Keepsake Urns vs Cremation Urns for Ashes – 7 Key Differences Explained | Dei Gratia Urns

When a loved one is cremated, families are often faced with several decisions about how to preserve and honor their ashes. One common question that arises is, “What is the difference between an urn and a keepsake urn?” As someone who has spent decades helping families memorialize their loved ones, I understand that all these terms can be confusing. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the differences in plain language and with a human touch. By the end, you’ll know exactly what a standard cremation urn is, what a keepsake urn is, and which might be right for your needs.

Losing a loved one is never easy, and planning what to do with their remains can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re new to the idea of cremation or just exploring options to keep your loved one’s memory close, understanding the types of urns available is important. A full-sized urn for ashes serves a different purpose than a keepsake urn, and knowing the distinction will help you make the best choice for your family. Let’s begin by defining each type of urn before diving into the key differences.

What Is a Cremation Urn?

A cremation urn is a container specifically designed to hold the cremated remains (or “ashes”) of a deceased person. When a body is cremated, it is reduced to ashes and bone fragments through intense heat. These ashes are usually placed in a bag and then into an urn that serves as their final resting place. A standard cremation urn is typically intended to hold all of the ashes of one adult individual.

Size and Capacity: Most full-size cremation urns have a capacity of around 200 cubic inches (approximately 3.3 liters), which corresponds to the ashes from a person weighing about 200 pounds before cremation. This rule of thumb (one cubic inch per pound of body weight) helps funeral professionals guide families to choose an appropriately sized urn. Standard urns are usually around 9-12 inches tall, though they come in various shapes and designs.

Design and Materials: Cremation urns for ashes come in a wide variety of materials and styles to reflect the individuality of the departed or the wishes of the family. They can be made of metal (like brass, bronze, or stainless steel), ceramic, wood, marble, glass, or even biodegradable materials for eco-friendly burials. Many urns are artistically crafted and can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. For example, some urns are finished with hand-carved designs, custom engravings (such as the person’s name and dates), or painted scenes that had special meaning to the loved one.

Purpose of a Standard Urn: A traditional cremation urn is often the primary container used to store ashes. It may be displayed during a memorial service or kept in a place of honor at home. Some families choose to place the urn in a columbarium (a structure with niches for urns in a mausoleum or cemetery), or to bury the urn in a family plot. In any case, the full-size urn is generally considered the central memorial vessel for the person’s remains. It holds everything that remains of the body after cremation (aside from any small amounts removed for keepsakes or other purposes).

Examples of Use: Imagine you’ve decided on cremation for a loved one. The funeral home returns the ashes to you in a basic container or temporary urn. You might transfer those ashes into a beautiful urn that you picked out—perhaps something that fits your home décor or has personal significance. That urn, containing all the ashes, could sit on your mantle or a shelf, serving as a daily remembrance. Alternatively, you might hold a ceremony and place the urn in a columbarium niche or bury it in a cemetery. In each case, the urn is the primary repository of the person’s cremated remains.

What Is a Keepsake Urn?

A keepsake urn, sometimes called a sharing urn or mini urn, is a small urn designed to hold just a portion of the ashes rather than the full amount. Keepsake urns are essentially miniature urns. They may only hold a few cubic inches of ashes (often a few tablespoons’ worth). Families often use keepsake urns when they wish to divide or share the ashes among multiple family members or multiple locations. This way, each person can keep a small memorial of their loved one.

Keepsake urns are much smaller than standard urns—often only 2 to 6 inches tall. Despite their smaller size, they can be crafted with the same care and materials as larger urns. You’ll find tiny metal urns, small wooden urns, and even keepsake jewelry like lockets or pendants that contain a tiny bit of ashes. For instance, a heart-shaped pendant urn necklace allows someone to literally carry their loved one close to their heart. While jewelry pieces are not “urns” in the traditional sense, they serve a similar keepsake purpose.

Purpose of Keepsake Urns: The main idea of a keepsake urn is in the name – it’s a keepsake, a memento. It allows a person to keep a token amount of ashes as a personal remembrance, especially if the bulk of the ashes will be placed elsewhere or shared. There are a few common scenarios where keepsake urns are used:

• Sharing Among Family: In many families, more than one person may want to keep ashes. For example, if a parent passes away, perhaps each child would like to have a small portion of the ashes as a personal memorial. One child might keep the main urn, while the others each have a small keepsake urn.
• Scattering and Keeping a Portion: Sometimes the family plans to scatter most of the ashes in a meaningful location (such as a favorite lake or garden) but still want to retain a small amount. A keepsake urn provides a way to keep some ashes back as a permanent memorial even after scattering the rest.
• Multiple Memorial Locations: If the ashes will be interred in a cemetery or placed in a columbarium niche, you might not have the remains at home. Some families get a keepsake urn so they can still have a bit of the ashes to keep close by at home, even though the majority is stored elsewhere. In other cases, families might have memorials in different cities (for instance, siblings living far apart) – each location can have a small urn with some ashes.
• Honoring Pets or Infants: Keepsake urns are also often used for pet ashes or for the ashes of infants or small children, since the volume of remains is smaller. In these cases, a keepsake-size urn might actually hold all the ashes. Additionally, if a beloved pet is cremated, family members might each keep a small portion of the pet’s ashes in tiny urns or jewelry as a comfort.

Design and Sets: Many keepsake urns are sold individually, but they also often come in sets that match a larger main urn. For example, you might find a beautiful large brass urn with mother-of-pearl inlay that comes with three matching miniature urns. This allows a consistent design if, say, one urn will be displayed at home and matching minis given to two children. Because of their small size, keepsake urns can also be quite affordable, making it easier to purchase several if needed.

Cremation Urns vs. Keepsake Urns: Key Differences

Now that we’ve defined both types, let’s break down the key differences between a standard cremation urn and a keepsake urn. In essence, the difference comes down to scale and intent: one is meant to hold an entire set of ashes as a central memorial, and the other is meant to share or keep just a part of those ashes. But there’s more to it. Here are the 7 key differences you should know:

1. Size and Capacity: This is the most obvious difference. A standard cremation urn for ashes is large enough to hold all of an adult’s cremated remains (usually ~200 cubic inches). A keepsake urn, by contrast, is very small and might only hold a tiny portion (often 1-20 cubic inches, but many are under 5 cubic inches). To visualize: a full-size urn could be about as big as a large vase, while a keepsake urn might be as small as a shot glass or a small figurine. Because of this capacity difference, you typically only need one standard urn per person, whereas you might have several keepsake urns if multiple people want to share the ashes.
2. Purpose and Usage: A full-sized urn is intended as the main vessel for a person’s ashes – it’s often the focal point of a memorial display or a funeral ceremony, holding all the ashes together. A keepsake urn’s purpose is more personal and distributed. Its role is to allow different family members to each retain a portion of the ashes, or to keep some ashes back when the rest are scattered or interred. In other words, a regular urn answers the question “Where will this person’s remains rest permanently?”, whereas a keepsake answers “How can we each keep a part of our loved one with us?”. Keepsake urns do not replace the need for a standard urn if you intend to keep all the ashes; they are supplementary. However, in some cases, families forgo a large urn entirely if they plan to scatter the majority of ashes and only keep small portions (each in a keepsake). It all depends on what you plan to do with the remains.
3. Number of Urns (Sharing Ashes): Usually, only one standard urn is used per individual’s ashes (except in cases of companion urns for two people, like a couple’s combined ashes). With keepsakes, it’s common to have multiple urns for one person’s ashes. For example, if three children want to share their parent’s ashes, you might have one primary urn holding most of the ashes and three small keepsake urns each containing a token amount. Or you might divide the ashes equally among three or four small urns and not even use a large urn at all. This aspect of sharing is a fundamental difference – a traditional urn keeps all the ashes together, aligning with the idea of unity, while keepsake urns allow dividing the ashes so each part of the family can have their own memorial. Some people appreciate this flexibility, whereas others feel the ashes should remain intact; it’s a personal and sometimes cultural preference.
4. Display and Placement: The intended display or final placement for standard urns versus keepsake urns can differ. A regular cremation urn is often displayed in a prominent place at home (on a mantel, shelf, or dedicated memorial spot) or placed in a public memorial site like a columbarium niche or buried in a cemetery plot. They are generally meant to be seen and honored. Keepsake urns, being much smaller, are more discreet and portable. They can be placed in more intimate spaces: on a small corner of a bookshelf, on an office desk, or even tucked inside a special box. Some people carry keepsake urns with them when traveling or moving, so they always have a part of their loved one close by. The smaller size also means a keepsake urn can be easily packed or shipped to family members living far away. Additionally, if a large urn is interred or not kept at home, a keepsake gives you a way to have a part of the ashes with you at home. In summary, the big urn often “stays in one place” as a dedicated memorial, while keepsake urns offer more flexibility in where and how they are kept.
5. Design Variations: Both standard and keepsake urns come in many designs, but there are some differences in how they’re offered. Many full-size urns have exact miniature versions available as keepsakes. So you might fall in love with a particular design for the main urn and purchase matching keepsakes of the same design. However, keepsake urns also include forms that full-size urns typically don’t, such as cremation jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, keychains) and other very small token keepsakes. A standard urn is usually a vase-like container with a lid (or could be a box shape or a sculpture). Keepsake urns can look like tiny vases, or they might be heart-shaped mini containers, small figurines, or the jewelry pieces as mentioned. Because they are meant as tokens, keepsakes sometimes come in creative shapes – for example, miniature hourglass urns that you fill with a bit of ashes, or small teddy bear plushes that contain a tiny pouch for ashes (often used for infant or child memorials). Full-size urns, on the other hand, tend to stick to classic shapes (urn vases, rectangular chests, etc.) due to the need to hold a lot of ashes and remain stable. So, if you’re looking for something wearable or highly portable, you’re likely looking at a keepsake rather than a traditional urn.
6. Cost: In general, keepsake urns are less expensive than full-size urns because they are much smaller and use fewer materials. For instance, if a large brass urn costs $200, a matching keepsake urn might be around $40-50. This can vary widely with design and material; fine jewelry pieces made to hold ashes can actually be quite pricey due to the craftsmanship (a gold or silver memorial locket might cost a few hundred dollars). Buying multiple keepsake urns can collectively exceed the cost of one standard urn, but each individual keepsake is usually affordable. On the flip side, a one-of-a-kind artist-made urn or an urn made of precious materials can be one of the most expensive items in a funeral plan. If budget is a concern, you might choose a simpler main urn and simpler keepsakes. Many families do like to invest in at least one high-quality urn for the primary resting place of the ashes, while keepsakes can be simpler tokens. From an emotional standpoint, however, cost often becomes secondary—what matters is that you have the memorial items that feel right to you and honor your loved one.
7. Emotional and Symbolic Considerations: There is also a less tangible difference, which is emotional. A full-size urn holding all the ashes can feel very symbolic — it’s the one place where your loved one’s remains rest together. Some people take comfort in that wholeness. A keepsake urn, on the other hand, symbolizes the idea that a piece of your loved one is with you. For families that choose to divide ashes, each keepsake urn can become a highly personal memorial for each individual. For example, a daughter might keep a small urn on her bedside table and talk to it when she’s missing her mom, while the main urn might remain at the family home. Each keepsake can carry its own significance and even be personalized (you might engrave each small urn with a different message or the name of the person who holds it). Neither approach is “right” or “wrong” — they are just different ways of memorializing. It’s important to discuss with your family what feels most appropriate and comforting. Some cultures or religions (like certain branches of Christianity, including Catholicism) traditionally prefer that ashes not be divided or kept at home, instead encouraging burial or placement in a sacred place. Ultimately, what matters is what helps you heal and remember.

As we can see, the distinction between an urn and a keepsake urn comes down to scale, use, and personal preference. One isn’t inherently better than the other — they serve different needs. In many cases, families will actually use both: the main urn for the majority of the ashes, and one or more keepsakes for individuals who want their own small remembrance.

Which One Do You Need? Choosing Between Urns and Keepsake Urns

If you’re planning a cremation and wondering whether you should get a standard urn, a keepsake urn, or both, start by considering your goals and family wishes. Ask yourself a few questions:

• Do I want to keep all the ashes together, or will we likely split or scatter them? If you intend to keep the remains intact and perhaps display them or bury them in one place, a single full-size cremation urn is what you need. If you plan to scatter the ashes or divide them among family, keepsake urns will be useful (either alongside a main urn or instead of one).
• How many people want to keep ashes? Talk with close family and see if multiple members would appreciate having a small portion of the ashes. If several say yes, then you’ll know to prepare for purchasing multiple keepsakes. Sometimes, people don’t realize they would value having ashes until after the fact, so it doesn’t hurt to have a couple of keepsakes on hand.
• What is my budget? While it may feel awkward to consider cost at an emotional time, it’s a practical factor. A high-quality urn and multiple keepsakes can add to your expenses. However, there are many affordable options for both types of urns. Decide if you want to allocate more budget to the main urn and get simpler keepsakes, or vice versa. Remember that an expensive urn is not required to honor someone; even an inexpensive urn can be made special with personal touches.
• What are the wishes of the deceased or cultural/religious considerations? If your loved one had stated preferences (for example, wanting ashes scattered in a certain place), that can guide your choice. Some religions (like certain branches of Christianity, including Catholicism) traditionally prefer that ashes not be divided or kept at home, instead encouraging burial or placement in a sacred place. While personal practice varies widely, it’s good to be aware if any such guidelines might influence your decision. Ultimately, you can still use keepsakes for personal comfort, but perhaps you’ll choose to eventually reunite the portions of ashes or handle them according to religious customs.

In many cases, the decision isn’t “one or the other” but rather a combination. For example, you might keep a beautiful urn at home and also fill a couple of keepsake urns to give to siblings who live far away, so they too have a piece of Mom or Dad close by. Or you might plan to scatter most of the ashes at sea but keep a small urn with some ashes to place in a memorial spot at home. You could even have jewelry made for each grandchild containing a pinch of ashes, as a very personal keepsake, while the main urn stays with the spouse.

Every family situation is different. What’s important is open communication and doing what feels right for honoring your loved one’s memory. There’s no strict rule – it’s about what brings comfort and a sense of peace.

Conclusion

The difference between an urn and a keepsake urn ultimately comes down to capacity and purpose: one holds all the cremation ashes as a singular memorial, while the other holds a small portion of ashes as a personal keepsake. A standard cremation urn and a keepsake urn serve complementary roles in remembering a loved one. Understanding these differences helps you make informed and heartfelt choices during an emotional time.

Remember, choosing how to memorialize someone is a deeply personal decision. Whether you opt for a single elegant urn to hold all of your loved one’s ashes, or you prefer to share the ashes among multiple keepsake urns so that family members can each have a part, trust that there is no wrong choice. What matters is that the choice feels meaningful to you and honors the memory of the person who has passed.

At Dei Gratia Urns, we understand how important it is to find the right memorial items for your loved ones. We hope this guide has helped clarify the difference between regular urns and keepsake urns for ashes. If you have any further questions or need guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals for help. In the end, the best urn – whether full-sized or keepsake – is the one that brings you comfort and preserves your loved one’s memory with dignity.