Transferring a loved one’s ashes into an urn is a deeply personal act, and it’s simpler than most people expect. This guide walks you through every step, explains how different urns open and close, and helps you feel confident and calm going in.
Before You Start: Take Your Time
There’s no urgency here. The remains are stable and can wait as long as you need. When you’re ready, set aside a quiet half-hour in a calm space — a table with good light, no distractions, and someone nearby if you’d like company.
Gather what you’ll need:
- The temporary container or bag of remains from the crematory
- Your urn, clean and dry
- A flat surface covered with a cloth or a sheet of paper (to catch any spills)
- A funnel if your urn has a narrow opening (a rolled piece of stiff paper works well)
- A soft cloth for any cleanup
- Glue, sealant, or a screwdriver, depending on how your urn closes (more on this below)
You don’t need gloves, but you may wear them if that feels more comfortable to you. The remains are not hazardous.
Understanding What You’re Working With
What the crematory returns
Cremated remains are typically returned in a sealed plastic bag, usually inside a rigid plastic or cardboard temporary container. The bag is often twist-tied or heat-sealed at the top. The remains are dry and granular — not powder-fine, but not coarse gravel either. They are light gray to off-white and may contain small fragments of bone.
Most standard adult remains weigh between 3 and 9 pounds and take up roughly 150 to 250 cubic inches of volume. The widely used sizing guideline is about 1 cubic inch of urn capacity per 1 pound of the person’s healthy body weight. A standard adult urn holds around 200 cubic inches, which fits the vast majority of adult remains.
If you’re working with the remains of a child, an infant, or a pet, the volume will be smaller — sometimes significantly so. See our article on how much ash is left after cremation for more detail on what to expect by size and weight.
Choosing a cremation urn that fits
Before you transfer, make sure your urn is large enough. Check the capacity listed in the product description and compare it to the estimated volume for your loved one. If the urn is smaller than needed, the remains won’t all fit — so confirm the size first.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Ashes into an Urn
Step 1: Open the urn
Different urns open in different ways. See the section below for specific instructions by urn type. Open the urn fully and set the lid or panel aside in a safe place before you begin.
Step 2: Decide whether to transfer the bag whole or pour directly
Option A — Place the bag inside the urn
Many urns are large enough to hold the sealed plastic bag from the crematory as-is. You simply untie or cut the top of the bag, fold it down slightly, and lower it gently into the urn. The bag rests inside the urn, and the lid closes over it. This is the most common method because it’s clean and contained.
Before lowering the bag in, make sure it will fit. If the opening is wide enough, this approach avoids any loose handling of the remains at all.
Option B — Pour the remains directly into the urn
If your urn has a narrow opening or you prefer the remains to rest loose inside, you can pour them in. Open the bag carefully — cut across the top with scissors rather than tearing, which gives you more control. Hold the bag over the urn opening and tilt it slowly, guiding the remains in with steady hands.
If the opening is small, a funnel will help. A kitchen funnel works, or you can roll a sheet of stiff paper into a cone shape and tape it. Go slowly. The remains flow more easily than you might expect.
Step 3: Manage any spillage calmly
A small amount may spill onto your cloth or the table. This is normal and doesn’t mean anything went wrong. You can use a soft brush or your fingers to gather any spilled remains and return them to the urn or the bag. Handle this gently and without rushing.
Step 4: Set aside a portion if needed
If you’re planning to fill a keepsake urn, a heart urn, or cremation jewelry with a small portion, do that now — before sealing the main urn. Use a small spoon or a folded piece of paper as a scoop. A keepsake urn typically holds a few tablespoons to a few cups, depending on its size. Cremation jewelry holds a very small amount — often less than a teaspoon.
Fill the keepsake or jewelry piece first, then transfer the rest into the main urn.
Step 5: Close and seal the urn
How you seal the urn depends on the type. See the section below. For display urns, a permanent seal keeps the urn secure and protected. For burial urns, your funeral home or cemetery may have specific requirements about sealing — check with them before proceeding.
How Different Urns Open and Seal
Threaded lid urns
A threaded lid screws on and off like a jar. These are among the most common urn types. To open, turn the lid counterclockwise. Load the remains, then screw the lid back on clockwise until it’s snug — not overtightened, just firmly seated.
For a permanent seal, apply a thin bead of clear silicone sealant (available at any hardware store) to the inside of the threaded rim before screwing the lid closed. Wipe away any excess and let it cure for the time listed on the package. Once cured, the seal is very secure. It can be broken if needed, but it won’t loosen on its own.
Bottom-loading panel urns
Many decorative urns load from the bottom rather than the top. The base has a panel — usually square or rectangular — held in place by small screws. Use a small flathead or Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws, lift or slide the panel out, and fill the urn from below.
Replace the panel, reinsert the screws, and tighten gently. For a permanent seal, you can add a small amount of clear silicone at the edges of the panel before replacing it.
Set screw urns
Some urns have a small screw — often on the side or bottom — that holds the lid in place. Remove the screw with the matching screwdriver, open the urn, fill it, replace the lid, and reinsert the screw. Thread-locker (a small drop of Loctite or similar product) on the screw will keep it from backing out over time.
Adhesive-sealed urns
Certain urns — particularly ceramic or stone styles — are designed to be sealed permanently with adhesive. The lid or base sets into a recess, and you apply epoxy or a strong craft adhesive to the seam. This type of urn is intended for permanent display and is not easy to reopen once sealed.
Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions for cure time, and support the urn in a stable position while it cures.
Heart urns
Heart urns are a popular keepsake style. They are smaller than full-size urns and typically hold a portion of remains. Most heart urns open from the back or bottom — look for a small panel with a screw, or a threaded plug. The opening is usually narrower than a standard urn, so pouring from a folded paper funnel works well. A small spoon or the tip of a folded paper can help guide the remains in cleanly.
How Much Will Fit
As a general guide: a full-size adult urn should hold around 200 cubic inches. The common sizing rule is approximately 1 cubic inch of capacity per 1 pound of the person’s healthy body weight.
If the urn you have is close to the right size, the bag from the crematory plus some empty space at the top is typical. You don’t need to fill the urn completely.
If you have more remains than the urn will hold, you have a few options: a larger urn, a companion urn designed to hold two sets of remains, or splitting the remains between a main urn and one or more keepsake urns for family members.
See the full cremation urn size guide for more detail on matching urn capacity to estimated volume.
Transferring a Small Amount into a Keepsake or Cremation Jewelry
Keepsake urns
A keepsake urn holds a meaningful portion — typically a cup or two, depending on size. Use a small spoon to scoop from the bag or the main urn, then follow the keepsake urn’s own opening and sealing method. Most close with a threaded plug, a small screw, or a silicone-sealed base.
Cremation jewelry
Cremation jewelry — pendants, rings, and bracelets — holds a very small amount, usually under a teaspoon. Most pieces come with a small funnel and a filling kit. Use the provided funnel and a steady hand. Work over your cloth-covered surface. Fill the chamber about three-quarters full, which leaves room to close it cleanly.
Seal the piece with the included sealant, following the instructions that come with the jewelry. Let it cure completely before wearing.
Sealing for Display Versus Burial
For display at home: a clear silicone bead at the seam or a threaded lid tightened by hand is sufficient. You want it secure enough that it won’t open accidentally, but you don’t need anything industrial.
For burial: your cemetery or funeral home may have specific requirements — some require a sealed urn, others have rules about the type of container. Ask them before you seal. Some burial vaults require the urn to be unsealed or specially prepared.
For scattering urns: do not permanently seal a scattering urn. These are designed to be opened at the moment of scattering. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance for transport closure.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
You may feel a mix of emotions while doing this. That’s completely normal. Some people find the act of transferring the remains to be a form of care — a final, gentle task for someone they loved. Others find it difficult and want to do it quickly. Both responses are right.
If you need to stop, stop. Come back when you’re ready. The remains will wait.
If you’re not sure you want to do this yourself, many funeral homes and some urn retailers will transfer the remains for you. There’s no obligation to do it alone or at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the ashes go into the urn in the plastic bag or loose?
Either way works. Most families place the sealed bag directly inside the urn — it’s clean, contained, and doesn’t require pouring. If the urn’s opening is too small for the bag, or if you prefer, you can pour the remains loose into the urn using a funnel.
What if not all the ashes fit in my urn?
Check the urn’s capacity against the sizing rule (about 1 cubic inch per pound of body weight). If the urn is too small, you can split the remains between a main urn and a keepsake urn, or choose a larger urn. Don’t try to force a sealed bag into an urn that’s too small.
How do I seal a cremation urn permanently?
The most reliable method is a thin bead of clear silicone sealant applied to the inside of the seam before closing. Let it cure fully. For bottom-panel urns, silicone at the panel edges works well. For adhesive-sealed urns, follow the epoxy instructions that came with the urn.
How do I open a cremation urn that was already sealed?
It depends on the sealing method. A silicone seal can be cut with a thin blade run along the seam. Threaded lids may need gentle torque with a rubber grip pad. Epoxy-sealed urns are more difficult and may require careful mechanical separation. If you’re unsure, contact the urn manufacturer or a funeral home for guidance.
How little can a keepsake or jewelry piece hold?
Keepsake urns range from holding a few tablespoons to a cup or more, depending on size. Cremation jewelry typically holds less than a teaspoon — sometimes just a pinch. That small amount is enough to carry a meaningful connection. See our cremation jewelry collection for specific capacity details.
You’ve taken good care of your loved one by choosing the right urn and taking the time to do this thoughtfully. Browse our full collection of cremation urns if you’re still choosing, or explore keepsake urns if you’d like to share a portion with other family members.
