Pet urns · aftercare
Choosing a pet urn
A pet urn holds your pet's ashes after an individual cremation. Many providers include a simple urn, with finished timber, ceramic, metal and keepsake options available as an upgrade.
Here's how urn types and sizing work, what's usually included versus an extra, and what to confirm before you upgrade.
- List memorial products
- 57List memorial products
- Also return ashes
- 56Also return ashes
- Publish pricing
- 50Publish pricing
In the directory
Urns & keepsakes57providers list memorial products
Aftercare you can arrange
- Memorial products57 listed
- Private cremation53 listed
- Home collection51 listed
- Ashes returned56 listed
Counts reflect providers with the option confirmed in our data. Availability, inclusions and pricing vary — confirm directly with the provider.
In plain terms
The essentials, answered
Short, honest answers you can act on — then confirm the specifics with each provider.
A basic urn is often included
Many private cremations include a simple urn or container in the price. A finished urn in your choice of material or size is usually an upgrade.
Size follows your pet's weight
Urn capacity is guided by your pet's healthy body weight. Our sizing guide gives general bands for dogs and cats — always confirm the exact capacity.
Keepsake urns hold a portion
A keepsake urn holds some of the ashes, so family can each keep a little, or you can pair a main urn with smaller pieces.
Engraving is usually extra
A nameplate or engraving personalises the urn. It's often charged separately, so confirm wording, spelling and dates before it's made.
Getting the size right
Urn sizing, as a general guide
Urns are sized by capacity, guided by your pet's weight. Use these bands as a starting point, then confirm the capacity you need with the provider — this is general guidance, not a precise rule.
Choose your dog's size
~10–25 kg
healthy body weight
- Approx. capacity
- ≈ 400–900 cc
- Typical
- Mid-size breeds — such as kelpies, staffies or spaniels.
A general starting point only — confirm the exact capacity you need with the provider.
As a rough guide, urns are sized to hold about 1 cubic inch — roughly 16 cc — of capacity for every 450 g (1 lb) of your pet's healthy body weight. Providers usually build in extra room, so treat the bands below as a starting point and confirm the capacity you need with the provider.
Urn & keepsake types
Common urn and keepsake choices
The main options you'll come across. Availability, materials and pricing vary by provider — these are general examples, so ask what a provider offers directly or through a partner.
Standard urn
A simple urn that holds all of the ashes — often timber, ceramic, a tin or a scatter-ready box.
When it matters
If you'd like to keep the ashes together at home in something more finished than the basic container.
Ask the provider
“Is a basic urn included, and what does a different material or size cost?”
Keepsake urn
A small urn that holds a portion of the ashes, so more than one person can keep some.
When it matters
When the ashes will be shared, split between a main urn and keepsakes, or partly scattered.
Ask the provider
“Can the ashes be divided across a main urn and one or more keepsakes?”
Memorial box
A wooden or presentation box that keeps the ashes together with keepsakes like a paw print, fur clipping or photo.
When it matters
When you'd like everything kept together in one considered piece.
Ask the provider
“What does the box include, and can I add a paw print or engraving?”
Scattering tube
A simple, often biodegradable tube designed to make scattering the ashes easier and more dignified.
When it matters
If you plan to scatter in a favourite place rather than keep the ashes.
Ask the provider
“Is a scattering option available, and is it suitable for the spot I have in mind?”
Plaque or nameplate
An engraved plate for an urn, keepsake box or marker — usually a name, dates and a short line.
When it matters
When you'd like the piece personalised with your pet's name and dates.
Ask the provider
“What can be engraved, and can I check the spelling and dates before it's made?”
Ashes jewellery
A pendant, bead or keepsake piece made to hold a small amount of ashes, or crafted to carry them.
When it matters
If you'd like to keep something close day to day, rather than only at home.
Ask the provider
“Do you make this in-house or through a partner, and how is the piece sealed?”
Included vs extra
What's usually included, and what costs more
A rough sense of where the line tends to fall. It differs between providers, so treat this as a guide and ask for an itemised quote.
Usually included
- A simple urn or container to return the ashes
- Return of the ashes to you or your vet
- Basic identification and tracking through the process
Often an extra
- A finished urn in a chosen material, size or design
- Keepsake urns, ashes jewellery or a memorial box
- Engraving, a nameplate, a paw print or delivery
Before you upgrade
What to confirm first
A finished urn is a lovely thing to get right. A few quick checks save disappointment later.
Capacity
Confirm the urn holds enough for your pet's weight, with a little room to spare. Ask the provider rather than guessing.
Splitting the ashes
If you want a keepsake or jewellery too, ask whether the ashes can be divided, and arrange it around the cremation.
Engraving details
Check exactly what can be engraved, and proof the spelling and dates — engraving can't be undone.
Compare providers
Australian providers that list memorial products
Every provider here lists memorial products in our data. That's a general signal — it doesn't confirm a specific urn range, so ask each provider what they offer directly or through a partner. Most also confirm ashes returned.
All 57 providers that list memorial products
Want to filter by state, collection or pricing? Browse the full pet cremation directory
How to choose
Questions worth asking
Work through these as you compare providers so an urn choice is clear before you commit.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Common questions, answered plainly. Confirm anything specific directly with the provider.
Is a pet urn included in the cremation price?
Often a simple urn or container is included with an individual (private) cremation, with a finished urn in your choice of material, size or design available as an upgrade. What's included varies between providers, so ask for an itemised quote and confirm whether the urn shown is the one included or an extra.
What size urn do I need for my pet?
Urn capacity is guided by your pet's healthy body weight — as a rough rule, about 1 cubic inch (roughly 16 cc) of capacity per 450 g (1 lb) of body weight, with a little extra room. Our sizing guide gives general bands for dogs and cats, but capacity varies by design, so confirm the exact size with the provider before choosing.
What's a keepsake urn?
A keepsake urn is a small urn that holds a portion of the ashes rather than all of them. Families use them so more than one person can keep some, or to pair a main urn with smaller pieces. If you'd like one, ask whether the ashes can be divided when you book.
What are pet urns made of?
Common materials include timber, ceramic, metal, stone-look resin and biodegradable options for scattering or burial. Ranges differ between providers, and Final Tail doesn't list specific products, so ask each provider what materials and designs they offer.
Can a pet urn be engraved?
Many can be, usually with your pet's name, dates and a short line, or via a separate nameplate. Engraving is commonly an extra and can't be changed once done, so confirm what's possible and proof the spelling and dates before it's made.
Does Final Tail sell pet urns?
No. Final Tail is an independent directory and information service — we don't sell urns or memorial products. We list providers that state they offer memorial products so you can compare them, then confirm the urn range, sizing, engraving and pricing directly with the provider.
Keep exploring
Related guides & next steps
Size for your pet, understand ashes return, then explore keepsakes and estimate cost.
When you're ready
Compare providers and what they include
See ashes returned, memorial products, collection options and pricing links, then confirm the urn range and what's included directly with the provider.
Final Tail is an independent directory and information service. We do not sell urns, jewellery, plaques or memorial products, and we do not provide or arrange cremation or veterinary services. This information is general only. Availability, inclusions, materials, engraving, sealing, pricing, turnaround and whether ashes are returned or can be divided vary between providers and must be confirmed directly with each provider.
Final Tail is an independent directory. We collect provider details from public listings, provider websites and information shared with us. Services, availability and pricing may change, so please confirm directly with the provider before making arrangements.