If you are reading this, you may be holding something that feels both precious and overwhelming. Maybe a jeweler has sent you a small kit for a ring or pendant. Maybe a glass artist asked for “a pinch” of ashes. Or maybe you are helping a sibling across the country create a shared memorial. Whatever brought you here, the goal is the same: you want to send a small portion of cremated remains with care, within the rules, and with as little added stress as possible.
Families often tell us that the hardest part is not the packing tape or the postage. It is the emotional weight of letting a piece of someone you love leave your hands, even for a short time. The good news is that there is a clear, practical way to do this. With the right supplies and a calm plan, mailing cremation ashes for a memorial service can be safe, legal, and respectful.
Why Mailing Ashes Has Become More Common
Cremation is no longer a niche choice in the United States, which means more families are making real decisions about what to do with ashes, how to share them, and how to memorialize someone in a way that fits everyday life. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025. The Cremation Association of North America reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected.
As cremation becomes the majority path, families also tend to combine memorial approaches rather than choosing just one. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that among people who prefer cremation, many envision either keeping ashes at home in an urn, scattering in a meaningful place, or sharing portions among relatives. That “combination plan” is exactly where shipping a small portion for jewelry, glass art, or another memorial service often fits.
Start With the Plan Before You Touch the Ashes
When a jeweler says they only need a tiny amount, it can be tempting to treat the moment casually and “just scoop a little.” In practice, it helps to slow down and make a simple funeral planning decision first: what portion is leaving the home, and what portion stays with you for the long term?
Many families keep the main remains in one of our cremation urns for ashes and send only a symbolic amount for a keepsake. Others prefer to divide the ashes intentionally using keepsake urns or small cremation urns, especially when multiple relatives want a personal memorial. If the ashes are for a beloved animal companion, the same idea applies, and families often choose a primary memorial from our pet cremation urns and then share tiny portions using pet keepsakes or a wearable memorial.
If you want a grounded, scenario-based guide to choosing the “main” urn plan (home, burial, travel, or scattering), Funeral.com’s Journal article How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Actually Fits Your Plans can help you decide without pressure.
Carrier Rules That Matter Most
The most important rule is simple: in the United States, the only major carrier that accepts cremated remains for shipment is USPS. USPS states this clearly in its shipping restrictions guidance, noting that you may ship cremated remains domestically but must use Priority Mail Express and follow the required packaging rules. You can review that guidance directly on USPS.
USPS also confirms in its FAQ that a cremated remains box is required and that specific extra services are available for these shipments. That FAQ is here: USPS.
Private carriers are a different story. UPS lists “corpses, cremated or disinterred remains” among prohibited items in its prohibited/restricted items guidance: UPS. FedEx also lists “cremated or disinterred human remains” among prohibited materials in its hazardous materials shipping guidance: FedEx. In other words, for most families, the practical choice is USPS.
The USPS Requirements in Plain Language
USPS rules can look intimidating because they are written for safety, consistency, and secure handling. But the core requirements are straightforward.
You must use Priority Mail Express
USPS policy allows cremated remains to be mailed domestically only when sent via Priority Mail Express, and international shipments (when permitted) only via Priority Mail Express International. The USPS Postal Bulletin update that explains these requirements is here: USPS. For international eligibility details, USPS also provides a section in Postal Explorer (International Mail Manual) here: USPS.
You must use the designated cremated remains packaging
USPS provides specific cremated remains shipping kits (often referred to as the Priority Mail Express Cremated Remains box). USPS explains the step-by-step packaging process in Publication 139: USPS. USPS also provides packaging supplies through its Postal Store, such as the cremated remains kits listed here: USPS.
In practical terms, this means you are not improvising a random box from your closet. You are using the approved outer box and following the cushioning and sealing instructions designed specifically for this kind of shipment.
You must label the package correctly
USPS requires “Label 139” for cremated remains shipments, which is part of the visibility and handling process referenced in USPS policy updates: USPS.
How to Package Ashes Safely, Step by Step
What follows is the heart of packaging ashes safely: creating a secure inner container, protecting it from impact, and using the correct USPS outer packaging so the shipment is handled appropriately throughout transit.
Prepare a calm, clean workspace
Set yourself up for a moment that feels steady rather than rushed. Families often choose a quiet time of day, clear a table, and place a sheet of clean paper or a tray underneath the container. This is not about being clinical. It is about reducing spills and reducing stress.
- A small funnel (or the funnel provided in a jeweler’s kit)
- A clean spoon or scoop used only for this purpose
- A sealable plastic bag (for a secondary barrier, as USPS recommends)
- Labels or a pen for internal identification
- Your USPS cremated remains kit and shipping label materials
Use a sturdy, sift-proof inner container
USPS Publication 139 emphasizes that the inner primary container should be strong, durable, and properly sealed, with the goal of preventing any leakage and protecting the contents during normal handling. That detailed guidance is here: USPS.
In real life, this inner container is often a secure plastic or metal vial with a screw-top lid, a sealed plastic container provided by the memorial vendor, or a small temporary urn. If you are working from a larger urn, you can transfer a very small portion into the vendor’s container, then reseal the main urn immediately.
If you are still deciding on a long-term home memorial, a secure primary urn can reduce anxiety because it gives the ashes a stable “home base.” You can explore options in cremation urns, and if you are planning to share portions later, keepsake urns can make that process more intentional and less improvised.
Add a second barrier and internal identification
USPS Publication 139 suggests placing the sealed inner container inside a sealed plastic bag and adding identifying information inside the package in case the outer label is damaged. This is one of those small steps that can significantly reduce worry. Follow the guidance directly in USPS.
Many families include a simple note inside the package with the sender and recipient addresses, the order number (if you are sending shipping ashes for jewelry or glass art), and a short line like “Cremated remains enclosed for memorial service.” It is not a legal document. It is a practical backup.
Cushion thoroughly, then use the USPS cremated remains outer box
The outer shipping package is not just a container. It is part of the safety system. USPS explains in Publication 139 that shipments must use the designated Priority Mail Express cremated remains packaging and be cushioned to prevent movement and breakage: USPS. USPS also summarizes its cremated remains rules in its restrictions guidance: USPS.
If you are following a vendor kit, use their inner materials, but do not skip USPS requirements for the outer box and labeling. Think of the vendor kit as the inner layer, and USPS rules as the outer layer that makes the shipment acceptable in the mail stream.
Working With a Jeweler’s Ash Kit Without Losing Control of the Process
A reputable jeweler or memorial artist will usually provide instructions that specify how much they need, how to seal the inner container, and what to include (such as an order form). Follow those details carefully, because they are tied to your design and timeline. At the same time, keep your own grounding principle: you are sending only the portion you intend to send, and you are maintaining a secure plan for the rest.
This is where families often decide to keep the primary remains in a home memorial and treat the mailed portion as a symbolic extension of love. Some pair a primary urn with cremation jewelry so that remembrance exists both in the home and in daily life. If you are specifically considering a necklace, our cremation necklaces collection provides discreet and traditional options designed to hold a very small portion securely.
For a deeper primer that explains what these pieces hold, how they are sealed, and what styles fit different comfort levels, you can read Cremation Jewelry 101 in the Funeral.com Journal.
International Shipping of Ashes: Possible, But Not Always Simple
International shipping of ashes is sometimes possible through USPS, but it is not guaranteed because each destination country may have its own restrictions. USPS states that cremated remains may be mailed internationally only when the destination country permits them and only via Priority Mail Express International. USPS outlines these conditions in the Postal Bulletin update and in its International Mail Manual section on cremated remains: USPS and USPS.
If your memorial artist is outside the U.S., it is worth pausing to confirm the destination country’s acceptance rules and required paperwork before you package anything. In some cases, families choose to work with a U.S.-based vendor, or they involve a funeral home for documentation support, especially when customs requirements add complexity.
Tracking, Insurance, and the Emotional Side of Waiting
Practical protection matters, but it helps to acknowledge the emotional reality too. When you mail a portion of ashes, tracking updates can feel like a heartbeat. USPS provides tracking with Priority Mail Express, and it also notes that extra services such as insurance and signature options are available for cremated remains shipments. You can review that directly in the USPS cremated remains FAQ: USPS.
USPS also explains that Priority Mail Express includes up to $100 of insurance in the price, with options for additional coverage for higher declared values. That information is here: USPS.
There is a subtle but important emotional boundary here: insurance protects the monetary value of contents, not the meaning. The real protection is careful packaging, clear labeling, and choosing the correct service level in the first place. That is why USPS packaging instructions are so specific, and why following Publication 139 matters.
If a Shipment Is Delayed, Here Is a Calm Way to Respond
Even with Priority Mail Express, delays can happen due to weather, routing disruptions, or scans that post later than you expect. When you are shipping something emotionally irreplaceable, the best response is structured and steady.
- Confirm the tracking number matches the label you printed and that it was accepted into the USPS system.
- Check for scan gaps without assuming the package is lost; some scans post late, especially around holidays or storms.
- Contact the memorial vendor to let them know you shipped and share the tracking number, so they can watch for delivery on their end.
- If the package appears stuck, use USPS tracking support and your mailing receipt to start an inquiry.
- If you purchased additional coverage or signature services, keep those records accessible while you work with USPS.
Most importantly, remind yourself that you did the right thing by using the correct carrier and packaging system. You are not being “too much” by feeling anxious. You are being human.
How This Fits Into a Larger Memorial Plan
Mailing a portion of ashes for jewelry or art is often one chapter in a longer story. After the keepsake returns, families sometimes feel ready to make a fuller plan for the remaining ashes: continuing keeping ashes at home, placing an urn in a columbarium niche, or planning scattering later when emotions are less raw.
If home is part of your plan, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home: How to Do It Safely, Respectfully, and Legally offers practical guidance on placement, household comfort, and long-term decision-making.
If you are considering a ceremony that returns ashes to nature, you may also be exploring water burial or other eco-conscious options. Funeral.com’s Journal article Understanding What Happens During a Water Burial Ceremony explains what families can expect and how biodegradable options are typically used.
And if budget questions are part of what you are carrying right now, you are not alone. The National Funeral Directors Association publishes national median funeral cost figures, and Funeral.com’s guide how much does cremation cost breaks down common pricing and the “extras” families often forget to plan for, including memorial items like cremation necklaces, urns, and keepsakes.
A Final Word of Reassurance
When you send a small portion of ashes out into the world, you are not “letting go” of the person or pet you love. You are creating a new form of closeness, one that can live in a pendant, a glass piece catching sunlight, or a keepsake that someone wears quietly every day. Done carefully, the logistics support the meaning rather than distracting from it.
If you want to explore memorial options at your own pace, you can start gently with cremation urns for ashes, consider smaller sharing options through keepsake urns and small cremation urns, and, when you are ready, look at wearable tributes in cremation jewelry. If your loss is a companion animal, our pet urns for ashes include options that range from simple and classic to sculptural pet figurine memorials.
You do not have to do this perfectly. You just have to do it with care. And you are already doing that by seeking clear, trustworthy guidance before you ship.
