Pictures for Urns and Cremation Memorials

Published

Illustration of a cream ceramic urn on a wooden shelf beside a separate oval plaque on a small stand
Illustration only. The plaque stands separately and is not shown attached to the urn.

A small ceramic portrait can be added to many urns and cremation memorials, as long as there is a flat, smooth, non-porous spot large enough for it. The MemorialPics installation instructions name urns among the surfaces a picture can be mounted on. Curved, carved, textured, or porous areas are not what the instructions describe, so confirm a suitable flat mounting area before you order, and check the current product choices for available sizes. If the urn will be placed in a columbarium or cemetery, ask that facility whether a picture is allowed on it.

Where a cremation portrait can go

  • On the urn itself. A small portrait on a flat panel or front face of the urn.
  • On a columbarium niche front. Facilities usually set the rules here. See pictures for columbarium niches.
  • On a cremation memorial in a cemetery. Cremation benches, pedestals, and small markers over in-ground cremation plots are cemetery memorials, and the cemetery's rules apply. See cemetery rules for headstone pictures.
  • At home. A portrait on an urn kept at home does not need cemetery approval, though any facility you later move it to may have its own rules.

Check the urn's surface

The MemorialPics instructions call for a clean, dry, non-porous mounting surface, with the full instructions written for polished stone or smooth bronze. Look closely at your urn:

  • Flat, smooth, non-porous areas such as polished stone or smooth metal are the closest match to what the instructions describe.
  • Curved bodies. A flat ceramic picture needs a flat mounting area, whatever its size. Do not attach it to a curved surface, even a gently curved one. On a rounded urn, use only a flat, smooth, non-porous panel or base that the urn's maker confirms is suitable, or ask a monument or memorial professional for advice before ordering.
  • Wood, unsealed, or textured surfaces. These are not the non-porous surfaces the instructions describe. Ask the urn's maker how attachments should be made.
  • Carved, engraved, or painted designs. Do not cover them, and leave a margin.

If you are choosing a new urn and want a portrait on it, look for one with a flat, smooth front panel.

Choosing a size

Urns usually need small sizes. On 2026-10-05, small MemorialPics sizes listed included:

  • 2.4 x 3.2 inch oval and rectangle sizes, which may suit a flat panel large enough for them.

Available sizes can change, so check the current product choices before ordering. Measure the flat area, leave a margin, and cut a paper template to check the fit. If the flat area is too small for any current size, contact MemorialPics before ordering. The measuring worksheet and size guide walk through it. At very small sizes, choose a photo where the face fills most of the frame; see choosing the best photo.

Attaching a portrait to an urn

  1. Clean the area with a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water and let it dry completely.
  2. Place the picture and mark its position lightly.
  3. Apply the included tape to the back of the picture, pressing as you go.
  4. Remove the outer film, position the picture, and press firmly for about two minutes, supporting the urn so it cannot tip.
  5. Seal the edge with a high-quality silicone caulk, especially if the urn will be outdoors.

Work at a room or surface temperature of at least 60°F, the minimum in the MemorialPics instructions. Handle the urn gently, and if it is sealed and holds remains, work on a stable, padded surface. The full steps and video are in the installation guide.

Other cremation keepsakes

If the urn has no suitable spot, families sometimes place a portrait on a small memorial stone, a keepsake box with a smooth, non-porous lid, or a home memorial display instead, as long as the surface meets the same conditions. If a portrait will go on a cremation memorial in a cemetery, the cemetery's rules apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put a picture on an urn?

Often, yes, if the urn has a flat, smooth, non-porous area that is suitable for mounting. The MemorialPics instructions list urns among mounting surfaces. Check the current product choices for available sizes.

What size picture fits an urn?

It depends on the flat area. Check the current product choices for available sizes, then measure the space, leave a margin, and test with a paper template.

Can a picture go on a wooden urn?

The instructions call for a clean, dry, non-porous surface. Wood and other porous or textured materials are not what they describe, so ask the urn's maker before attaching anything.

Do I need permission to put a picture on an urn?

Not for an urn kept at home. If it will be placed in a columbarium, mausoleum, or cemetery, ask that facility first.

Related guides

See pictures for mausoleums, restoring an old photo, and scanning a printed photo. To check whether your urn is suitable, send a photo of it to MemorialPics.

Sources and review

Sources checked on 2026-10-05. Store details come from MemorialPics pages and product listings as they appeared on that date and may change.

Example placements

  • Upright headstone : illustrative shape, not to scale
    Upright headstoneIllustrative, not to scale
  • Flat marker : illustrative shape, not to scale
    Flat markerIllustrative, not to scale
  • Niche front : illustrative shape, not to scale
    Niche frontIllustrative, not to scale

Illustrative layouts, not to scale. Confirm the size and position with your cemetery and monument provider before ordering.