If you’ve searched what is an urn, you’re probably not looking for a dictionary definition. You’re trying to understand what people mean when they say “urn,” what kinds of urns exist, and why the same word seems to cover everything from a small heart keepsake to a full-size vessel meant for burial. That confusion is normal. In everyday conversation, “urn” is used broadly, but when you’re shopping—or when you’re arranging a cemetery placement—the details matter.
This guide explains the basic urn meaning, a clear cremation urn definition, the most common types of urns for ashes, and the key urn terminology families see while shopping. The goal is to help you feel confident enough to choose a category that matches your plan, without overthinking every option.
Urn Meaning and Cremation Urn Definition
An urn is a container used to hold cremated remains. That’s the basic definition. In modern use, an “urn” may be designed for home display, cemetery placement, scattering, or sharing. It can be made from metal, wood, ceramic, glass, stone, or biodegradable materials, and it can range from a full-size container for one person’s complete remains to a keepsake designed to hold only a small portion.
Families often use “urn” to mean “the thing the ashes are in.” But the container you receive from the crematory may not be the permanent urn. Many crematories return cremated remains in a temporary container (often with an inner bag) when a permanent urn wasn’t provided in advance. That’s why an urn decision often happens in two steps: receiving the remains, then choosing a permanent container when the family feels ready.
If you want to browse options while reading, Funeral.com’s main collection of cremation urns for ashes is a good starting point because it includes full-size urns, small urns, keepsakes, and specialized styles.
Types of Urns for Ashes: The Core Categories Families Choose From
There are many styles, but most families end up choosing from a small set of functional categories. The easiest way to shop is to choose the category that matches your plan for the ashes first, then decide on material and design.
Full-Size Urn
A full-size urn is designed to hold the complete cremated remains for one person. Families typically choose this when the plan is to keep all ashes together—whether at home, in a niche, or for future cemetery burial. On Funeral.com, you can browse this category directly here: full size urns for ashes.
Keepsake Urn
A keepsake urn is designed to hold a small portion of ashes. This is the most common “sharing” tool for families who want multiple relatives to have a tangible memorial. If you’re comparing keepsake urn vs urn, this is the key distinction: a keepsake is not a “small full urn.” It’s a shareable portion container. Funeral.com’s keepsake category is here: keepsake urns.
Small Urn
A small urn typically holds more than a keepsake but less than a full-size urn. Families often choose a small urn when one household is keeping a meaningful portion at home while another portion is being scattered or placed in a cemetery. You can browse this “middle” category here: small urns for ashes.
Scattering Urn
A scattering urn is designed to make scattering easier and more controlled. Many are built like tubes or have a closure that opens in a way that helps you pour or release remains with less wind interference. Some families scatter from a temporary container, but a scattering-specific urn often makes the ceremony feel calmer and less improvised.
If you’re considering a water ceremony, “scattering” may overlap with biodegradable or water-soluble urns designed for water burial. Funeral.com’s guide on water burial and burial at sea helps families plan container choice and ceremony logistics together.
Burial Urn
A burial urn is simply an urn chosen for burial in the ground. Some are designed specifically for burial (including biodegradable options). In many cemeteries, burial plans involve an outer container requirement, such as an urn vault, to reduce ground settling and support long-term maintenance. If burial is part of your plan, Funeral.com’s guide Urn Vaults Explained clarifies how cemeteries handle urn burial and what to ask before purchasing.
Companion Urn
A companion urn is designed to hold the cremated remains of two people—either together in one chamber or separated into two interior compartments. Families often choose companion urns for couples or for shared memorial plans. You can browse companion options here: companion urns.
Common Urn Terminology You’ll See While Shopping
Urn shopping often includes unfamiliar terms. Most of them are simply shorthand for “where the urn is going” and “how much it holds.” These are the most common terms families encounter:
- Capacity (cubic inches): the interior volume the urn can hold, which is how urns are sized.
- Full-size / adult urn: an urn designed for one person’s complete remains.
- Keepsake urn: a small urn designed for a portion, often for sharing.
- Scattering urn: an urn designed to make scattering controlled and practical.
- Companion urn: an urn designed for two people’s remains, together or in compartments.
- Biodegradable urn: an urn designed to break down naturally for earth burial or water placement.
- Columbarium niche: a compartment in a wall or structure designed to hold an urn.
- Inurnment: the placement of an urn in a final resting place, often a niche or cemetery setting.
If you want a general glossary you can keep open while reading cemetery paperwork, Funeral.com’s Funeral and Cemetery Terms Explained is designed as a family-friendly reference.
How to Choose the Right Urn Category in One Minute
If you want a quick way to decide what category you need, use the plan as the filter. If you’re keeping all remains together, start with a full-size urn. If you’re sharing among several people, start with keepsakes (and possibly one primary urn). If you’re scattering, consider a scattering urn or biodegradable option designed for the ceremony. If you’re planning for two people, consider a companion urn. The category choice is what makes everything else easier.
Once your category is clear, you can browse in a focused way:
A Final Note: “Urn” Is a Category, Not a Single Object
The word “urn” can feel deceptively simple. In reality, it’s a category of containers designed for different plans: home display, niche placement, burial, scattering, and sharing. Once you choose the category that matches your plan, the rest of the decision becomes much more manageable—and you can choose something that feels respectful, practical, and true to the person you’re honoring.
If you want help choosing capacity before you shop, Funeral.com’s urn size chart and urn size calculator guide are designed to prevent the most common mistake families make: choosing a beautiful urn and discovering it doesn’t fit.
