How long does a funeral service last?

A funeral service usually lasts between half an hour and an hour. How long exactly depends mainly on the venue, which reserves a fixed time for the room. So first ask the funeral director how much time there is. After that you can divide that time.

What does the duration depend on?

The venue. A room at a crematorium or funeral home is reserved per time slot. Often that is three quarters of an hour or an hour, and sometimes extra time can be added at extra cost.

The kind of service. A church funeral with a full liturgy generally takes longer than a service in a funeral home.

What follows the service. A burial or committal usually does not count towards the time of the room, but it does count towards the day.

What fits in three quarters of an hour?

A worked example for a service of 45 minutes:

Welcome and closing words: 5 minutes
Three speakers of 5 minutes each: 15 minutes
Two pieces of music of 4 minutes each: 8 minutes
A photo presentation with music: 5 minutes
A poem or moment of silence: 3 minutes
Saying goodbye at the coffin: 7 minutes

Together 43 minutes. Two minutes remain, and that is little.

Always keep five minutes free. Speakers run over, someone needs a moment, and walking to the microphone takes time as well.

How long does each part take?

A speaker: three to six minutes. One page of text read aloud is about five minutes.
A piece of music: three to five minutes. A track can also be shortened.
A photo presentation: four to six minutes, usually the length of one track.
The walk-in: ten to fifteen minutes before the service starts. That time usually does not count.

It does not fit?

Then there are three things you can adjust:

Have speakers speak more briefly, or have two speakers combine their words.
Shorten music: a track does not have to be played in full.
Move photos to the walk-in: what does not fit in the service can run while everyone arrives.

Booking extra time is sometimes possible too. Ask in good time.

Seeing whether it fits

At The Last Farewell you enter how long the service may last. While you add parts you see how much time the speakers and the presentation take together and how much is left. This is also in the running order, with the starting time for each part.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the whole funeral take, from start to finish?

With a reception beforehand and coffee afterwards you quickly reach two to three hours. See what happens before and after the funeral service.

Can a service be too short?

No. A service of twenty minutes with one speaker and two pieces of music can be very fitting. The time available does not have to be filled.

Does the walk-in count?

Usually not: the reserved time starts when the service begins. Check with the venue to be sure.