Putting your departed loved ones to rest can be quite a challenging time for most of us. This is especially true for those who have to do it for the first time. The fact that there are many options available when it comes to dealing with your special someone’s remains, can make you feel overwhelmed during an already trying time.
If the departed party planned ahead and requested how they wanted their remains managed, that’s one less thing for you to figure out. And, if they chose cremation over a traditional burial, you know you need to select the perfect urn that represents their life.
There are many different varieties and styles, so choosing the right urn can feel a bit complicated at first. However, if you keep reading you’ll see it does’t have to be a difficult or confusing experience.
What to Look for When Shopping for an Urn
Before we proceed with reviewing specific cremation urns, understanding some of the different factors you will run into while shopping for one is important. These criteria will help you decide which direction to head in when making your final selection.
Some of the most important factors are:
The Size
You should choose an urn that will be able to accommodate most if not all the ashes of your cremated loved one. This way, you will not have to leave any of the remains unattended to. Fortunately, available urn sizes vary from as small as 10 cubic inches up to over 250 cubic inches.
In general, you will need one cubic inch per pound, so a 150 pounds individual will require at a minimum an urn capable of holding 150 cubic inches or cremains.
The Design, Color, and Style
You also have to decide on the physical appearance of the urn itself. Traditionally, urns are known to be made from different types of material such as metal, wood, stone, porcelain, or glass. You can also choose what color of urn you want. From bright blue to elegant silver or somber flat black, there are a plethora of styles and colors available.
However, you can always deviate from the norm and go for another material and design altogether if you feel it’s something more suitable to reflect the life of the person’s whose ashes it’s for. There is such a thing as customized cremation urns so you don’t have to be boxed into choosing a traditional design.
Most urns also come paired with a velvet bag for transportation. If that is something you want, make sure the one you choose includes one.
Remember that your loved ones deserve respect. Spend a little time when searching for their urn so you can feel confident you made the correct choice years down the road.
Your Budget
Like all things in life, unfortunately money cannot be ignored. Cremation urns, depending on the style and material, can be quite expensive to buy.
If there is an insurance plan in place that will cover most of the expenses when it comes to the wake and cremation, this will make the cost of the urn a little easier to handle. Regardless of your finances, you will need to come up with a dollar amount that you are comfortable with spending and narrow your potential targets to fit within that.
Now that you know some considerations that you need to consider when buying an urn, you can start your search. But, before you make your final selection, don’t forget to take the columbarium into account as well. This will be discussed a bit later, but for now let’s focus on some of the top urns available.
Our Top 5 Urn Choices
It’s not an easy task to narrow down all of the options available to a short list of five, but when taking in the above considerations, these are five of the best cremation urns in terms of value and overall appearance. They are very classy options almost anyone would be happy with.
Memorials 4U Elite: Cloud Blue & Silver
This particular cremation urn comes Memorials 4U. It’s a truly lovely design with just enough ornate touches to stand out without becoming gaudy.
The blue is referred to as cloud blue for reasons that are easy to see when you lay eyes on the patten. Instead of a solid flat color, you get a cloud-like pattern that makes up most of the body or the urn. The silver if for the intricate silver molding that adds more style to this already beautiful piece.
Both the cloud blue and silver work in tandem to make this a great choice for either men due to the feel of masculinity it give off or for women as it displays a sense of strength and eternity.
Here are some more highlights of this design:
- considered a large or adult urn holding up to 200 cubic inches of ash
- sturdy due to metal construction with lacquer exterior
- screw on/screw off lid that can be permanently sealed with glue
- the dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches by 10 inches (LxWxH)
- matching keepsake urns are available
This is an all around great choice.
ExtraordinaryReviews’ Opinion
This is a very well made and beautiful piece. What makes it even better is that its price point is shockingly affordable when compared to similar options offered by funeral homes. The matching keepsake sized urns make it almost too good to be true.
If you are looking for a classy sturdy option to keep either at home or sealed away in a crypt, you won’t go wrong with this selection.
Everlasting Love: Timeless White
This particular option will be able to serve as a great tribute for your departed loved one. It is handcrafted and has a wonderful mother of pearl color.
It is actually made of a high quality nickel coated brass. The mother of pearl is a polished enamel that give this urn a beautiful shimmer.
Both the design and color make this the perfect choice for honoring either male or female relatives or friends. Some people have also found it their preferred choice for passed pets though it’s primarily designed as a memorial urn for human ashes.
Here are some more highlights of this design:
- a larger design suitable for people weighing up to 200 pounds
- includes a velvet bag for protecting the exterior during transportation
- screw on/screw off lid that can be permanently sealed if needed
- the dimensions are 7 inches by 7 inches by 10 inches (LxWxH)
- the company even offers a 90-day money-back guarantee if you end up not being satisfied by the quality of urn
This is a great combination of elegance and durability.
ExtraordinaryReviews’ Opinion
It’s important to point out that although this is marketed as having a mother of pearl finish, that isn’t the most accurate description. The white seems a bit brighter that pearl, and the pattern would almost more accurately be described as dragon scale. It doesn’t make this any less elegant.
You also have the option of adding on matching keepsake urns that come in attractive velvet-lined boxes.
Forever Remembered: Classic Blue
This is an options that is fairly similar to the Memorials 4U urn. It’s primarily blue with leaf and vine metal accents. However, this is a much more vibrant blue which the manufactures calls Mediterranean blue.
The stunning blue finish is actually placed over a very solid and durable enameled brass made for the ashes of an adult. That doesn’t mean you cannot use it for a pet though if that’s what you are looking for.
If you’re looking for a cremation urn that represents the life of a very vibrant personality, this is an excellent choice. The coloring also makes it suitable for any gender.
Here are some more highlights of this design:
- designed to handle the ashes of an individual weighing up to 200 pounds
- shipping with a velvet transportation bag
- matching smaller keepsake urns are available
- the dimensions are 7 inches by 7 inches by 10 inches (LxWxH)
- Trupoint Memorials offers a full 90 day 100% satisfaction guarantee
This is one of the brighter urns you’ll find, but it’s still classy and a great way to celebrate the life of your lost one.
ExtraordinaryReviews’ Opinion
This design is truly stunning. It’s something that will definitely catch you eye, and the 4-pack of their keepsake urns is fantastic as well.
It’s not the right design for everyone, but when you want something that is as much of a celebration as it is a memorial, this is a wonderful choice.
Love of Christ: Gold or Silver
This is one of the many urns for sale that really captures the essence of passing on to the afterlife. With one quick look you can already see that it’s a bit different than the other urns already reviewed.
The most obvious feature of this particular brass urn is its unique design. A black cross is engraved in the middle signifying one’s faith in Christ making this the perfect urn for Christian families.
The cross is actually hand engraved so you can be assured it is getting extra special attention to detail. This particular memorial urn is definitely a labor of love.
Here are some more highlights of this design:
- available in either gold or silver
- large (220 cubic inches) and extra large (330 cubic inches) sizes
- small 3 cubic inch keepsake size also available
- made with a felt bottom so it won’t scratch your furniture
- includes a velvet gift bag you can use for transport as well
Add the money-back satisfaction guarantee to all of that and this is a great option if you’re looking to emphasize your dearly departed’s faith.
ExtraordinaryReviews’ Opinion
This particular urn is ideal for when you know it will be on display often. It’s very decorative and has distinct imagery. It’s a great way to show others just how important faith was to the ashes of the person who will reside inside of it.
It’s also very fairly priced when compared to what you are going to pay for something similar from a funeral home, so if you’re on a tight budget can cannot afford what they are offering, this is a great way to get what you want and what your loved one deserves.
SmartChoice Wooden Urn
Being the last one on the list does not exempt this product from being special in terms of design and physical beauty. Unlike the other top picks, this one has a more natural feel due to being made of wood.
It’s made from hardwood not softwood, and it’s built to last for a very long time. The wood though is stained so you aren’t just getting an unfinished wood box.
The finish can be best described as a deep brick red that looks fantastic. It also makes this gender neutral so it’s a good choice for lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, or anyone you want to give a nice resting place.
Here are some more highlights of this design:
- designed for adults with the ability to hold up to 220 cubic inches of ash
- uses a chest-type design with approximate dimensions of 9 inches by 6 1/8 inches by 7 1/2 inches (LxWxH)
- plenty of surface to add a custom engraved plaque
- lighter than most metal urns
- closes with screws to ensure a very tight seal
If you’re looking for a very attractive yet humble urn, this is a no brainer.
ExtraordinaryReviews’ Opinion
There’s just something about a chest style urn that says class without risking getting too flashy. The red finish kicks things up a notch without going overboard. It makes for a very beautiful piece.
The ability to customize this with a nameplate or photo makes it a bit more personal than some of the more traditional styles as well.
The Importance of the Columbarium
The columbarium refers to the location where the family would place the urn after the cremation. It is an important consideration to think about because this is where you would visit the remains of your departed loved ones regularly after burial if you don’t keep the urn at a residence.
In choosing the right location, it is important that you are able to think about your distance from the columbarium itself. Will you have difficulty going to and from the columbarium? You should choose a location that would be near where you live. This way, traveling will not be a hassle. You won’t have to worry about not being able to visit your departed loved ones every single day even.
You also have to think about the place where you are going to put the urn after buying it. Remember that some columbariums are much more expensive than others. It is important for you to choose something that doesn’t go beyond the limits of your aforementioned budget.
The important thing here is to give your loved one an honorable burial. Once you are able to do this, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have done your best for the dearly departed.
In Summary
Choosing an urn is a very personal decision. What is right for one person might not be a good selection for another. That’s why our reviews chose a few different types of cremation urns to make our shortlist.
When making your choice, remember to keep the in mind that the personality of the deceased should shine through and the design is meant only to represent them and not stand on its own. Also keep in mind that everyone is working with different budgets, so your choice needs to fit yours.
As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll be sure to make the right choice and memorialize your loved one in a manner that honors them the way they deserve.