Butterfly Urns

Transformation. Change. Joy. Resurrection. These are just a few of the meanings that are often attached to butterflies. In many cultures, they are associated with the soul and with the spirits of the dead. It's no wonder, then, that butterflies are a popular decoration for cremation urns. A butterfly urn can simply be a beautiful memorial to the deceased, or it can symbolize the spirit of the dead and the rebirth to new life.

Many people are entranced both by the beauty of the graceful butterfly and with its metamorphosis from the lowly caterpillar to a beautiful winged creature. No matter what the association, you'll find a variety of butterfly urns to choose from Perfect Memorials.

Butterfly Urn Options

As a decorative symbol, butterfly images can be placed on nearly any type of urn. Some of the most popular options are made from brass, wood, and cloisonné. Butterfly urns are available in many different shapes, from boxes and cubes to traditional vases. The butterfly may be painted or engraved on the urn, or it may be part of a photo attached to it. Often, flowers and other natural elements are included with the butterfly image.

Need a large butterfly urn? Choose from large and extra-large urns, many of which can hold between 200 and 300 cubic inches. Double urns can hold even more. You'll need about 1 cubic inch of volume for each 1 pound that the individual weighed before cremation. It's a good idea to select an urn that's just a little larger than you think that you'll need.

On the other end of the spectrum, sharing and keepsake urns are also available. A butterfly urn of this size will only hold a portion of the cremains, sometimes as little as 3 cubic inches (about 3 tablespoons). Sharing butterfly urns may hold 30 cubic inches (about 2 cups) or more.

Choosing a Cremation Urn

If you have questions about choosing a butterfly urn, read our tips for How To Choose The Right Cremation Urn. The most important things to remember are to choose an urn that's large enough to hold all of the cremains that you want to store and that is appropriate for how the urn will be used. You can choose any urn that you'd like if you plan to keep it on display at home, but if your butterfly urn will be used for burial, scattering the ashes, or if it will be placed in a columbarium niche, there are additional factors to consider.