Small Urns, Mini Urns, and Sharing Ashes
Small urns and mini urns hold only a portion of the ashes, rather than the entire amount. This allows each loved one to keep their own memento, while another portion is buried or scattered. At Farvel, you’ll find small urns designed specifically for this purpose, crafted with the same care as our standard sizes.
A little piece of closeness.
Small urns for the home and for sharing ashes.
What Small Urns Are Used For
A small urn is ideal if you want to keep a portion of the ashes close to you—at home, in a place that holds special meaning. It’s also a good option if several family members each want their own keepsake. And it’s a beautiful solution if the majority of the ashes are scattered in nature or interred in a cemetery.
This brings us to the division of the ashes. This means that the ashes are divided among several containers. One portion may be buried, another kept at home, and yet another might go to a family member in another city. This allows everyone to say goodbye in their own way and to have their own place of remembrance.
By the way, it doesn't necessarily have to be ashes that are placed in a small urn. Some people keep other small mementos in them. In this way, the urn becomes a personal keepsake, regardless of its contents.
When Memories Find Many Places
After the death of a loved one, a family shared a special story with us. Throughout his life, Martin had said that one day he wanted to return to all the places that had meant something to him. When he died, his family fulfilled this wish in their own way. Each family member and his closest friends received a small portion of his ashes. Each carried them to a place where they had shared their most cherished moments with Martin. To the mountain they climbed together for the first time. To the lake where he spent every summer. There, the ashes were scattered or buried in the ground. A small portion remained at home, because that’s where Martin loved to be most—with his family. And so, his farewell became not just one place, but many. Each one, in its own way, a piece of memory.
The "Mikro Nami" forget-me-not urn is inspired by the delicate wave pattern of the "Nami" and designed in miniature form. It holds a small portion of the ashes and serves as a beautiful keepsake for the home.
It’s ideal for dividing ashes if you want to keep a small portion of the ashes close to you while the larger portion is buried or scattered. You can read more about this in our guide to small urns and dividing ashes. Like all Farvel urns, the Mikro Nami is made from biodegradable materials.
Material: Wood fibers and organic binder, supplemented with cork
Dimensions: Height 4.5 cm, width 3.4 cm, depth 3.4 cm
Capacity: up to 0.025 liters
Weight: 11 grams without lid
Farvel's small models
Farvel offers smaller urns for exactly these moments. The mini models hold a portion of the ashes and are well-suited for keeping at home or for sharing the ashes. The micro model is even smaller and serves as a quiet companion—perhaps as a reminder. Even the small urns can be personalized, for example with an engraving on the wooden lid.
Like the large urns, the small ones are also made of biodegradable wood fibers and are manufactured in Switzerland. In a dry environment, they retain their shape for many years.
Keeping an urn at home
In Switzerland, it is common and permitted to keep an urn at home. Many people find comfort in having a place of remembrance in their own home. A small urn blends discreetly into the living space. If part of the ashes are to be buried at a later date, this remains an option at any time.
Stricter rules apply in Germany. There is generally a requirement to bury ashes in a cemetery, so they must typically be interred in a cemetery or at another authorized location. Currently, two federal states are exceptions (as of August 2026): In Rhineland-Palatinate, it has been permitted since October 2025 to take the urn home and keep it there. This is permitted provided that the deceased specified this in writing during their lifetime and had their last primary residence in Rhineland-Palatinate. In Bremen, ashes have been permitted to be scattered on private property since 2015, subject to certain conditions. However, permanent storage of the urn at home is still not permitted there.
In Austria, keeping the body at home is permitted under certain conditions, depending on the state. Because the regulations are constantly changing and vary by location, it’s a good idea to check the applicable rules on a case-by-case basis or to ask the funeral home.
Right by your side.
An urn that can stay at home.
What size is right for me?
The right size depends on whether you want to keep all of the ashes or just a portion of them. A mini or micro urn is sufficient for a small, symbolic portion. A larger model is needed for all of the ashes of an adult. If you’re unsure, we’d be happy to advise you personally.
From large to very small.
The right size for every occasion.
Divide the ashes yourself
It is generally possible to divide the ashes yourself, but it requires careful preparation. It’s best to do this in a quiet room indoors, not outside, where the wind could blow the ashes away. A clean cloth or mat will come in handy in case you spill any. Take your time and don’t rush. Dividing the ashes can be an emotional moment, and it’s important to prepare yourself mentally for it. If this feels overwhelming, the funeral home will be happy to handle the division for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mini urn?
A small urn designed to hold a portion of the ashes. It is suitable for use at home or for sharing the ashes.
Can I divide the ashes among several urns?
Yes. During the division of the ashes, the ashes are distributed among several containers so that several family members can each keep a memento.
Can I keep a small urn at home?
In Switzerland, it is common and permitted to keep an urn at home. Rules may vary depending on the situation; if you have any questions, your funeral home can assist you.
Can small urns be personalized as well?
Yes. You can also personalize the smaller models with an engraving.
A Little Bit of Closeness
Discover the small urns in the Farvel collection. If you’re unsure about the size or how to divide the ashes, please feel free to contact us by email at hallo@farvel.ch or by phone at +41 79 700 05 45.