After cremation, families often discover they’re holding a container and a question at the same time: are ashes loose in an urn, or are they sealed somehow? That worry is completely normal. Cremation is increasingly common, and it brings choices—about cremation urns, sharing pieces, and ceremonies that might happen weeks (or months) after the cremation.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected at 63.4% for 2025. CANA reports the 2024 U.S. cremation rate at 61.8%. Those numbers reflect a simple reality: many families will need practical guidance about what to do with ashes, how to choose containers, and how to make decisions through the fog of grief. Cremation Association of North America publishes annual cremation statistics, while NFDA also shares consumer preferences that help explain why so many families end up storing or sharing cremains in different ways.
How cremated remains are usually returned
Most families do not receive loose cremains poured directly into a decorative urn. More commonly, the crematory returns the remains in an inner bag—often a heavy plastic bag—placed inside a rigid container sometimes called a temporary urn or temporary container, along with identification paperwork. When you hear “cremains in plastic bag,” it usually refers to that inner bag, sealed for transport and kept with the paperwork.
This is why the first answer to “Are the ashes loose?” is usually “not at first.” The temporary container gives you time to breathe and decide what kind of memorial you want. When you’re ready to choose a permanent vessel, you can browse cremation urns for ashes and move forward at your own pace.
What counts as a proper container
The phrase proper container for cremated remains sounds formal, but it’s mostly practical. A proper container is one that keeps the remains contained: it closes securely, it’s rigid enough for normal handling, and it reduces the risk of leaks if the inner bag is ever disturbed. A temporary container can be “proper” for short-term storage; a well-made urn is “proper” for long-term memorialization.
“Proper” matters most when other people may handle the container—an airline, a cemetery or columbarium, or a boat crew for a ceremony. In those situations, secure closures and durable materials usually matter more than decorative details.
Are ashes loose once they’re in a permanent urn?
They can be, but they don’t have to be. When families choose cremation urns for ashes, there are two common approaches. The first is to place the sealed inner bag inside the urn (often easiest with wide openings or bottom-loading urns). The second is transferring ashes to an urn by pouring cremains directly into the urn, which is sometimes necessary for narrow openings or certain designs.
If you’re unsure what type you have—or what kind you should buy—Funeral.com’s guide Cremation Urn Sizes Made Simple explains capacity in plain language, and Cremation Urns 101 walks through materials, closures, and how your plan (home, burial, scattering, travel) should guide the choice.
Transferring ashes and sealing the urn
If you decide to pour cremains into the urn, go slowly and set up the space like you would for any careful, meaningful task. A towel or tray under your work area catches any stray grains. A simple funnel helps. And if you feel unsure, you can ask the funeral home to assist—many do, and it can be a relief to let someone steady the process.
Families also ask about sealing a cremation urn. Many urns already seal well through threaded lids or screwed-in base plates. Extra sealing is most helpful when the urn will be shipped, buried, or placed in a niche where it won’t be reopened. If you may divide ashes later—into keepsake urns or jewelry—it can be kinder to close the urn securely but wait on permanent sealing until your plan is settled.
For added protection during movement or storage, some families use urn bags and liners or other cremation urn accessories. Funeral.com’s Urn Accessories collection is a good place to explore practical add-ons, including protective bags like this urn bag.
Small cremation urns, keepsakes, and shared memorial plans
Many families discover that one urn isn’t the whole story. You may want a primary urn at home and a few smaller tributes for adult children, siblings, or close friends. In that case, small cremation urns can hold meaningful portions, while keepsake urns are designed for very small amounts—often chosen when several people want a tangible connection without splitting the entire contents.
If you want a practical explanation of how families share ashes—timing, portion sizes, and how to keep the moment calm—see Keepsake Urns Explained.
Cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces
Cremation jewelry is another way families share closeness without opening and reopening the main urn. Most cremation necklaces and similar pieces hold a very small amount—more a symbol of connection than a storage solution—so the majority of cremains can remain in a primary urn. This approach can feel gentler, especially when family members are spread across different homes.
You can explore styles in Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces collections. For the practical “how it’s filled and sealed” details, Cremation Jewelry 101 covers what to expect, what’s typically included, and what helps pieces stay secure for daily wear.
Pet urns for ashes
With pets, the same container questions come up, often with a sharper edge of grief: are the ashes loose, and what do we do now? Many pet urns are filled the same way—often with an inner bag inside a temporary container—then transferred into a chosen urn. The biggest difference is sizing (usually based on your pet’s weight) and the kind of memorial that feels right for your home.
If you’re choosing a memorial, start with pet urns for ashes and pet cremation urns. For more specific options, browse pet figurine cremation urns or pet keepsake cremation urns. If you want a gentle, detailed walkthrough, Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide covers sizing, styles, and how families decide whether to keep everything together or share small portions.
Keeping ashes at home, travel, and water burial
Keeping ashes at home is increasingly common, and many families find that keeping ashes at home creates a steadier sense of closeness in the early weeks of grief. NFDA reports that among people who prefer cremation, 37.1% would prefer their remains kept in an urn at home. If home is your plan, focus on stability: a secure surface, moderate temperature, and a spot protected from bumps, humidity, and curious hands or paws. Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home also walks through practical details like storing paperwork, talking with family, and answering “what if we move?” questions families don’t always think to ask.
If your next step involves travel, container choices become more specific. A TSA guidance document notes that cremated remains must pass through X-ray screening and that officers will not open the container; items that cannot be cleared may not be permitted. See the Transportation Security Administration guidance, and consider Funeral.com’s travel walkthrough Can You Fly With Cremated Ashes? to avoid last-minute surprises.
For water burial or burial at sea, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the general permit framework and reporting requirements. Funeral.com’s guide Water Burial and Burial at Sea translates those rules into a family-friendly plan, so the ceremony can feel intentional rather than technical.
How much does cremation cost, and why it affects urn choices
The question how much does cremation cost often shows up right alongside urn decisions, because families are balancing meaning with budget. NFDA reports a 2023 national median cost of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial and $6,280 for a funeral with cremation (before cemetery charges and other cash-advance items). Those medians help explain why many families choose cremation for flexibility—especially when funeral planning includes time to gather loved ones, compare quotes, and choose an urn with intention, and when families want the freedom to hold a memorial later.
If you want a clear, compassionate breakdown of direct cremation versus cremation with services, common fees, and ways to compare quotes, read Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost.
In the end, the most important reassurance is simple: cremains are usually returned securely, not loose. And when you do move them into a permanent urn, you can choose the method—bag inside or poured in—that feels safest for your family and your heart.
