Customers often tell us that they feel overwhelmed by the process of choosing the perfect urn for a loved one.  This is a feeling that is understandable given the fact that most people aren't very familiar with cremations or cremation urns.  Here are a few quick notes on how to select the best urn for you or your loved one.

Decide what you will be doing with the ashes.

Making a decision on what will be done with the ashes is an important first step.  Will you be burying them in an urn inside a vault, keeping them in an urn in your home, scattering all of the ashes, or keeping some and scattering the rest?  The options are many, but once you decide what you would like to do with the ashes you can begin to take the decision making process to the next step.

Determine what size cremation vessel you will need.

One of the most common questions we are asked is "what size urn do I need?"  The rule of thumb here is that one pound of live weight equals one cubic inch of ash.  Therefore, if an urn states that it has a capacity of 200 cubic inches, that particular urn will only hold up to a 200-pound individual.  At American Custom Urns, we offer three sizes of urns: Small (140 cubic inches), Standard (240 cubic inches), and Large/Companion (530 cubic inches).  Both our small and standard sizes fit inside standard size burial vaults, making them ideal for burial or display.

The other consideration here is whether you are going to scatter any of the ashes or place any of the ashes in a keepsake.  ACU offers two sizes of scattering tubes: Small (1.5 cubic inches) or Large (10 cubic inches).  These scattering tubes can be engraved and are also excellent keepsake items.  Another option is a commemorative cross that can be beautifully displayed in your home.  Each keepsake hole on our commemorative crosses holds 1 cubic inch of ash.

Select the style and customization options.

There are many varieties of urns available for purchase.  American Custom Urns specializes in handmade wooden box urns.  Each of our products are custom-made from high quality materials, so each one is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind urn.

There are many varieties of wood available that will help create the aesthetic appeal you desire.  At ACU, you will find options such as cherry, mahogany, and walnut.  ACU always encourages you to add personalized options to the urn as well.  We can accomodate anything from simple laser engraved initials to complex images with text and hand-painted images.

ACU strives to simplify the urn selection process by providing simple and elegant items that can be customized to your taste.  For any questions about the urn selection process, you can contact me, Jacob Holley, at jacob@americancustomurns.com.