Guide
How long should a eulogy be?
Most eulogies last three to five minutes, which is roughly 400 to 700 words read at a calm pace. If several people are speaking, aim for two or three minutes each. Ask the officiant or funeral director how much time the service allows before you start writing, then write a little under it.
By the Lovingly Written team · Updated
Eulogy length at a glance
People usually read a eulogy more slowly than normal speech, often around 120 to 140 words a minute, because they pause, breathe and sometimes need a moment. Use this as a rough guide:
| Speaking time | Approximate words |
|---|---|
| 2 minutes | 250–300 |
| 3 minutes | 375–420 |
| 5 minutes | 600–700 |
| 7 minutes | 850–980 |
The safest way to check is simple: read your draft out loud, at the pace you'll use on the day, and time it.
Why shorter is usually better
A eulogy is not a biography. Guests remember one or two stories far better than a list of dates and achievements. A tight four minutes, built around a few true moments, almost always lands better than ten minutes that tries to cover everything. Short is also kinder to you: it is easier to get through, especially if your voice wavers.
When the time is limited
Crematorium and chapel slots can be short, and a service may include readings, music and prayers as well as tributes. If you're one of several speakers, agree beforehand who will cover what, so stories don't overlap and the service doesn't run over. If you're told you have "a few minutes", treat that as three.
How to cut a draft that runs long
- Keep the stories, cut the summaries. Lines like "she was kind and generous" can go if a story already shows it.
- Pick one story per theme. If you have three stories about their humor, keep the best one.
- Move the facts elsewhere. Dates, jobs and the full family list belong in the obituary or the funeral program, not the speech.
- Shorten the ending. The last line should be short enough to say in one breath.
If you have very little time to prepare
Write the opening and the closing first, then add one story in the middle. That alone makes a complete two-minute eulogy. Our step-by-step guide and eulogy template can help you fill in the rest.