If you’re looking for an urn sizes guide, you’re probably trying to avoid one specific stress: buying the wrong thing and discovering it at the worst moment. Urn shopping can feel confusing because the word “urn” gets used for several different containers—some are permanent memorials, some are shareable keepsakes, and some are temporary containers provided after cremation. The good news is that most of the confusion disappears once you know two basics: urns are sized by cubic inches (interior volume), and the “right” type depends on what your family plans to do next.
This guide breaks down the most common urn types—full-size adult urns, keepsakes, and temporary containers—explains the capacity rule families use to estimate size from weight, and clarifies when a temporary urn makes sense before choosing a permanent urn.
The First Clarification: “Urn” vs “Temporary Container”
Families often use “temporary urn” to describe what they receive after cremation, but in many cases what you receive is a temporary container—often a simple, practical box—with an inner bag holding the cremated remains. The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) explains that cremated remains are transferred into a strong plastic bag and placed into an urn or a temporary container if an urn has not been selected, with identification checked and an identification disc placed with the remains.
That means you don’t have to rush. The temporary container is designed to hold the remains securely until you are ready to choose a permanent urn.
Urn Capacity: What “Cubic Inches” Actually Means
Most people expect urns to be sized by pounds. Instead, urns are sized by interior volume, usually listed as cubic inches. Think of cubic inches as the “space inside” the urn. This is why two urns can look similar in height and still hold different amounts.
Capacity matters because remains are often returned in an inner bag. The bag can be bulkier than people expect, and a narrow opening can make a tight fit feel stressful. That’s why “just barely enough” capacity is not always the most comfortable choice, even when the math says it should work.
If you want a quick reference while you shop, Funeral.com’s urn sizing chart lays out the most common capacity ranges for full-size, keepsake, and companion urns.
The Capacity Rule: How to Estimate Urn Size From Weight
The most common rule of thumb is simple: plan for about one cubic inch of urn capacity per pound of body weight before cremation. In other words, pounds ≈ cubic inches. Funeral.com’s sizing guides explain this “1 cubic inch per pound” rule and why it’s the easiest way for families to estimate a safe capacity.
Here’s the simplest way to use it:
- Estimate the person’s weight (in pounds).
- Choose an urn with at least that many cubic inches of capacity.
- Round up if you’re unsure or if you want more room for an easy transfer.
If you want a more detailed walkthrough with examples, this guide ties the rule to real urn categories: What Size Urn Do I Need?
Full-Size Urns: Adult Urn Cubic Inches and Typical Capacity
A full-size adult urn is designed to hold one person’s complete remains. Families often see “200 cubic inches” referenced as a common benchmark because many adult urns cluster around that midpoint. The best practice is still to use the capacity rule and then choose a little buffer when you’re unsure.
If you’re shopping for a primary urn to hold all remains together, start with full size cremation urns for ashes. If you expect to need a higher-capacity option, or if you want more room for the inner bag, compare to extra large urns (245+ cubic inches).
Keepsake Urn Size: For Sharing Small Portions
A keepsake urn is designed for a portion, not the full remains. This is why keepsake urn size numbers can look surprisingly small. On Funeral.com, keepsakes are described as typically under 7 cubic inches, which is why they work well when multiple family members want a share.
Keepsakes are often the calmest option when the family wants to share ashes among several households. Instead of reopening a primary urn later, you plan keepsakes up front. If you want to browse shareable options, start here: keepsake urns.
If your plan is “one household keeps a larger portion,” a small urn (larger than a keepsake) may be a better fit than trying to overfill a keepsake. Funeral.com’s small urns category is designed for that “portion for one place” plan.
Temporary Urns and Cardboard Temporary Containers: What They Are and When They Make Sense
Families sometimes search for a cardboard temporary urn because the temporary container often looks like a cardboard or plastic box. In most cases, this is simply the temporary container used to return remains when a permanent urn wasn’t provided in advance. It is designed to be secure for transport and short-term storage while the family chooses a permanent urn.
A temporary container makes sense when:
- The family hasn’t chosen a permanent urn yet.
- A memorial service will happen later and you want time to decide what feels right.
- The urn will eventually be placed in a niche or cemetery and you need measurements and approvals first.
- The family expects to share ashes and wants to plan keepsakes intentionally.
In other words, a temporary container can be a helpful “pause button.” If you are keeping remains at home temporarily, Funeral.com’s guide to keeping ashes at home covers safe storage and household considerations.
Urn Sizing Chart: The Most Common Capacity Ranges
This is a simplified reference to help you stay oriented while shopping. For the full reference chart, use Funeral.com’s urn sizing chart.
| Container type | Typical capacity range | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Full-size adult urn | Often ~180–220+ cu in | Keeping all remains together |
| Extra-large adult urn | 245+ cu in | Higher capacity needs or extra room for easy transfer |
| Keepsake urn | Often under ~7 cu in | Sharing a small portion among loved ones |
| Small/portion urn | Often ~7–28 cu in | Keeping a larger portion at one home |
| Temporary container | Varies; designed for secure holding before a permanent urn is chosen | Short-term storage and transport |
What Size Urn Do I Need? A Simple Decision Path
If you’re asking what size urn do I need and you want a fast answer, here’s the simplest decision path that works for most families:
- If you’re keeping all remains together, choose a full-size urn and size by cubic inches using the 1:1 rule.
- If you’re sharing among several people, choose one primary urn plus keepsakes (and possibly one small portion urn for a second household).
- If you’re not ready, keep the remains in the temporary container and choose later—especially if you need cemetery niche measurements or family agreement first.
If you’re ready to shop, start with cremation urns for ashes and filter by capacity. If you specifically want to browse adult urns, start with full size urns. If you want shareable options, start with keepsake urns.
A Calm Bottom Line
Urn sizing becomes simple when you treat it like two decisions, not one. First: choose the type—full-size, keepsake, or temporary container—based on what your family plans to do next. Second: choose capacity using the cubic-inch rule (about one cubic inch per pound), then round up when you’re uncertain. Once those two decisions are settled, style becomes the easy part.
