57+ Meaningful Things to Do With Cremation Ashes (Keepsakes, Jewelry,

After cremation, many families describe a strange quiet: the practical part is “done,” but the heart still wants somewhere for love to go. If you’re searching for what to do with cremation ashes, you’re not looking for a trend or a gimmick—you’re trying to make a decision that feels steady, respectful, and personal. And you don’t have to make it all at once.

In fact, many families choose a “for now” plan first, and a long-term plan later. You might keep ashes at home for a while, share a small portion with siblings, plan a scattering ceremony when travel is possible, or choose a memorial that becomes part of daily life. Because cremation is now the majority choice, these “after” decisions are becoming a central part of modern funeral planning. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025, with burial projected at 31.6%. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8% in 2024 and is projected to continue rising.

This guide is designed to help you compare the most common options—cremation urns, cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and ceremony ideas like scattering and water burial. You’ll also find practical notes on timelines, cost ranges, and how to split ashes among loved ones without turning it into a stressful moment.

Start with the plan, not the product

When families feel overwhelmed by choices, it usually helps to answer one gentle question first: “Where do we want the ashes to be, at least for now?” A temporary container from the crematory is common, and it can buy you time. Time to talk with family. Time to learn what your loved one might have wanted. Time to decide whether your plan is centered on home, nature, a cemetery, or sharing.

If you already know you want an urn for display, browsing cremation urns for ashes can help you see the range of materials and styles. If you know you want to share ashes among several people, it often helps to think in “one primary memorial plus several smaller tributes,” like small cremation urns or keepsake urns. Funeral.com’s Journal guides can also make the process feel calmer, especially if you want a simple framework for choosing: Cremation Urns 101 and the Cremation Urn Buying Guide.

Timelines, splitting ashes, and “keeping ashes at home”

One of the most common worries families carry—quietly—is whether it’s “okay” to keep ashes at home. For many people, keeping ashes at home is comforting because it creates a place for grief to rest: a shelf, a photo, a candle, a small ritual on hard days. If you want practical guidance on safe, respectful storage and how to talk about long-term plans, Funeral.com’s Journal offers a helpful read: Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally.

Splitting ashes among multiple loved ones is also very common, especially when family members live in different places or have different comfort levels. You might keep most ashes together for now, and share symbolic portions later. You might also combine options: a primary urn for home, a keepsake for each child, and a scattering plan for a meaningful location. If you want a deeper explanation of capacities, filling, and the emotional side of “sharing,” the Funeral.com Journal has a clear guide: Keepsake Urns Explained.

Cost ranges and consumer protections to know

Cost is part of planning, and it’s okay to name it. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial in 2023 was $8,300, while the median cost of a funeral with cremation was $6,280. Those are medians—real prices vary widely by region, provider, and what’s included—but they help families set expectations while comparing options. For an easy, real-world breakdown of direct cremation versus services and common fees, Funeral.com’s Journal guide How much does cremation cost? walks through what tends to change your total.

One more practical tool: you have a right to price transparency. The Federal Trade Commission explains that funeral providers must offer a General Price List (GPL) so consumers can compare and choose itemized goods and services. If you’re calling multiple providers, asking for the GPL can help you compare “apples to apples,” especially when you’re trying to keep decisions simple.

A grounded guide to urns, keepsakes, and “urn alternatives”

At its simplest, an urn is a container for cremated remains. At its most human, it’s a way of saying, “You mattered, and you still do.” Families often feel more confident when they understand three basic categories:

First are full-size cremation urns designed to hold a complete set of adult remains. If your plan is to keep ashes at home long-term, this is often the “anchor” memorial, and browsing cremation urns for ashes gives you a sense of what feels like your person—classic, modern, artistic, simple, ornate.

Second are small cremation urns—a meaningful in-between that can hold a portion of ashes (or a smaller set of remains) without feeling “tiny.” These are often chosen when families want to share ashes, plan a scattering but keep some at home, or create a personal memorial that fits a small space. You can compare styles in the small cremation urns collection.

Third are keepsake urns, sometimes called mini urns or sharing urns. These are designed for symbolic portions—often just a few tablespoons—and they can be especially gentle for families with many children, close friends, or siblings who want their own physical connection. Funeral.com’s keepsake urns for ashes collection is built around that “shared remembrance” reality.

And then there are urn alternatives: jewelry, glass, diamonds, art, reefs, trees, and other memorials that transform ashes into something you can wear, hold, or place in nature. These options aren’t “better” than an urn—they’re simply different ways of carrying love forward.

57+ meaningful things to do with cremation ashes

The options below are grouped by the kinds of comfort families often want: closeness, sharing, ceremony, nature, art, and permanence. You can choose one path, combine several, or do one thing now and something else later. If you’re reading this in the middle of grief, consider this permission: you can move slowly.

Home memorials and everyday comfort

These ideas fit families who want a steady place at home—especially those considering keeping ashes at home as part of healing.

Create a memorial shelf with an urn, photo, candle, and a few personal items.
Choose a display urn for the living room or bedroom from cremation urns for ashes.
Use a smaller urn for a private space (desk, bedside table) from small cremation urns.
Place ashes in a keepsake urn that sits beside a framed letter or prayer.
Create a “memory box” alongside a keepsake urn for small mementos (ticket stubs, handwritten notes).
Set an annual ritual: light a candle, play one song, say one thing you miss.
Keep ashes in a secure cabinet if you have young kids or curious pets (peace of mind matters).
Choose a companion-style memorial corner that includes two photos (partners, siblings, parent and child).
Use a protective display case for an urn if your home is busy, small, or high-traffic.
Decide on a “future plan envelope” with notes: who holds the key, where documents are kept, and what happens later.

If you want detailed guidance on safety, etiquette with visitors, and long-term planning conversations, Funeral.com’s Journal piece Keeping Ashes at Home is a steady place to start.

Keepsakes, sharing, and family-centered “divide the ashes” plans

Sharing ashes can be deeply meaningful—especially when siblings live far apart or different people want different kinds of closeness. Many families pair one primary urn with several keepsake urns.

Give each adult child a small keepsake urn for a symbolic portion.
Choose matching keepsakes so siblings feel equally included.
Use a small urn for travel to a ceremony site while the main urn stays safe at home.
Create “two homes” memorials for divorced families or blended families (shared love is still love).
Keep a small portion while scattering the rest—an “and/both” approach many families prefer.
Share ashes with a lifelong friend who wasn’t family on paper but was family in practice.
Hold a small family filling ceremony, with one person reading, one holding the keepsake, and one witnessing.
Use a keepsake urn as a temporary option until a cemetery niche is ready.
Choose a keepsake urn that fits into a columbarium niche later (planning ahead can save stress).
Explore keepsake urns for ashes when you need multiple tributes without pressure.

If you want help understanding sizes and when families choose keepsakes, the Funeral.com Journal guide Keepsake Urns Explained can make the “how much do they hold?” question feel clearer.

Cremation jewelry that keeps someone close

For many people, cremation jewelry is less about display and more about portability: a quiet connection during ordinary life. If you’re specifically searching for an cremation jewelry ashes necklace, you’ll usually find it under cremation necklaces and memorial pendants.

Wear an ashes necklace that holds a tiny portion for daily comfort.
Choose a simple pendant if you prefer privacy and minimal attention.
Select a meaningful symbol (heart, cross, tree of life) that matches belief or personality.
Use a bracelet or charm if necklaces aren’t comfortable.
Keep a second piece for a sibling who wants closeness but lives far away.
Pair jewelry with a home urn: one anchor memorial, one portable memorial.
Ask about sealing methods (threads, gaskets, permanent seal) before wearing daily.
Browse cremation necklaces and cremation jewelry to compare styles.

If you want filling tips, closure guidance, and what “secure” really means, Funeral.com’s Journal includes Cremation Jewelry 101 and a deeper walkthrough: Cremation Jewelry Guide.

Scattering ceremonies on land, water, and air

If your heart keeps returning to “returning them to a place,” scattering can be a powerful, simple goodbye. It can also be blended with keepsakes, so the ceremony doesn’t feel like losing connection all at once. For a practical overview of etiquette and common guidelines, read Scattering Ashes Ideas.

Scatter at a meaningful hiking trail, with permission where required.
Scatter in a family garden or private land with the owner’s consent.
Hold a simple reading-and-silence ceremony before scattering (structure helps emotions).
Invite each person to share one memory before releasing the ashes.
Use a biodegradable scattering tube for a cleaner, calmer moment.
Scatter at sea from a permitted distance, following federal guidance.
Plan an ocean farewell that includes flowers (biodegradable only) and a final letter.
Choose an eco urn designed for water placement from Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns for Ashes.
Consider a “shoreline ceremony” even if you don’t release ashes into the water.
Scatter in a river or lake only with local permission and careful consideration of rules.
Use a wind-aware method (low release, downwind positioning) to avoid a painful mishap.
Keep a small portion in a keepsake urn if you want both ceremony and closeness.

For water burial and burial at sea, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that ocean burial must occur at least three nautical miles from shore and that the general permit does not authorize non-human (pet) remains. If you’re planning an ocean ceremony, Funeral.com’s guide Scattering Ashes at Sea walks through practical and emotional considerations so you can avoid surprises.

Eco-friendly, living memorials: reefs, trees, and nature-forward tributes

Some families want the memorial to become part of something living—trees, gardens, natural spaces. Others want the ceremony to leave as little footprint as possible. If this is your direction, Funeral.com’s Journal guide Biodegradable Urns: How They Work can help you match the urn to the environment.

Place ashes in a plantable or biodegradable urn for earth burial (where allowed).
Create a tree memorial (with species and soil considerations that fit your climate).
Choose a water-soluble urn that floats briefly, then dissolves in a planned ceremony.
Hold a “return to nature” gathering with readings about seasons and continuity.
Plant a memorial garden nearby while keeping ashes in a home urn.
Use a small portion for a living tribute and keep the rest in a primary urn.
Choose an eco-focused option from Biodegradable & Eco-Friendly Urns if your plan includes nature placement.
Consider reef memorial options if you want ocean symbolism and a nature-centered legacy.

Art, transformation, and tactile memorials

For families drawn to creative remembrance, there are many ways to transform a portion of ashes into something tangible. These are often chosen as “shareable” tributes, especially when a full urn feels too heavy emotionally or physically.

Turn ashes into diamonds (a portion is typically used, with long timelines).
Commission glass art from ashes such as a paperweight, orb, or pendant.
Create a memorial sculpture or ceramic piece using a small portion of ashes.
Incorporate ashes into a painting or mixed-media artwork (handled respectfully).
Make a memorial stone set for family members who prefer tactile keepsakes.
Create a vinyl record memorial (some services press ashes into a record).
Choose a photo-integrated memorial item paired with a keepsake urn at home.
Use ashes in a memorial tattoo (some artists offer symbolic methods; research carefully).
Make a handprint or footprint memorial (common in infant/child remembrance, when applicable).
Consider a memorial firework ceremony (specialty services exist; follow local rules).

These options are meaningful, but they work best when you treat them like any other memorial decision: use a small portion, confirm timelines, and keep the rest in a secure primary plan until you’re sure.

Permanent placement: cemeteries, niches, and long-term stability

Some families want a permanent public place to visit—a cemetery plot, a niche, or a memorial garden. Others want a long-term plan even if they keep ashes at home now. If you’re considering burial or a niche, Funeral.com’s Journal guide Interment of Ashes Explained can help you understand common requirements.

Place ashes in a columbarium niche (confirm size limits before choosing an urn).
Bury an urn in a cemetery plot (ask about vault requirements and permitted materials).
Choose a companion niche or companion placement for partners.
Create a family memorial plot that can be visited across generations.
Inter ashes with a spouse later if your plan is to reunite remains in one place.
Use a permanent urn for interment and separate keepsakes for the living.
Place a memorial plaque or marker in a cemetery even if ashes are kept elsewhere.
Keep written instructions with estate documents so your plan is honored later.

Pet urns for ashes: honoring a companion animal with the same care

Pet loss carries its own kind of heartbreak—daily rhythms disappear, and the house feels different. Families often want something smaller, closer to home, and deeply personal. If you’re choosing pet urns or pet urns for ashes, start with an honest question: do you want a private home memorial, something shareable, or a plan that returns your pet to nature?

Funeral.com’s collections can help you browse without rushing: pet cremation urns, pet figurine cremation urns, and pet keepsake cremation urns. For a supportive overview of sizing, styles, and personalization, the Funeral.com Journal guide Pet Urns 101 is a thoughtful place to begin.

One important note if you’re considering an ocean ceremony for a pet: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that the federal burial-at-sea general permit does not authorize non-human (pet) remains. If you want ocean symbolism, many families choose a beach ceremony without releasing ashes into the water, paired with a home memorial using pet urns for ashes.

Practical tips for travel, timing, and reducing stress

Some families plan ceremonies in a hometown, on a favorite coastline, or near a family cemetery—meaning travel becomes part of the story. If you’re flying with cremated remains, it helps to know that security screening is a real consideration. A Transportation Security Administration guidance document notes that crematory remains must pass through the X-ray machine and that officers will not open the container; if the contents cannot be cleared, the remains may not be permitted through the checkpoint. You can read the guidance here: Transportation Security Administration. For a family-friendly checklist that pairs the rules with practical steps, Funeral.com’s Journal offers Flying With Ashes Checklist.

Finally, if you’re trying to plan without spiraling, one approach tends to help: choose the “anchor” first (a primary urn, a safe home plan, or a cemetery plan), then choose the “meaning” layers (keepsakes, jewelry, art, scattering). That way, you’re not trying to solve grief in one purchase. You’re simply building a memorial story that matches real relationships.

If you want to browse options gently while you read, these collections are a practical starting point: cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation necklaces, cremation jewelry, and for animal companions, pet urns for ashes.

Wherever you are in this process—planning ahead, grieving freshly, or revisiting decisions months later—there is no “perfect” choice. There is only the choice that feels most like love, given your family, your beliefs, and your life.