sift-proof container. A tube that closes with a push-in tab or a loose cap may not meet that test on its own. See shipping cremated remains.

What to do next

1. Ask the crematory or funeral home for the ashes in a form that suits scattering, and divide any portion you want to keep.
2. Pick a size using the capacity in cubic inches, with room to spare.
3. Check the rules for the place you will scatter, and get any permit.
4. Choose a date and a backup date, and agree the plan with close family.