After a cremation, families often describe an unexpected kind of weight: you’re handed a temporary container, and you realize you still need to decide what to do with ashes. The decision can feel permanent, even if your heart is still catching up.
Cremation is also more common than many people realize until they’re planning. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025. And in the Cremation Association of North America’s 2024 statistics report summary, CANA notes the U.S. cremation rate was 60.6% in 2023 and describes a trend toward slower growth as cremation becomes the majority choice.
If you’re searching for “things to put ashes in,” try to make the question smaller: “What do we need the ashes to do for us right now?” That’s the heart of gentle funeral planning, and it keeps you from making a rushed choice just to quiet the stress.
Start with the plan, then choose the container
Most families choose a mix: a primary urn at home, a ceremony like scattering or water burial, and a few shared keepsakes. The container you choose should support that plan. If you want a stable centerpiece, start with cremation urns for ashes. If you’re sharing or keeping a smaller portion, browse small cremation urns and keepsake urns. If you’re planning a biodegradable placement, look at biodegradable urns that are designed for that setting. For a gentle overview of materials, sizes, and personalization, read Cremation Urns 101.
If you’re sorting through options like keeping, burying, scattering, or planning a water burial ceremony, Funeral.com’s guide Scatter, Bury, Keep, or Water Burial: Which Urn Type Fits Each Plan? can help you match the urn type to what you actually intend to do, including blended plans (for example: keeping a portion at home while scattering another portion later).
57 creative things to put cremation ashes in
Some ideas below can hold all the remains. Many are designed for a small, symbolic portion. If you choose a decorative vessel that isn’t manufactured as an urn, keep the cremains in the sealed bag (or a sealed inner container) and place that inside the outer piece for stability and spill protection.
- A classic full-size metal urn with a threaded lid
- A warm wooden box urn with a bottom panel
- An artistic ceramic urn with a hand-glazed finish
- A hand-blown glass urn designed for display
- A natural stone or marble urn that feels timeless
- A book-style urn that blends into a bookshelf
- A photo frame urn with a sealed inner compartment
- A shadow box memorial with a hidden inner container
- A biodegradable woven urn for green burial settings
- A water-soluble urn designed for a water ceremony
- A scattering tube for travel and one-time use
- A compact keepsake urn for a symbolic portion
- A set of matching mini keepsake urns for siblings
- A heart-shaped keepsake urn for a bedside shelf
- A keepsake urn that includes a tealight holder
- A memorial ornament urn for seasonal remembrance
- A keychain vial for a tiny “travel portion”
- A pocket-sized capsule designed as a token
- A memorial coin with a sealed micro-vial insert
- A minimalist bar cremation necklace
- A heart or cross pendant designed for ashes
- A bangle bracelet with a hidden compartment
- A charm that attaches to an existing bracelet
- A cremation ring with a small inner chamber
- A rosary or prayer bead keepsake with an urn bead
- A memorial keepsake box with a sealed inner jar
- A recipe tin or tea tin used as an outer container with the ashes bagged inside
- A handmade pottery jar created as a dedicated urn
- A DIY urn you build from wood and seal carefully
- A repurposed keepsake box with a proper inner container
- A small lockbox used as a sturdy outer vessel
- A memorial candle holder with a concealed compartment
- A wind chime that includes a tiny vial keepsake
- A small memorial bell with a sealed chamber
- A garden stone featuring a hidden capsule
- A stepping stone that holds a sealed inner container
- A resin paperweight that contains a sealed vial
- A piece of glass art infused with a small portion of ashes
- A blown-glass bead created with ashes in the glass
- A small memorial sculpture with an internal chamber
- A memorial “reef” made with a portion of ashes in concrete
- A memorial brick cast with ashes for a garden
- A memorial painting where ashes are mixed into the medium
- A pottery glaze memorial with ashes incorporated into the glaze
- A vinyl record pressing that incorporates a small portion of ashes
- A professionally handled memorial fireworks display using a small portion
- A plantable “tree urn” kit designed for living memorials
- A bonsai memorial kit that uses buffering medium with ashes
- A columbarium niche urn with niche-friendly dimensions
- A companion urn designed to hold two sets of remains
- A travel urn meant for short-term handling and flights
- A pet urn with a paw print motif
- A pet photo cube urn that holds a small portion
- A pet cremation urn shaped like a sleeping cat or dog
- A pet figurine cremation urn that resembles your companion
- A pet keepsake urn for sharing among family members
- Pet cremation jewelry for a tiny, wearable portion
- A memorial bench or keepsake box with a hidden sealed compartment
When you’re deciding between creative options, it can help to choose an “anchor” first (a primary urn or a safe temporary setup), then choose the extras. Many families build a blended plan: an urn at home, a few keepsakes, and a ceremony later.
Make it safe: size, closure, and a calm transfer
Whether you choose traditional cremation urns or alternative urn containers, the goal is the same: keep the cremains protected and the handling minimal. A secure closure and a stable placement spot prevent most worries before they start.
Size and capacity
If you’re keeping all the remains, capacity matters. If you’re keeping a portion, it matters too—especially if you’re choosing small cremation urns or keepsake urns. Funeral.com’s guide What Size Urn Do I Need? walks through the sizing rule many funeral homes use and shows how to think about full urns, shared keepsakes, and companion urns without guessing.
How to transfer cremains without a mess
Transferring ashes is a moment many people dread, but it can be calm with a steady surface, good light, and a slow approach. Funeral.com’s tutorial How to Put Ashes in an Urn (Without a Mess) explains tools, portioning, and sealing in a simple, beginner-friendly way.
Keeping ashes at home
If keeping ashes at home is part of your plan, think like you’re choosing a household heirloom: dry location, stable base, and a spot that won’t be bumped. The guide Keeping Ashes at Home covers practical placement, household safety, and the emotional side of living with a memorial day to day.
Cremation jewelry and keepsakes: comfort you can carry
Cremation jewelry is usually designed to hold a very small, symbolic amount—enough to feel close, without moving the main urn. If you want to browse, start with cremation jewelry and narrow to cremation necklaces if you want an everyday style. For the practical “how does this stay sealed?” question, Cremation Jewelry 101 explains filling, sealing, and daily wear in plain language.
Keepsakes are different: keepsake urns can hold a larger portion for a nightstand, a home altar, or a shared family memorial. If you want to understand how families split ashes respectfully, Keepsake Urns Explained is a practical guide.
Pet urns for ashes
If you’re choosing pet urns or pet urns for ashes, the options are similar—just more specific in design. Start with pet cremation urns, then narrow to figurine styles, photo keepsakes, or jewelry, depending on what feels most like your companion. For sizing and planning help, read Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide.
Costs and timelines: decide in steps
When families ask how much does cremation cost, the honest answer is “it depends” on location and what’s included (direct cremation, a viewing, a memorial service, permits, and more). Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? breaks down common fees and budgeting considerations. If you’re not ready to choose a permanent container yet, it’s okay to wait. Your “for now” plan can be simple and safe while you decide what feels right.
Choose what feels like love, then make it safe
Whether your choice is classic cremation urns for ashes, a set of keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, a biodegradable urn for water burial, or a careful DIY urn, the best decision is the one that feels steady in your hands. Start with protection and respect. Then let the details reflect the person—or pet—you’re honoring.
