Last updated: October 3, 2026
Memorials, Urns & Keepsakes
Best Pet Urns: How to Choose
An urn gives your pet a gentle, lasting place in your home. This guide explains the main types, how to choose the right size, and how to find one that feels beautiful and personal.
There is no rush to choose. Cremation providers give you a simple container to start with, so you can take your time finding an urn that feels exactly right.
Types of pet urns
Classic keepsake urns
Traditional lidded urns in wood, ceramic, metal, or marble, made to hold the full ashes and sit on a shelf or mantel.
Photo urns
Urns with a frame or engraved panel for a favorite photo, blending your pet's likeness with their resting place.
Keepsake mini urns
Small urns that hold a portion of ashes, ideal when family members each want to keep a share.
Biodegradable urns
Natural urns designed to break down over time, often made to be buried with a tree seed for a living memorial.
Pet urn size guide
Urn capacity is measured in cubic inches. A simple rule is one cubic inch for every pound of your pet's healthy body weight. Use this table as a starting point, and size up if you are unsure.
| Pet Size | Typical Urn Capacity |
|---|---|
| Small pet (cat, small dog, up to ~15 lb) | About 15 to 25 cubic inches |
| Medium dog (~15 to 50 lb) | About 25 to 90 cubic inches |
| Large dog (~50 to 90 lb) | About 90 to 180 cubic inches |
| Giant dog (90 lb+) | About 180 to 300+ cubic inches |
How to choose the right urn
Get the size right
As a rule of thumb, an urn needs roughly one cubic inch of space per pound of your pet's healthy body weight. When in doubt, size up.
Pick a style you love
Choose a material and design that feels like your pet, whether simple and modern or ornate and traditional. It should feel right to you.
Check how it seals
Look at how the urn opens and closes. A threaded lid or a sealed base keeps the ashes secure, which matters if you plan to travel with it.
Think about where it will sit
Consider the spot in your home first, so you can choose a size and finish that fits the shelf, mantel, or table you have in mind.
Prefer to carry a little of your pet with you instead? See our guide to memorial jewelry and keepsakes, or explore more pet memorial ideas.
This guide offers general information to help you choose. Take all the time you need.
Pet Urns: Common Questions
Gentle answers about choosing and sizing a pet urn.
What size urn do I need for my pet?
A common guideline is one cubic inch of urn capacity for every pound of your pet's healthy body weight. So a 10 pound cat needs roughly a 10 cubic inch urn, and a 60 pound dog needs about 60 cubic inches. If you are between sizes or unsure, choose the larger option so the ashes fit comfortably.
What are pet urns made of?
Pet urns come in many materials, including wood, ceramic, metal, marble, glass, and biodegradable options. Each has a different look and feel, from warm and traditional wood to sleek metal or natural, earth-friendly materials. Choose the one that feels most fitting for your pet and your home.
Can I keep only some of the ashes in an urn?
Yes. Many families choose a smaller keepsake urn to hold a portion of the ashes and scatter or share the rest. Keepsake mini urns are made for exactly this, and they let more than one family member keep a piece of their pet close.
Do I have to buy an urn from the cremation provider?
No. Cremation providers often include a simple container and offer urns for sale, but you are free to buy an urn separately, which usually gives you more choice and better prices. You can transfer the ashes into your chosen urn yourself, gently and at your own pace.
Can pet urns be used for burial?
Yes. Many urns are suitable for burial, and biodegradable urns are made specifically to return to the earth, sometimes alongside a tree seedling. If you plan to bury the urn, check that the material suits burial and ask your pet cemetery about any requirements.
Find a resting place that feels right
Explore keepsakes and other gentle ways to remember your pet.
Free printable support
Choose the resource that helps today
Each book is a free, 10-page A4 PDF designed to print and complete by hand.Pet Grief Journal
Ten gentle pages for memories, grief waves, letters, support, and carrying the bond forward.
Complete Pet Loss Guide
Compassionate guidance for grief reactions, children, surviving pets, aftercare, and support.
What to Do After a Pet Dies
A calm checklist for the first hours, provider questions, aftercare, records, and memorial choices.
Printable companion · Printable PDF
Helping Kids Through Pet Loss
A gentle memory book for children and families.
A draw-and-write keepsake that helps children remember a beloved pet, express difficult feelings, and move through grief at their own pace.