How to Personalize a Pet Urn: Photo, Name & Dates Step-by-Step

What can actually be personalized

Not every urn carries every kind of personalization, and knowing which is which saves a lot of back-and-forth. Broadly there are three layers: an image (a portrait created from your photo, or a real printed photograph you slide into a frame), text (name, dates, sometimes a short message), and finish choices (size, color, lid style).

If you're still deciding between formats, our guide to the different types of pet cremation urns compares all six side by side.

Step 1 — Size first, style second

This order matters. A style you love in a capacity that doesn't fit is a problem you can't personalize your way out of. Start with the sizing rule — roughly 1 cubic inch of capacity per pound of your pet's pre-cremation body weight (1 cu in = 16.39 ml) — then look at styles available in that size.

Our pet urn size guide has the full weight-to-capacity chart. If you're between two sizes, take the larger one — ashes come back in a sealed bag that needs more room than loose ashes.

Step 2 — Choose the photo

The photo does more work than any other decision here. A portrait can only be as good as what it's made from, and the difference between a usable photo and a great one is mostly light and distance.

Two things people worry about unnecessarily. First, the photo doesn't have to be recent — older or lower-quality photos can often still work, and we'll email you before starting if we need something better. Our guide on using old or low-quality photos covers what's salvageable. Second, the background rarely matters — portraits are built around your pet, not the room they were standing in.

For side-by-side examples of strong and weak reference photos, see the image guidelines, or read what kind of pet photo works best.

Step 3 — Write the name and dates

A few conventions that hold up well:

• 1
  Use the name you actually called them. Not the name on the vet record. "Biscuit" beats "Biscuit Wellington III" on an urn you'll see every day.
• 2
  Years usually read better than full dates. "2012–2026" is cleaner on a curved surface than two full calendar dates, and it ages better.
• 3
  If you don't know their birth year, use the year they found you. Common with rescues, and honest — "Ours 2019–2026" says exactly what it means.
• 4
  Keep any message short. Five to ten words is the range that stays legible on an urn. Longer thoughts belong on a memorial candle or an engraved stone, which have more room.

Stuck on the wording? We have collections of short lines for dogs and for cats.

Step 4 — Approve the preview

Every order that includes a custom portrait or photo-based design comes with a free digital preview. We email your design within 1–2 business days, and production begins only after you approve it. If something isn't right — the crop, the likeness, the placement of the text — you can request up to 3 free revisions.

This is the step to slow down on. Look at the preview on a phone and on a larger screen if you can, check the spelling of the name and dates letter by letter, and say something if any detail feels off. It is much easier to move a line of text in a file than after it has been fired onto ceramic.

If you need to change the photo or details after ordering, contact us within 6 hours of placing the order — after production starts, changes may no longer be possible.

Step 5 — Production and delivery

Once you approve, production takes 3–5 business days. Delivery time after that depends on where you are — see the shipping policy for current estimates by destination. You'll get a tracking number by email as soon as your urn ships.

One practical note if you're waiting on ashes from a crematory: you don't need the ashes in hand to order. Many families order while the cremation is being arranged so the urn arrives around the same time.

Urns you can personalize

Portrait + name + dates · 4 sizes

Custom Dog Cremation Urn – Portrait, Name & Dates

Choose line art or a realistic portrait, add name and years. XS to L, with a moisture-proof lining inside.

From $59 →

Portrait + name + dates · 4 sizes

Custom Cat Cremation Urn – Portrait, Name & Dates

The same two portrait styles for cats, from an XS keepsake up to a full 1,500 ml urn.

From $59 →

Real photo · Name + message

Custom Dog Cremation Urn – Photo Window, Name & Message

For people who want the actual photograph rather than an artistic rendering. Three sizes.

From $59 →

Name only · No photo needed

Personalized Ceramic Pet Urn – Custom Name

If you'd rather not put a face on it: four minimal motifs and their name, fired at 1300°C.

From $39 →

Browse everything in the pet cremation urn collection.

Frequently asked questions