An urn (also called a funerary urn or cremation urn) is a container used to hold the cremated remains (“ashes”) of a person, or persons.

The use of urns has dated back thousands and thousands of years, through many cultures, and were made of a variety of materials.

In modern day we will typically see urns made of wood, metal, or stone.

Funeral providers will sell urns from manufacturers, however you can easily find a suitable urn of your own choosing, or making, at a greatly reduced cost. Most funeral home urns will range from $200-$1200.

An urn can be any container of adequate dimensions to hold cremated remains. It should ideally not be something fragile, and nothing with a narrow neck, or small opening, which may make it difficult to place the cremated remains inside.

With the process of cremation, a ‘temporary’ urn is provided. This will be a plain and simple box, made of either thick cardboard or plastic, with a plastic bag inside, containing the cremated remains. This gives you a place to start, and for many people, may be the only urn necessary, as scattering may be the final disposition.

An urn may be used for a visitation, or funeral service, and afterwards it may be placed in a columbarium, or buried, or kept at home. If scattering the remains is the desired final disposition, consideration should be given to what to do with the urn afterwards, and if an urn is necessary.