CASKET & URN STYLES, REVIEWS, AND COMPARISONS

Cremation Urns Comparison Guide

Types of Urns:

1. Wood Urns – Crafted from natural wood, offering a warm, traditional look with a variety of finishes like oak, cherry, and mahogany.
2. Ceramic Urns – Elegant, handcrafted urns made from ceramic materials, known for their timeless beauty and durability.
3. Metal Urns – Durable and sleek, these urns are available in materials like brass, stainless steel, and aluminum, offering long-lasting protection.
4. Biodegradable Urns – Eco-friendly urns made from natural materials designed to break down naturally over time, ideal for green burials.
5. Stone Urns – Made from marble or granite, these urns are known for their strength and elegant appearance, often used for long-term preservation.
6. Glass Urns – Delicate and artistic, glass urns provide a unique way to memorialize a loved one with intricate designs and vibrant colors.
7. Keepsake Urns – Small urns designed to hold a portion of the ashes, ideal for sharing among family members or keeping a small memorial at home.
8. Modern Urns – Featuring contemporary designs, these urns often combine unique materials like resin, acrylic, or metal to create a more modern aesthetic.
9. Photo Urns – These urns have space for a photograph, allowing families to add a personal touch to the memorial.
10. Pet Urns – Designed specifically for pets, available in various materials like wood, ceramic, or metal, offering a loving tribute for pets of all sizes.

Categories of Cremation Urns

Of all these kinds of cremation urns, they usually can be classified into 3 different categories: Keepsake, Companion & Standard, which is described below.

Pet Urns

Pet urns provide a meaningful way to memorialize beloved companions of all kinds, from traditional pets like dogs, cats, and rabbits to less common choices like horses, lizards, and snakes. These urns come in a variety of materials, including polished wood, ceramic, and metal, offering personalized engravings and designs that honor the unique bond shared with each animal. Whether you’re remembering a loyal Labrador, a graceful Siamese, a gentle Holland Lop, or even a majestic horse or exotic reptile, these urns provide a lasting tribute that reflects the love and memories they leave behind.

For those with non-traditional pets, urns are also available to suit larger animals like horses or smaller creatures like snakes and lizards, ensuring that every companion can be memorialized in a dignified way. No matter the species, these urns offer a respectful and beautiful way to keep your pet close, providing peace and comfort to families during their time of loss.

Casket and Urn FAQ

Deeper answers covering both caskets and urns. For the quick-hit casket questions, see the Quick Answers Before You Buy block further up the page.

How much cheaper are caskets online versus at a funeral home?

Online retailers like Discount Caskets sell at retail-direct prices. Funeral homes typically mark caskets up 200 to 500 percent. A casket retailing for $1,500 online can run $4,500 to $7,500 at a funeral home for the exact same model. Families who read this page first commonly save $2,000 to $8,000 on the casket alone, even after the $299 flat shipping.

What happens if a casket arrives damaged?

Most online retailers, including Discount Caskets, handle damaged deliveries through replacement or refund. Have the funeral director photograph any visible damage before accepting delivery and call the retailer directly. Refusing damaged delivery is the correct response. Signing for it complicates the claim.

Do caskets come with a warranty?

Many caskets carry limited manufacturer warranties covering construction defects. Sealed caskets sometimes include a separate seal warranty, but the FTC explicitly prohibits any claim that the seal preserves remains. Warranty details appear on each casket’s product page before you order.

How quickly can a casket ship after someone has passed?

Orders placed before mid-afternoon typically ship the next business day. Most Discount Caskets deliveries reach the funeral home within 24 to 48 hours. Same-day delivery is available in many metro areas. Call or message the retailer directly if the timing is tight; urgent orders route first.

What is the typical price range for a complete casket?

At Discount Caskets, budget caskets start at $995 on the Low-Priced Collection. Standard steel and hardwood models run $1,500 to $3,500. Batesville retails around $4,200 and up. Premium copper, stainless steel, and solid bronze caskets range $5,000 to $10,000 or more. Every casket ships at the same flat $299 rate regardless of price.

Do some cemeteries require a specific casket type?

Most do not, but some do. Jewish cemeteries traditionally require all-wood construction with no metal hardware. Green and natural burial cemeteries require biodegradable materials like pine, wicker, or cardboard. Standard cemeteries accept any commercial casket. Confirm with the specific cemetery before ordering.

URNS

What size urn do I need for an adult?

The standard rule is one cubic inch of urn capacity per pound of pre-cremation body weight. A 180-pound adult needs roughly a 180 cubic inch urn. Most standard adult urns hold 200 cubic inches, which accommodates nearly every adult with room to spare. Keepsake urns and cremation jewelry hold smaller portions for family members who want to share remains.

How much does an urn typically cost?

Basic wood or metal urns start around $50 to $100. Ceramic and artist urns typically run $150 to $500. Biodegradable water or earth urns cost $100 to $300. Cremation jewelry ranges from $50 for basic pendants to $2,500 for premium pieces. Memorial diamonds from specialty providers run several thousand dollars. The urn is usually a small fraction of the full cremation cost.

What types of urns are available?

Standard urns come in wood, metal, ceramic, and stone. Biodegradable urns work for earth or water burial. Keepsake urns hold small portions for family sharing. Companion urns hold two sets of remains. Scattering urns are designed to open easily for dispersal. Cremation jewelry preserves a small amount of ash inside a pendant, ring, or bracelet. Memorial diamonds and plantable tree urns are specialty options growing in popularity.

Can you fly with an urn containing ashes?

Yes. TSA allows cremated remains in both carry-on and checked bags, but the urn must pass through X-ray scanning. Dense metal, stone, and ceramic urns often block the scan and will be refused at security. Use a temporary wood or plastic transport urn for the flight, then transfer to the permanent urn at your destination. Carry the death certificate and cremation certificate for international travel.

Can ashes be divided among multiple urns?

Yes. Families commonly divide ashes among a main urn, keepsake urns for each family member, and cremation jewelry pieces. There is no legal restriction on dividing remains in the United States. The crematory or funeral home can handle the division at the time of cremation, or you can do it yourself at home using a simple scoop. Most cremation jewelry kits include the transfer tools and instructions.

Can an urn be buried or does it have to stay above ground?

Both are fine. Urns can be buried in a cemetery urn plot (usually far cheaper than a full casket plot), placed in a columbarium niche, kept at home, scattered at a meaningful location, or placed inside an existing family grave. Biodegradable urns work for home garden burial in states that allow private interment. Confirm local regulations before burying on private property.