Companion Urns

Cremation is on the rise as a cost-effective alternative to a standard burial. So couples who are making end-of-life arrangements in the current economy can look into buying a "companion urn" as a simple and budget-friendly option in lieu of purchasing two separate individual urns.

What Is a Companion Urn?

Companion urns are also known as double urns because they hold double the capacity of standard adult urns. (Learn more about urn sizes.)

These larger urns can two sets of ashes, and are thus a very popular choice for spouses who wish to be interred together. Common features include:

• Divider or single compartment
• Average capacity of 400 cubic inches of cremains
• Personalization of names and dates
• Decorative scenes or choice of color

Why You Should Choose a Companion Urn

Here are five reason why you and yours should choose a companion cremation urn as your final resting place, together.

1. Companion Urns Save You Money

Companion urns simplify the storage and display of the couple’s cremated remains by holding both in a single cremation container. This memorial, while larger than a standard urn, is significantly smaller than two urns side-by-side.

This makes for a simpler burial process, a smaller niche in a mausoleum, or easier storage, transportation, and display of the urn. Smaller space, in many cases, translates to lower costs.

Additionally, a single companion cremation urn is almost always cheaper than two of the same design in the individual adult urn size. That's money in the bank for you.

2. Companion Urns Come in Oh So Many Styles

Memorial urns are made using a variety of materials, including metal, marble, plastic, wood, and biodegradable materials. Within a given medium, style and designs will vary significantly.

For instance, at Urns Northwest we offer a wide selection of wood companion urns, including lighthouses, old country roads, howling wolves, lovebirds, and many more. Each is also available in several wood choices - walnut, oak, mahogany, etc.

And that's just the wood urns! We also have marble and granite options, ceramic and glass, metal, biodegradable urns, and more.

3. Companion Urns Allow You to Commingle the Ashes

Commingling ashes is a powerful symbol of the unity and love you shared in your life together. Many couples, when planning their final arrangements, wish to mix their cremated remains together into a single urn. Companion urns (with a few exceptions) are generally designed for this.

4. Companion Urns Allow You to Keep the Ashes Separate

Many of our wooden companion urns include a removeable interior divider. This option allows you to choose to have the remains co-mingled inside the urn as a symbol of your unity in life and in death (see point #3), or, alternately, to keep the ashes separated to represent your individuality, while still being united forever in a beautiful companion urn as a token of the depth of your love.​

5. Companion Urns Keep You Together

That's the main reason. Saving money is good, and having the option to commingle or keep the ashes separate is nice too. But ultimately, you want to be together. Companion urns allow you to do this.

Choosing a Companion Cremation Urn

Most couples choose an urn first based on what it looks like - do they like it? The colors, design, theme, accents, and materials all come into play here.

Colors. Marble and ceramic urns often have several color choices. Wood urns sometimes allow you to choose from several different wood types (for instance, solid walnut or maple).

Theme/Design. Shop our collection above and you'll find many themes including couples walking arm in arm or sitting on a bench together, hearts, patriotic symbols, Scripture verses, photographs, lovebirds, lighthouses, hummingbirds, wolves, horses, and much more.

Materials. Our beautiful companion urns are available in many different materials, including marble, metal, glass, wood, ceramic, and more. Each material provides a unique look and has pros and cons. For instance, marble urns are timeless and can be buried, while glass or ceramic urns are fragile yet extremely beautiful and one-of-a-kind.

The second consideration for most couples involves functionality.

Compartments. Most companion urns have a single chamber. Inside, you can commingle the ashes (mix them together), or keep them separate by leaving the ashes in the plastic bag in which they come from the crematorium. A few companion urn vaults have fixed separate compartments, while others include a removable divider.

Production time. If the funeral is very soon, you'll want to choose a memorial urn that will arrive in time. Some of our urns are in stock and ship immediately, others are made to order within a few days, and still others are custom made and take several weeks. Look at each product page to determine if the production time will work for your needs.

Size. Make sure you choose the right size of urn by using our urn size calculator. Some families choose a companion urn because they are looking for extra large urns for a larger or taller individual, or because they want to place keepsakes inside the urn or even be buried together with their pets' remains. 

The simplicity, economy, and nearly endless stylistic options make companion urns an affordable choice for the budget shopper, and the symbolism of two united as one makes companion urns the romantic choice. Browse our collection of companion memorials above, and feel free to contact us with any questions.