Personalised wooden dog urn for ashes made from bamboo and sitting on a windowsill

How to Choose the Right Size Pet Cremation Urn

What Size Pet Urn Do I Need?

Choosing a cremation urn for a beloved pet can feel overwhelming - especially during a time of grief. At Thicket Memorials, we’re here to gently guide you through the process and help you find the right size urn to honour your pet’s memory with care and respect.

One of the most common questions we receive is:
“What size urn do I need for my pet’s ashes?”

This guide explains exactly how urn sizing works, what you need to know, and includes a helpful sizing chart so you can choose confidently.

How Are Pet Urns Sized?

Each of our pet urns is carefully sized by your pet’s weight at the time of cremation. The larger the pet, the more ashes are returned after cremation - so the urn must be large enough to hold them securely.

You do not need to know the exact volume of ashes - just your pet’s approximate healthy weight (not the weight of the ashes themselves).

Pet Urn Size Chart

Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the right urn based on your pet’s weight at the time of cremation:

Urn Size Pet Weight (Approx.) Best For
Size 0 Up to 10kg / 20lbs Cats, rabbits, very small dogs (e.g. Chihuahua)
Size 1 Up to 20kg / 40lbs Small to medium dogs (e.g. Pug, Cocker Spaniel)
Size 2 Up to 40kg / 85lbs Medium to large dogs (e.g. Labrador, Collie)
Size 3 Up to 100kg / 220lbs Large to giant breeds (e.g. Rottweiler, Akita)
Size 4 Up to 150kg / 330lbs Extra large breeds (e.g. Great Dane, Mastiff)

Still Unsure? You’re Not Alone

We know this isn’t an easy decision. If you’re unsure of your pet’s weight or between two sizes, we always recommend choosing the larger size. This ensures there’s enough space for all of their ashes and avoids any uncertainty.

If your pet was cremated by a pet crematorium, they may be able to provide the exact ashes weight or recommend a size based on their experience.

Choosing a Keepsake, Shared Urn, or Full-Sized Urn

Depending on your preferences and how you plan to memorialise your pet, you might also consider:

  • A keepsake urn – A smaller urn that holds a portion of the ashes, ideal if the rest are scattered or shared
  • A shared urn – If you’re sharing ashes among family members
  • A full-size urn – Designed to hold all the ashes from a single pet

Our wooden pet urns are available in a range of sizes and can be beautifully engraved with your pet’s name or dates.

If you're looking for something you can carry with you each day, we also offer two meaningful jewellery options:

These pieces are a beautiful way to keep their memory close, always.

Explore Our Pet Memorial Collections

Still Unsure? We’re Here to Help

If you’re unsure which size urn or memorial piece is right for you, we’re here to help.
Please feel free to email us at hello@thicket-memorials.com or explore our Contact us page for different ways to reach out.

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