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Choosing the right urn size

When it comes to choosing an urn, families have many options, and it is relatively easy to find an urn design that will cater to the wishes of most people. However, it is crucial that the urn is the right size to contain the ashes, which vary based on the weight of the deceased person.

Did you know Eirene provides cremation services to families?

Here is a general guideline on understanding the quantity of cremation ashes that will be returned to a family by a funeral director at a direct cremation provider like Eirene after a deceased person is cremated.

Before cremation, each pound (or approximately half a kilogram) of body weight equals approximately one cubic inch (0.016 L) of cremation ashes.

How much ashes come from a cremated adult?

Flame cremation

The most common form of cremation is called flame cremation where extreme heat is used to reduce the body to ashes. Here is the ash calculation for flame cremation.

If an adult was 150 lbs before cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 150 cubic inches (2.45 L).

If an adult was 200 lbs before cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 200 cubic inches (3.27 L).

For an adult that was 250 lbs before cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 250 cubic inches (4.1L).

For an adult that was 300 lbs before cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 300 cubic inches (4.9 L).

Aquamation or liquid cremation

A new form of cremation that uses water, pressure and heat to reduce a body to ashes is called aquamation. Here is the ash calculation for this form of cremation.

It is similar to flame cremation, but adds about 20-30% more volume to the ashes. Numbers below represent 20% more.

If an adult was 150 lbs before aquamation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 180 cubic inches (2.95 L).

If an adult was 200 lbs before aquamation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 240 cubic inches (3.95 L).

For an adult that was 250 lbs before aquamation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 300 cubic inches (4.92 L).

For an adult that was 300 lbs before aquamation, they would need an urn with a capacity of at least 360 cubic inches (5.8 L).

How much ashes come from a cremated child?

For an infant under 25 lbs before flame cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of 25 cubic inches (0.4 L) or for aquamation 30 ci (0.48 L).

For child under 100 lbs before cremation, they would need an urn with a capacity of 100 cubic inches (1.64 L) or for aquamation 120 ci (1.96 L).

A stillborn child under 10 lbs, would need an urn with a capacity of 10 cubic inches (0.16 L) or for aquamation 12 ci (0.19 L).

Cremation ash calculation table by weight for flame cremation (add 20-30% for aquamation) :

Age	Weight (lbs)	Weight (kgs)	Ashes volume: cubic inches	Ashes volume: litres
Adult	150 lbs	68 kg	150 cu.in	2.45 L
Adult	175 lbs	80 kg	175 cu.in	2.86 L
Adult	200 lbs	91 kg	200 cu.in	3.3 L
Adult	225 lbs	102 kg	225 cu.in	3.7 L
Adult	250 lbs	114 kg	250 cu.in	4.1 L
Adult	275 lbs	125 kg	275 cu.in	4.5 L
Adult	300 lbs	136 kg	300 cu.in	4.9 L
22 weeks	up to 2.2 lbs	up to 1 kg	10 cu.in.	0.15 L
40 weeks	up to 19 lbs	up to 8.5 kg	40 cu.in.	0.65 L
1 years	22 lbs	10 kg	49 cu.in.	0.80 L
2 years	26 lbs	12 kg	61 cu.in.	1.00 L
3 years	33 lbs	15 kg	76 cu.in.	1.25 L
4 years	37 lbs	17 kg	82 cu.in.	1.35 L
5 years	42 lbs	19 kg	89 cu.in.	1.45 L
6 years	49 lbs	22 kg	95 cu.in.	1.55 L
7 years	52 lbs	24 kg	98 cu.in.	1.60 L
8 years	57 lbs	26 kg	101 cu.in.	1.65 L
9 years	62 lbs	28 kg	107 cu.in.	1.75 L
10 years	68 lbs	31 kg	113 cu.in.	1.85 L
11 years	77 lbs	35 kg	122 cu.in.	2.00 L
12 years	86 lbs	39 kg	137 cu.in.	2.25 L
13 years	99 lbs	45 kg	146 cu.in.	2.40 L
14 years	115 lbs	52 kg	159 cu.in.	2.60 L
15 years	126 lbs	57 kg	171 cu.in.	2.80 L
16+ years	135 lbs	61 kg	183 cu.in.	3.00 L

To learn the weight of cremation ashes, click here.

Questions?

If you have questions about this post, purchasing an urn, cremation or anything funeral related contact our experts at support@eirene.ca.