For adult ashes, you will need an urn that is 3 – 3.5L.
For a more precise calculation, please use the below urn calculator.

What size urn do I need to order?

To calculate the correct size urn for cremated remains you will use 1lb of the deceased weight equal to at least 1 cubic inch in the volume of the urn. The below calculator will help you calculate the size urn you need

1lb body weight = 1 cubic inch urn volume (approx 1 stone = 250ml)

This is a general rule with a couple of exceptions.

1. If the deceased was particularly tall, you may need to add extra capacity.
2. For stillborn and young babies you will also need to add slightly more for the capacity

Translated into imperial measures, the below table should help you decide the size of the urn you need. Typically, an urn for human ashes comes in 3-3.5 liters to hold the full remains and this will be suitable for 99% of cases.

Ashes Urn Size Guide

Urn Size for Human Ashes

Deceased Pre Death Weight POUNDS / STONE / KG	URN SIZE / VOLUME REQUIRED Cubic Inches / Litres	WEIGHT OF ASHES (Approx) grams / kg
1lb / 0.072 stone / 0.45kg	1 cubic inch / 17ml	13 g
62lb / 4.5 stone / 28.5KG	62 cubic inches / 1 Litre	850 g
168lb / 12 stone / 76.2KG	168 cubic inches / 2.8 Litres	2.17 kg

Important Note: Height is also a contributing factor toward the total size you will need. Taller people will inherently have longer bones so there will be more ash. Fat is burnt away during the cremation process, so will have less of a bearing on the final amount of ashes. This should be taken into account when calculating the urn you will need. 

Children & Baby Urn Size Guide

Age	Weight (kg / lbs / stone)	Size of Urn Needed (liters)
12 Weeks & under	–	0.05L – 0.1L
12 – 20 weeks	1kg / 2.2lbs / 0.16 stone	0.1L – 0.2L
Under 40 weeks	5.5kg / 12 lbs / 0.85 stone	0.2L-0.4L
1 year old	9.5kg / 21 lbs / 1.5 stone	0.75L
2 year old	13kg / 28.5lbs / 2 stone	0.85L
3 year old	15kg / 33lbs / 2.35 stone	1L
4 year old	17kg / 37.5lbs / 2.7 stone	1.1L
5 year old	19kg / 42lbs / 3 stone	1.2L
6 year old	21kg / 46lbs / 3.3 stone	1.3L
7 year old	23kg / 50.5 lbs / 3.6 stone	1.4L
8 year old	26kg / 57.5lbs / 4.1 stone	1.5L
9 year old	29kg / 64 lbs / 4.6 stone	1.6L
10 year old	32kg / 70.5 lbs / 5 stone	1.7L
11 year old	37kg/ 81.5 lbs / 5.8 stone	1.85L
12 year old	42kg / 92.5 lbs / 6.6 stone	2L
13 year old	46kg / 101.5 lbs / 7.25 stone	2.1L
14 year old	50kg / 110 lbs / 7.8 stone	2.2L
15 year old	56kg / 123.5 lbs / 8.8 stone	2.35L
16 year old	60kg / 132.5 lbs / 9.4 stone	2.5L

Below is a table that will show you the urn size you will need for your child

Cremation Ash Weight Calculator

How much do ashes weigh?

Human ashes weigh approximately 3.5% of the deceased body’s weight.

There are a number of factors that can alter this, but the industry rule of thumb is that the ashes will weigh approximately 3.5% of the body’s weight.

The calculation to find out how heavy cremated remains are looks like this:
Weight X 0.035 = Weight of Ashes

EG 168lbs x 0.035 = 5.88lbs in ashes
(168lbs = 12 stone)

Urn For Ashes Calculator

Calculating what size urn to order will be helpful to know before ordering, whether you are looking for an extra-large urn or maybe a small urn for ashes will determine the style, material, and look of the memorial you would like to purchase.