After a cremation, there’s often a quiet moment when the phone calls slow down and the paperwork stops arriving. The cremation is complete, and now there’s a container in your hands—sometimes a temporary box, sometimes a simple urn—and a question that feels bigger than it “should” be: what to do with ashes.
If you’re feeling unsure, you’re in good company. Cremation has become a mainstream choice in the U.S., which means more families are making these decisions in real time, often without a clear family precedent. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025, with long-term growth continuing in the decades ahead. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the U.S. cremation rate was 61.8% in 2024, and they publish updated statistics annually.
What’s changed along with those numbers is the range of meaningful options. Many families still choose a classic urn on a mantel. Others prefer a ceremony at sea, a burial in a cemetery, or a small keepsake shared between siblings. Some do a combination over time—keeping ashes at home for a while, then planning a scattering later when the family is ready. The most important thing to know is this: you don’t have to decide everything at once. You can choose a “for now” plan and a “later” plan, and both can be deeply respectful.
A gentle decision checklist before you choose
Before the ideas begin, it helps to slow down and ask a few practical questions. This is where funeral planning becomes less about forms and more about making the next step feel steady. You might ask: Do you want the ashes to stay together, or will you share them across households? Is your plan temporary (for the next few months) or long-term (for years)? Will you keep the ashes at home, place them in a cemetery, or plan a scattering or water burial? Do you need something travel-friendly for multiple ceremonies or meaningful places? Is there anyone who would feel comforted by cremation jewelry or a small keepsake? Do you have cultural, religious, or environmental preferences that should guide the choice? And what budget feels realistic right now—especially if you’re also trying to understand how much does cremation cost and other end-of-life expenses?
If your plan includes an urn, it can help to learn the basics of size, materials, and how different designs match different goals. Funeral.com’s guide to Cremation Urns 101 walks through the most common options, and Choosing the Right Cremation Urn offers a calmer, more detailed guide for families who want to feel confident about the practical side.
Start with the container that matches your real plan
People often search for cremation urns and assume it’s one category, but urns are really designed around scenarios. A home urn is different from a travel urn. A scattering container is different from a burial urn. And if you plan to share ashes, small cremation urns and keepsake urns can make that sharing feel intentional rather than improvised.
If your plan is “we want a beautiful primary urn,” start with Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes. If your plan is “we want to share a portion with family,” browse small cremation urns for ashes and keepsake urns. If your plan includes a pet, you’ll likely feel more supported by a collection made for that kind of love—like pet urns for ashes, pet cremation urns in figurine styles, or pet keepsake cremation urns.
For families who want something wearable and discreet, cremation jewelry can be a gentle bridge between “I want them close” and “I’m not sure what we’re doing long-term.” You can explore cremation jewelry, cremation necklaces, and for pet loss specifically, pet cremation jewelry. If you want a clear explanation of how it’s filled and sealed, see Cremation Jewelry 101.
57 ideas for what to do with ashes after cremation
The ideas below are meant to be practical and wide-ranging—options for quiet home memorials, family sharing, ceremonies in nature, and placements that feel traditional. You can choose one idea, combine several, or let your plan evolve over time.
Keeping the ashes at home
Idea 1: Place the ashes in a full-size urn and create a small home memorial with a photo and candle.
Idea 2: Choose a sealed urn if you expect to move homes and want extra security.
Idea 3: Keep the urn in a dedicated cabinet or bookshelf area that feels calm and protected.
Idea 4: Create a “memory shelf” with the urn, a handwritten note, and one meaningful object.
Idea 5: Use a keepsake urn as a gentle “for now” option while you plan something later.
Idea 6: Choose a discreet urn design that blends into your home if you prefer privacy with guests.
Idea 7: Store the urn in a stable indoor space and avoid damp basements or hot attics.
Idea 8: Use a fire-resistant safe if added protection helps you feel settled.
Idea 9: Choose a companion urn if you plan to keep two people’s ashes together in one memorial.
Idea 10: Keep the ashes in the temporary container until the permanent urn arrives, then transfer in a quiet, unrushed setting.
Sharing ashes with family
Idea 11: Share ashes among siblings using matching keepsake urns so it feels intentional and equal.
Idea 12: Choose small cremation urns for adult children who live in different homes.
Idea 13: Split a small amount into several keepsakes so no one feels “left out” of remembrance.
Idea 14: Create a “travel keepsake” so one person can bring ashes to a meaningful place later.
Idea 15: Keep one small keepsake at home after scattering most of the ashes, as a steady point of connection.
Idea 16: If everyone agrees, share a small portion with chosen family—a close friend or caretaker who mattered deeply.
Jewelry and wearable keepsakes
Idea 17: Wear a tiny amount in cremation jewelry for daily closeness without display.
Idea 18: Choose a cremation necklace with a symbol that matches their personality (heart, tree, cross, compass, and more).
Idea 19: Use a bracelet keepsake if necklaces feel too visible or emotionally intense.
Idea 20: Select jewelry with a secure threaded closure and a sealing method designed for long-term wear.
Idea 21: Create two matching pieces of jewelry for a parent and child who are grieving together.
Idea 22: Choose pet-themed jewelry for a companion animal whose absence changes the shape of every day.
Idea 23: Keep a tiny amount in a locket-style keepsake that also holds a photo.
Idea 24: Commission memorial glass art that incorporates a small portion of ashes (through a specialty studio).
Idea 25: Consider a memorial diamond process through a specialty provider if that kind of legacy feels meaningful to your family.
Scattering on land
Idea 26: Scatter ashes in a private garden with the landowner’s permission.
Idea 27: Scatter at a meaningful trail or overlook where it feels peaceful and personal.
Idea 28: Hold a family ceremony where each person says a few words, then scatter together.
Idea 29: Scatter in multiple places by dividing a small amount into separate containers.
Idea 30: Choose sunrise or sunset for scattering if the time of day feels like part of the tribute.
Idea 31: Scatter in a cemetery scattering garden (many cemeteries offer this option).
Idea 32: Scatter under a favorite tree on private property with permission and a clear plan for the day.
Idea 33: Use a scattering tube or container designed to reduce wind and spills.
Idea 34: Do a private scattering first, then hold a larger memorial gathering later when you feel ready.
Idea 35: Plan a “simple day” ceremony—hiking, fishing, or a quiet walk—then scatter in a place that fits their life.
Idea 36: If you want to keep some at home, scatter most and reserve a small keepsake portion so the ritual includes both release and closeness.
Water burial and scattering at sea
Idea 37: Plan a water burial using a biodegradable urn designed for ocean release.
Idea 38: Scatter at sea from a boat during calm weather for a smoother experience.
Idea 39: Hold a shoreline farewell without scattering if you want the symbolism of water without the logistics.
Idea 40: Pair the moment with biodegradable flowers or petals, keeping the tribute gentle and environmentally considerate.
Idea 41: Use a biodegradable water urn that floats briefly before sinking or dissolving, depending on design.
Idea 42: If you plan formal burial at sea in U.S. ocean waters, follow federal guidance; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that burial at sea must be no closer than three nautical miles from shore and is covered by a general permit process.
Idea 43: Keep a keepsake portion at home if sea scattering feels right but you still want a tangible “home base.”
Cemetery placement and traditional memorial spaces
Idea 44: Bury the urn in a cemetery plot designed for cremated remains.
Idea 45: Place the urn in a columbarium niche at a cemetery or memorial park.
Idea 46: Inter the ashes in an existing family plot if the cemetery permits it.
Idea 47: Choose a memorial garden designed for urn burial and quiet visits, especially if you want a peaceful place to return.
Idea 48: Place the urn in a mausoleum niche if your family prefers an indoor memorial space.
Idea 49: Install a cemetery marker for cremated remains so there is a clear place to visit and leave flowers.
Idea 50: If your traditions support it and the institution allows it, place the urn in a designated space at a place of worship.
Living memorials and ongoing rituals
Idea 51: Create a memory capsule with letters and small items kept alongside the urn, so grief has a safe place to go.
Idea 52: Hold an annual remembrance ritual where you refresh flowers, photos, and written notes.
Idea 53: Plant a memorial tree where permitted and keep a small keepsake at home.
Idea 54: Create a family recipe book or photo album and keep it near the urn as a living tribute.
Idea 55: Choose a memorial bench, plaque, or community dedication and keep ashes in a keepsake urn or jewelry rather than placing them publicly.
Idea 56: Create a “story night” tradition where family members share one memory each year, anchored by a small keepsake urn.
Idea 57: If you’re not ready for a final decision, choose a beautiful temporary “home base” container now and revisit the long-term plan later—when your heart can breathe.
Special notes for water burial and burial at sea
Families often use “water burial” to mean a few different things—scattering at sea, releasing a biodegradable urn, or planning a formal burial-at-sea service. If your plan involves ocean waters in the U.S., it’s worth knowing the basic rules so the day stays focused on the goodbye, not the logistics. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that burial at sea is governed by a general permit under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, including the requirement that placement in ocean waters must be no closer than three nautical miles from shore. The EPA also notes that the general permit is for human remains only and does not allow placement of non-human remains, including pets.
If you want a step-by-step, family-centered explanation that translates the “three nautical miles” detail into real planning, Funeral.com’s Water Burial and Burial at Sea guide can help. If you’re choosing a biodegradable vessel, Biodegradable Ocean & Water Burial Urns explains how different designs float, sink, or dissolve.
If you’re keeping ashes at home, here’s how to do it thoughtfully
Keeping ashes at home can be grounding—especially in early grief—because it creates a place where love has somewhere to land. It can also bring up practical questions about safety, storage, and what you want visitors to see. Funeral.com’s guide to Keeping Ashes at Home offers a calm walkthrough of placement, household considerations, and how families handle boundaries with guests.
If you’re deciding between a main urn and sharing pieces, it often helps to start by browsing the categories that match your real plan: cremation urns for ashes for a primary memorial, small cremation urns for portions, and keepsake urns for sharing and travel.
What to do with pet ashes
Pet loss creates a particular kind of grief: it’s intimate, daily, and often quiet. The options for pets mirror the options for people—home urns, keepsakes, jewelry, and ceremonies in nature—but many families find comfort in pet-specific designs that feel like their companion. Funeral.com’s Pet Urns for Ashes guide walks through sizing, styles, and personalization, and you can browse pet urns and pet urns for ashes, pet figurine cremation urns for ashes, and pet keepsake cremation urns for ashes depending on whether you want a primary urn, a shared keepsake, or both.
A brief, practical note about cost
Sometimes families feel guilty asking cost questions, as if love should make money irrelevant. In real life, budgeting is part of care—especially when decisions pile up quickly. For national context, the NFDA reports a 2023 national median cost of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, and $6,280 for a funeral with viewing and cremation. Those figures don’t include all possible cemetery or add-on costs, but they help explain why many families search how much does cremation cost early in the process.
If you want a clearer breakdown in everyday language—direct cremation versus service options, common fees, and ways to compare price lists—Funeral.com’s How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? guide is designed to make the numbers feel less overwhelming.
Choosing what feels right (and giving yourself permission to change your mind)
The truth about what to do with ashes after cremation is that most families don’t make one perfect decision on day one. They make a kind decision for the moment they’re in, and they leave space for the next chapter. You can start with a home urn and later plan a scattering. You can scatter most and keep a keepsake. You can choose cremation jewelry now and decide on a cemetery placement later. None of those choices are “less than.” They’re simply the shape love takes when it’s trying to keep going.
If you’re ready to explore options gently—without pressure—start with the categories that match your plan: cremation urns for ashes, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and for pet families, pet cremation urns. The “right” choice is the one that helps your family breathe a little easier when you think about what comes next.
