Living in a "Land Girt by Sea" results in many Australians developing a deep connection to our oceans and water ways. In fact, according to government statistics, more than 85% of Australian people live within 50 km of the sea. It is a logical progression then, for many folk with a lifetime passion for fishing or surfing or water sport or a myriad of other joyful pursuits associated with the water to consider a burial at sea for themselves or someone they love once their time of this earth is done.

Cremation Urns can be formed from different materials like wood, metal, granite, plastic and even paper mache and should any of them wordlessly express an important aspect of your loved one then perhaps  one of those will be ok. Or is it?

Cremated remains (ashes) can vary in amount due to different cremation processes, temperature variations, bone structure of the deceased, height and age. Weight does not effect the size of the urn required as fat is a combustible element of nature and naturally disappears.

A 200 cubic inch / 3litre urn is, in 98% of cases, more than large enough to hold the ashes of any adult. If unsure please contact your crematorium or funeral director to confirm exactly what size urn you need to purchase. 

As calculating ash amount is not an exact science, the following is a guide only. No one can guarantee the following calculations will be true 100% of the time.

What size urn will we need?

• Very Tall adults- 6" or 182.88cm and over require a 3 litre to  3.6 litre cremation urn
• Average height adults- require a 2 litre to 3 litre  cremation urn
• Children from a newborn to 3 years- require an urn of approximately 0.1 to  0.65 litres
• Pre term babies- every White Lily urn is large enough including any dove, angel or cherub

Guide to PET cremation urn sizes

• Over 90kg animals require an urn of 3.2 litres or larger 
• Up to 90kg animals require an urn of 2.90 litres or larger 
• Up to 68 kg animals require an urn of 2.2 litres or larger
• Up to 43kg animals require an urn of 1.5 litres or larger
• Up to 28kg animals require an urn of 1 litre or larger 
• Up to 23kg animals require an urn of 800mls or larger ​
• Up to 18kg animals require an urn of 500 to 700mls
• Up to 11kg animals require an urn of 400mls or larger
• Up to 6kg animals require an urn of 200mls or larger
• Up to 2.5kg animals require an urn of 12mls to 100mls (please consult the crematorium staff)

What if the ashes do not fit in the urn?

If the amount of cremated remains cannot fit inside the selected urn, then any excess ash is returned to the family in a temporary urn supplied by the crematory or funeral home.

​If you’re looking into buying any kind of headstone or memorial, you may come across the following terms…
Additional Inscription: An extra inscription engraved on a headstone or monument which already has an inscription.
Book-Shaped Headstone: A headstone designed in the shape and look of a book, either open or closed.
Burial: Placing a casket or coffin into a grave (also see ‘Interment’).
Cabinet: A display cabinet, usually with a glass front, placed on or next to a memorial. The cabinet often contains some of the deceased’s possessions, or mementos from the deceased’s life, but may also be used to display an oil lamp.
Chapel-Shaped Headstone: A headstone in the shape of a chapel or temple.
Desk Tablet: A block of stone or concrete with a sloping front face. The inscription can be on the stone, or on a plaque attached to the stone (also see ‘Sloper’).
Double Full Monument: A memorial for the interment of 2 people (often a couple). Generally, the monument is built and inscribed when the first member of the couple passes away, with a space left on the monument for an additional inscription on the passing of the other person.
Engraving: The carving of text into the monument stone.
Epitaph: A short message in memory of the deceased, usually inscribed on a headstone.
Flat Grave Marker: A tablet made of either stone or bronze, which is set flat into the ground.
Flat Tablet: A block of stone or concrete with a flat top. The inscription can be on the stone, or on a plaque attached to the stone.
Footstone: A small slab of stone placed at the foot of a grave, often with initials.
Full Monument:  A full monument includes the headstone and base at the head of the grave, as well as a kerb (providing a ‘border’ or boundary for the entire grave), and either a full-length cover stone (or slab) over the length of the grave or, alternatively, chipping or a garden bed covering the grave.
Grave: The site in the cemetery where the coffin/casket containing the deceased will be or has been placed.
Grave Marker: An object used to mark a gravesite.
Gravestone: A stone marker placed over, or at the head of, a grave. The gravestone usually sits atop a stone base, and has details about the deceased inscribed on it (see also ‘Headstone’ and ‘Tombstone’).
Headstone: A stone marker placed over, or at the head of, a grave. The headstone usually sits atop a stone base, and has details about the deceased inscribed on it (see also ‘Gravestone’ and ‘Tombstone’).
Infill: The covering of the area within the grave kerbing. Frequently granite chips or a ledger slab.
Inscription: The wording engraved on the headstone.
Interment: Placing a casket or coffin into a grave (also see ‘Burial’).
Kerb / Kerbing: The stone or concrete surround enclosing a burial allotment.
Ledger Slab: A rigid solid covering generally of stone lying either on top or within the monument kerbing.
Memorial: A structure – such as a headstone or monument – built to honour the memory of a person.
Monument: The entire physical memorial, which could be a headstone and base, or could be a more elaborate full monument.
Monumental Mason: A stonemason who specialises in creating, installing and repairing headstones and monuments.
Notch: A square shaped cut made in the top of a headstone.
Plaque: An inscribed metal plate attached to a burial monument.
Serpentine-Shaped Headstone: A headstone with a curved or rounded top which resembles the shape of a snake.
Sloper: A block of stone or concrete with a sloping front face. The inscription can be on the stone, or on a plaque attached to the stone (also see ‘Desk Tablet’).
Tablet: A thin stone slab attached to a monument, typically with a memorial inscription.
Triple Full Monument: A full monument for the interment of 3 people.
Tombstone: A stone marker placed over, or at the head of, a grave. The tombstone usually sits atop a stone base, and has details about the deceased inscribed on it (see also ‘Headstone’ and ‘Gravestone’).