As a convenient source of nitrogen, Urea is commonly used as a fertiliser, where it provides the benefit of offering an extremely high nitrogen content compared to alternative, solid nitrogenous fertilisers. The product is highly soluble in water and therefore often spread just before or during rain or dissolved and distributed via spray or irrigation system.

Urea is also used as an alternative to salt for de-icing applications and as a chemical raw ingredient used in a variety of industrial processes.

In the water treatment industry it is often dosed into aeration tanks as a source of nitrogen.