Keepsake Urns: Why Families Buy Multiple (and How to Decide How Many You Need)

After a cremation, families often expect the hardest decisions to be behind them. Then the ashes arrive—sometimes in a temporary container, sometimes in a simple urn—and a new question appears: what happens now?

For many families, the answer isn’t a single “final resting place.” One person hopes to keep an urn at home. Another wants to scatter later. A sibling asks whether it’s possible to keep a portion nearby. Someone else wants a tiny amount for cremation jewelry. In that space between love and logistics, keepsake urns can help you share ashes with clarity and care.

If you’re trying to picture what “sharing” could look like, browsing Funeral.com’s keepsake urns for ashes is often a calming first step. Seeing the range—from mini urns to heart keepsakes—can make the planning feel less abstract.

Why sharing ashes is becoming more common

Cremation is now the majority choice in the United States. In 2024, the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8%, according to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) projects a 63.4% cremation rate in 2025 and 82.3% by 2045.

What matters just as much is what people want done afterward. The NFDA reports that among those who prefer cremation, 37.1% would prefer their remains kept in an urn at home and 10.5% would like their remains split among relatives. Those preferences help explain why families often purchase multiple keepsakes: they’re building a plan that can include more than one household, ceremony, or timeline.

Keepsake urns, small urns, and cremation jewelry

Families often use “cremation urns” as a catch-all term, but there are a few distinct categories. Cremation urns for ashes are typically full-size containers meant to hold most or all of the remains, and you can explore styles in Funeral.com’s Cremation Urns for Ashes collection. For a straightforward overview of sizing, materials, and placement (home, cemetery, niche), see How to Choose a Cremation Urn.

Keepsake urns are designed for a small portion—useful when multiple households want a share, or when part of the plan is to keep a portion close while the rest follows a different path. If you want a larger share in a compact footprint, small cremation urns can be a better fit; compare options in Small Cremation Urns for Ashes. Many families describe this option simply as a small urn for ashes when the goal is to hold a meaningful share without using a full-size urn.

For the smallest share, cremation jewelry is designed to hold a symbolic amount. If wearing a memorial feels right, you can browse cremation necklaces, then read Cremation Jewelry 101 for practical guidance on filling, sealing, and everyday wear.

Why families buy multiple keepsakes

Most families don’t buy several keepsakes because they want more items. They do it because remembrance often needs more than one location. Adult children may live in different households. A spouse may want a primary urn at home, while a sibling needs a small portion for their own private grieving space. Multiple keepsakes can give each person a point of connection without turning the main urn into a tug-of-war.

Keepsakes also support plans that unfold over time. Some families keep a portion close now, then scatter later when everyone can gather. If you’re considering water burial or scattering at sea, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that cremated remains may be buried in ocean waters if the burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land, and it requests notice within 30 days. You can review the guidance at the EPA’s burial at sea guidance, and Funeral.com’s guide Water Burial and Burial at Sea explains how families typically plan the moment.

Multiple keepsakes can also make room for differences. One person may find comfort in keeping ashes at home. Another may prefer that the ashes eventually be placed in a cemetery or scattered. Sharing allows both needs to coexist, without asking anyone to grieve “the right way.”

How to decide how many keepsakes you need

The calmest way to decide “how many” is to start with stewardship, not division. First, decide who will keep the primary urn and what the long-term plan is for most of the ashes. Then decide who should receive a portion and why—because a keepsake is a memorial tool, not a measure of love.

Many families end up choosing between two and six keepsakes because the number is driven by households and meaning. If a quick picture helps, these patterns are common:

• Two keepsakes when one person keeps the primary urn and one close relative wants a share.
• Three to four keepsakes for siblings or adult children in separate homes.
• Five to six (or more) when extended family, close friends, or multiple ceremonies are part of the plan.

If you are planning ahead, consider writing the plan down as part of funeral planning. A short note that names the decision-maker, the plan for the majority of ashes, and whether you intend to split cremation ashes can prevent disputes later. Funeral.com’s guide Planning Ahead for Cremation offers a simple way to put those decisions in writing.

Dividing, labeling, and storing ashes respectfully

Once you have a plan, decide who will do the dividing. Many families ask the funeral home or crematory to separate the ashes into multiple containers. If you plan to transfer ashes at home, work slowly on a clean surface, and use a guide like Keepsake Urns 101 to understand closures and respectful handling.

Labeling is a small act of care that protects your family later. A note stored with each keepsake—who it belongs to, when it was filled, and the intended purpose—can prevent confusion after a move or when items are inherited. If you are keeping ashes at home, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Cremation Ashes at Home in the U.S. covers safe placement, display ideas, and practical storage considerations.

When you’re sharing pet ashes

Families often have the same sharing conversation after a pet loss—especially when a dog or cat was loved across more than one household. Funeral.com’s Pet Cremation Urns for Ashes collection includes many primary memorial options for pet cremation urns, while Pet Keepsake Cremation Urns for Ashes supports families who want to share a small portion with children or extended family. If display is part of the comfort, Pet Figurine Cremation Urns for Ashes can feel more like a tribute than a container.

When families search for pet urns, what they usually mean is “a place that feels worthy of the bond.” If you’re comparing pet urns for ashes, Funeral.com’s guide Choosing the Right Urn for Pet Ashes can help you choose capacity and personalization with less guesswork.

Cost and planning without pressure

Families sometimes hesitate to buy multiple keepsakes because they worry it will become expensive. The bigger cost driver is usually the cremation arrangement and service style. When people ask “how much does cremation cost,” they may be comparing direct cremation with cremation that includes a viewing and funeral service. For national context, the NFDA reports a 2023 national median cost of $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation.

If you want a clearer breakdown of typical price components, Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost? can help you compare providers by what is included. And if you’re still deciding what to do with ashes, Funeral.com’s resource What to Do with Cremation Ashes offers a wide range of options for keeping, sharing, or scattering.

Frequently asked questions