What type of metal urn is best for burial? Display at home? Here’s how to decide.

Is there an ideal metal material for an urn for ashes? All factors being equal (it will safely hold the remains in a closed container), when it comes to what material is best for that perfect urn the answer is an easy: No.

All of these meal urns are durable enough to be kept at home, placed in a niche or columbarium, or buried. You can’t go wrong. The base of the metal molds are typically not even visible as surface elements are placed on the urns such as enamel, paint and other surface metals. However, to settle on your final choice we’ve rounded up what the difference is between Aluminum, Brass and Copper.

Aluminum Metal Urns: Not to get too creepy for you, but once you put the ashes into an urn it’s heavier than you’d expect. That’s one of the reasons Aluminum is popular. It’s not as glam sounding as brass, but we’ve worked with our suppliers to select a premium aluminum that’s still very durable, while also being lighter weight than its brass buddy. Bottom line, the aluminum metal urn is the budget friendly option with the lighter weight.

Team Aluminum are urns, such as, our Sunny Side Up, Drop Dead or Grave Affair.

Brass Metal Urns: Brass is a metal alloy that is made of 90% copper and 10% zinc. It is a lustrous metal that looks elegant when polished. Often brass cremation urns are coated in enamel, paint or finished with bronze or pewter to further strengthen it and alter the color. Brass is a popular metal choice for urn fabrication because it is strong, malleable and relatively resistant to tarnishing even without a finish.

If you plan to bury a brass urn in a cemetery, an urn vault often is often recommended by the cemetery for additional protection of the urn. For those keeping it at home, all you need is a simple cloth dusting and for unfinished, from time to time, a small amount of brass cleaner to remove any tarnish. 

Team Brass are urns, such as, our Pink is the New Death, Pewter Bullet or Grave Robin.

Copper Cremation Urns Copper is the heaviest metal as it is a pure metal. It is very malleable making it ideal for unique urn designs. Copper oxidizes over time turning the surface green or bluish-green (this is called patina it’s like that cool green on the Statue of Liberty), which can be treated with a lacquer or finish to avoid this. Unfinished copper urns are best suited for indoor environments.

Copper is also naturally a bacteria-resistant metal. Even if an urn is enclosed in a vault upon burial, some moisture, bacteria, and fungi may still seep into the chamber. But, given that copper is resistant to these things, the urn’s longevity is nothing to worry about. Copper wire is also used for accenting cremation urns in cloisonnéé urns.

When considering what urn to purchase if you're still on the fence the best way to decide is to simply just make it personal. It's all about the details that can remind you of your loved one and/or bring comfort. You might choose an urn in his or her favourite colour, anything that can represent them in the best way possible.

Team Copper are urns, such as, our Another One Bites the Dust. Beautiful seamless-edged cubes or rectangle urns and all finished in glossy lacquer (gold, blue, pink) or matte (sage green). No patina troubles.

Looking at urns isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, but it totally should be because we're trying to end the stigma that revolves around death and urn shopping.

Whether you're feeling it for brass urns, aluminum urns or urns in any one of our affordable metals, you are sure to find one that will safely and permanently store the ashes of your loved one. Our metal urns can be used as masterpieces in your home, can be buried or interred in the location you choose, or can be placed in a mausoleum. Whatever the space, our metal urns can stand the test of time so that you can remember your special person forever. We got you covered.

P.S. And did you know you can bring your own urn to a funeral parlour? Read More!