Size Guide - The Basics:

At dyingarts, we want to make choosing the right size urn as easy as possible. We measure the volume of each vessel, using rice and describe the capacity of every urn to reduce the guesswork. The description of each urn will show:

• the maximum capacity in litres,

• the estimated maximum weight of ashes that it will hold in kilograms,

• the estimated pre cremation maximum body weight that it should accommodate in kg and also in stones and pounds.

Remarkably, it isn’t routine in the UK, for either crematoria or undertakers to provide a measurement of the ashes that they return to you (you could always ask...) and there are also no standard urn sizes, which is unfortunate, since it would make choosing the right size urn much simpler.

Fortunately, the ashes of most adults, will fit into an urn of between 3 and 3.5 litres and this ‘standard size’ is sufficient to guide most people. We therefore consider that an urn of less than 3 litres is ‘small adult’, an urn between 3 and 3.5 litres is ‘standard adult’ size and above 3.5 litres is ‘large adult’.

We also provide estimates of the weight of ashes and maximum body weight that an urn will likely contain but these are for guidance only. These estimates are calculated on a person’s overall body weight and although this rule of thumb holds true in most cases, a person’s bone density and frame size are determining factors, rather than how much they weighed per se. So, taller people tend to leave more ash than shorter people, men leave more than women and younger people leave more, proportionately, than the elderly.

We therefore recommend choosing an urn with some spare capacity just to be on the safe side. Additionally, you might wish to place notes or letters into the urn, from friends and relatives and this will obviously require some extra space.

For most people then, the measurements that we provide, along with any information provided by your undertaker/crematorium, will be sufficient to make an informed choice but if you require more in depth information to choose an urn, please read on or contact us.

Size Guide - In depth:

In the UK, the typical quantity of ashes that you might expect to receive after cremation of an adult woman, weighing the UK average of 72kg (about 11st 5lb) is approximately 2.6 litres, which would weigh a little over 2.5kg and in this instance we would recommend an urn of around 3 litres.

Likewise, the typical quantity of ashes that you might expect to receive after the cremation of  an adult man, weighing the UK average of 85.5kg (about 13st 7lb) is approximately 3.1 litres, which would weigh just under 3kg and in this instance we would recommend an urn of around 3.5 litres.

Body weight to volume of ashes - Metric:

If you know the weight of your loved one in kilograms, prior to cremation, then the approximate volume of ashes in litres, can be calculated from this weight. 

Each kilogram of body weight typically gives rise to 0.03613 litres of ashes.

For example, 

An average man of 85.5 kg would leave approximately 3.09 litres of ashes (85.5 kg x 0.03613 litres = 3.09 litres) and in this instance, we would recommend an urn in the region of 3.5 litres.

An average woman of 72 kg would leave approximately 2.6 litres of ashes (72 kg x 0.03613 litres = 2.6 litres) and in this instance we would recommend an urn in the region of 3 litres.

Body weight to volume of ashes - Imperial to Metric conversion:

If you know the weight of your loved one in pounds, prior to cremation, then the approximate volume of ashes in litres, can be calculated from this weight. 

Each pound of body weight typically gives rise to 0.0164 litres of ashes.

For example, 

An average man of 188.5lb would leave a volume of approximately 3.09 litres of ashes (188.5 x 0.0164 = 3.09) and in this instance we would recommend an urn with a volume of around 3.5 litres.

An average woman of 158.7lb would leave a volume of approximately 2.6 litres of ashes (158.7 x 0.0164 = 2.6) and in this instance we would recommend an urn with a volume of around 3 litres.

Weight of ashes to Volume in litres-

If the ashes of your loved one have already been returned to you, weighing them in kilograms, with as little packaging as possible, will allow you to select an urn using the estimated maximum weight of ashes, in the urn descriptions. The following shows how we work this out:

The cremated remains of an adult are estimated to weigh 3.5% of their body weight prior to cremation. So, 28.571kg bodyweight x 3.5% = 1kg ashes and 28.571kg body weight x 0.03613 (see above) = 1.032 litres ash, therefore 1kg ash has a volume of 1.032 litres

For example, 

If the ashes weigh 3.3kg, we multiply by 1.032 to estimate the minimum volume required at 3.4 litres - in this instance we would recommend choosing an urn with a slightly greater volume of around 3.5 litres.

Looking at it the other way, if the volume of an urn is 3.5 litres, we divide by 1.032 to estimate that it will accommodate a maximum of 3.39kg of ashes.