When someone we love is cremated, a handful of practical questions often surface alongside our grief:

Do I need an urn vault? How big should the urn be? May I keep the ashes at home—or even share them with family?
Below you’ll find a detailed, step-by-step guide that flows through each of those concerns, weaving together expert insight with real-world experience from the Cremation Urns Ashes UK team. We hope it brings clarity, comfort and a sense of confidence as you honour your loved one’s memory.

Protecting the Urn Underground: What an Urn Vault Does

Many British cemeteries ask families to place the urn inside a vault—a rigid outer box (commonly concrete or high-strength polymer) that goes into the grave first. The vault keeps soil pressure, lawn-mowing equipment and ground frost from crushing the urn, while also preventing the turf from sinking over time. Think of it as a miniature foundation that preserves the dignity of the gravesite long-term. Vaults typically add £400–£1,200 to a burial and, though not always mandatory, they’re strongly recommended at most traditional burial grounds.

Tip: If you’re arranging a natural or woodland burial, ask whether the site welcomes biodegradable urns without a vault—many green cemeteries do.

Sizing the Urn: Understanding the Volume of Ashes

An adult’s cremated remains in the UK usually occupy 170 – 220 cu in / 3 – 3.6 L. A quick rule of thumb is one cubic inch of urn space for every pound of body weight. Choosing an urn that’s a touch larger is perfectly fine—better a little spare room than not enough. If you’re setting aside a token amount of ashes for jewellery or keepsakes, you can safely order a standard adult urn for the bulk and mini-urns for sharing.

Browse our Adult Cremation Urns where each listing shows exact capacity, making it easy to match volume to vessel.

Creating a Place of Peace: Keeping Ashes at Home

UK law puts no restriction on keeping a loved one’s ashes at home, and more families now choose to do so. A favourite approach is to set up a quiet memorial nook—perhaps a mantel, shelf or sideboard—where the urn sits alongside photos, candles or a fresh bouquet. Over time this small “shrine” becomes a gentle, everyday reminder that love endures beyond loss.

If you plan a home memorial, consider an urn that complements your décor—warm wood for a rustic setting, hand-etched brass for traditional elegance, contemporary aluminium for a minimalist flat. Free next-day delivery across mainland Britain means you can create that space as soon as you feel ready.

Sharing Love, Not Losing It: Is It OK to Separate Ashes?

Absolutely. Dividing ashes is common and, for many, deeply healing. You might:

• Give each close relative a keepsake urn or a piece of cremation jewellery—ideal when family lives far apart.
• Hold multiple scattering ceremonies (for instance, one along a coastal cliff and another beneath a favourite oak).
• Choose a companion urn if two people wish to rest together in the future.

Our collections of Keepsake Urns and Scattering Urns are designed precisely for these moments, making it simple to share ashes with grace and intention.

A quick family conversation ensures everyone’s wishes are heard—once you’ve agreed, there is no legal or ethical barrier to dividing cremated remains in the UK.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Whether you choose a protective vault for burial, display a beautiful urn in your living room, or gift keepsakes so each sibling can keep a part of Mum or Dad close, remember: there is no single “right” way. The best choice is whatever brings you peace.

If you need help confirming urn capacity, selecting a vault-compatible shape, or finding the perfect keepsake, the compassionate team at Cremation Urns Ashes UK is only a call or email away. We’re honoured to guide you through this meaningful step and ensure every detail reflects the life you cherish.

Quick Links for Further Help

• Adult Cremation Urns
• Keepsake & Mini Urns
• Scattering Tubes & Biodegradable Urns

Need Personalised advice? Contact us anytime—our support team will happily answer sizing questions, engraving requests or delivery timelines so you can focus on remembering, healing and celebrating a life well-lived.

Glenwood Small Heart Keepsake Funeral Urn

Burying cremated ashes in a cemetery is often less expensive than a full coffin burial, but there are still several costs to consider. The total price can vary widely depending on location and choices. Here’s a breakdown of the typical expenses:

• Burial Plot: You may need to purchase a small gravesite or space in a garden of remembrance for the urn. Prices range from as low as a few hundred dollars in rural areas to over a couple of thousand in urban cemeteries​. For example, some plots for ashes cost around $300 on the low end and up to $1,000–$2,500 in big cities​.
• Opening/Closing Fees: Cemeteries usually charge a fee to dig the hole for the urn and then fill it back in. This labor, often called an interment or “opening and closing” fee, might be around $300 to $800 in many places​. In high-end cemeteries it could be closer to $1,000​.

• Urn Purchase: You will need an urn to hold the ashes Urns come in a wide range of prices. A simple container can cost as little as about $50​, while more decorative or high-quality urns can be a few hundred dollars. Choosing an urn is a personal decision, and there are many affordable yet beautiful options available.
• Urn Vault (Optional): Many cemeteries require an urn vault or outer container for burial. This is a sturdy box (often made of concrete or rigid plastic) that the urn goes into, preventing the ground above from sinking over time. Vaults typically add another $500 to $1,500 to the cost​. Not all cemeteries require one, but it’s a common added expense for ground burials.
• Marker or Headstone (Optional): If you want a small headstone, plaque, or marker to identify the spot, that will be another cost. A simple plaque might be a few hundred dollars, while more elaborate markers can be expensive. This is optional, but many families choose some form of memorial marker.
• Service or Ceremony (Optional): If you hold a graveside service or dedication ceremony when burying the ashes, there could be costs for arranging chairs, officiants, or flowers. A simple family gathering might be free, whereas an organized service through a funeral home could cost a few hundred dollars or more depending on what you include.

Adding all these expenses, the total cost to bury cremated ashes can range roughly from around $1,000 on the very low end (using an existing family plot and minimal fees) up to $4,000 or $5,000 or even more​ in some cases. On average, many families report spending about $1,500–$3,000 overall for an urn burial in a cemetery​. This is generally more affordable than a traditional casket burial because everything is smaller in scale – the plot is smaller and usually cheaper, and you don’t have to buy an expensive casket. Every situation is different, though. If you already have a family grave where an urn can be placed, the costs might be limited to just an interment fee and perhaps a new inscription on a headstone. Always check with the cemetery for an exact quote, as fees can vary by region and the cemetery’s policies.

Empathetic note: Remember, you have options. If the costs feel overwhelming, you can shop around or consider alternatives like keeping the ashes at home or scattering them (more on scattering laws later). Many cemeteries and funeral homes will work with your budget to help you honor your loved one in a dignified way without undue financial strain. It’s okay to ask for prices upfront and make a plan that you’re comfortable with.