One thing that many people are surprised to learn when it comes to cremation services in O'Fallon, MO. is that urns come in various sizes. While there is a standard size that will accommodate most adults, there are also oversized urns that some people may require. So how do you know if you or your family will need a standard or oversized urn for your loved one? Keep reading as we explain. 

The Different Urn Sizes 

Many people are not aware, but there is a direct link between how much a loved one weighed at the time of passing and how many cubic inches the urn can hold. This is because for every pound the loved one weighed, is equal to one cubic inch. So if your loved one weighed 145 pounds, they would need an urn of at least 145 cubic inches. 

• Standard Sized Urns - Most “standard sized” urns range from 150-250 cubic inches. This means that if your loved one weighed between 150-250 pounds, a standard sized urn would be able to accommodate them. 
  
• Oversized Urns - If your loved one weighed more than 250 pounds, they will need an oversized or extra-large urn. These urns can range from 250-600 cubic inches. 
• Companion Urns - Another option if you need an extra-large urn is to use what is called a “companion urn”. These urns are used for two people and therefore have two chambers when cremains can be held. They are typically in a standard size of 400 cubic inches so it might be more economical in some cases to purchase a companion urn rather that an extra-large custom made urn, 

Where to Purchase Oversized Urns 

If you need an oversized urn, many urn providers will have a selection to choose from. While there may not be as many as standard sizes, you can typically find oversized urns being available. You can also look at sites like Etsy and other artists sites as they can create a custom oversized urn for you. 

Another option that people may not think include: 

• Auction sites like Ebay 
  
• Old antique shops 
  
• Online urn manufactures 
  
• Online group retail sites 
  
• Online discount urn manufactures 

Other Considerations When Selecting Urn Size 

When selecting the urn for your loved one, you do need to consider their size, but you also need to consider where the urn will be placed. For example, if you plan on keeping the urn in a columbarium niche, you will need to ensure the urn will fit inside the allotted space. The same is true if you plan on burying the urn as it will need to fit inside the cremation vault to be buried. 

If you need an oversized urn but it wont fit in the space you desire, one option is to purchase a smaller urn that will fit in the space and use that. You can fill it with your loved one’s cremains and with any extra you could either spread back into nature, or place in another urn for another family member to have. 

When you need more information about cremation services in O'Fallon, MO. or urns for cremains, let us know as we are always here and available to help. Call or come by anytime.