How long an obituary should be depends on where it will appear, what information the family wants to share, and any publication limits.
A focused notice can still honor a person meaningfully; the key is choosing details that help readers understand their life and how to remember them.
Typical obituary lengths
There is no single required length.
Newspaper death notices are often brief, while fuller obituaries may include a life story, family details, and service information.
Online memorials can usually accommodate more, though a concise tribute is often easier to read and share.
As a starting point, consider these approximate ranges:
- Short death notice: about 50 to 150 words, usually focused on the death announcement, a few identifying details, and service information.
- Standard obituary: about 200 to 500 words, often enough for a short biography, close family information, and memorial arrangements.
- Extended obituary: 500 words or more, suitable when the family wants to describe a longer life story, community contributions, or meaningful personal details.
These are flexible guidelines, not rules.
A publication may set a word count, character limit, or other formatting requirements.
Check with the newspaper or website before drafting, especially if the notice will be printed.
What affects an obituary’s length?
Where it will be published
Print newspapers may charge by word, line, or column space, and each publication sets its own rates and submission limits.
Ask the newspaper directly about current pricing, deadlines, accepted formats, and whether photographs are allowed.
Do not assume that one publication’s rules apply to another.
Online obituary pages may permit longer text, but their layouts and submission forms can still have limits.
A funeral home or memorial website may also offer separate fields for the biography, service details, and family acknowledgments.
Review the actual form before polishing a draft.
How much the family wants to share?
Some families prefer to announce a death and provide arrangements without sharing personal history.
Others want to include a fuller account of the person’s interests, relationships, work, or community involvement.
Both approaches can be appropriate.
The purpose is to communicate what the family considers useful and fitting, not to document every part of a life.
How many details are available and verified?
A longer obituary requires more facts to check, including names, dates, relationships, and service information.
If details are uncertain, leave them out or confirm them with someone who knows.
A shorter, accurate notice is more helpful than an expanded account containing errors.
What should an obituary include?
Choose information based on the family’s wishes and the publication’s requirements.
Many obituaries include some or all of the following:
- The person’s full name and, if desired, a nickname or other name they were known by.
- The date and place of death, if the family wants to share them.
- The person’s age or birth date, if appropriate and confirmed.
- A brief account of their life, such as where they lived, what mattered to them, or roles they valued.
- Names of close relatives, with care taken to confirm spelling and relationships.
- Information about a funeral, memorial, visitation, or other gathering, including date, time, and location.
- A preferred way to remember or support the person, if the family chooses to provide one.
Not every obituary needs every item.
Families may also choose to omit private details, list only some relatives, or share arrangements separately.
Consider the person’s privacy and the family’s comfort before including sensitive information.
How to make a short obituary feel personal
When space is limited, a few specific details can convey more than a long list of milestones.
Choose one or two qualities, interests, or roles that the family feels capture the person.
For example, a tribute might mention a longtime love of gardening, a habit of bringing relatives together, or dedication to a craft or community group—provided those details are accurate and approved by the family.
Use direct language and familiar terms.
Replace broad phrases such as “lived a full life” with a concrete, verified detail if the family wishes.
Avoid trying to include every job, award, trip, and family connection.
A concise obituary works best when each sentence adds identifying information, context, or practical details for readers.
A simple structure for drafting
Writing in sections can help you stay within a word limit.
Start with the essential announcement and arrangements, then add biographical details if space allows:
- Opening: State the person’s name and the information the family wants readers to know about their death.
- Brief biography: Add selected details about their life, relationships, interests, or work.
- Family information: Include relatives according to the family’s preference and confirm all names.
- Arrangements: Provide confirmed service details or explain where readers can find updates.
- Optional remembrance: Share a family-selected way to honor the person, if applicable.
After drafting, read the obituary aloud and remove repeated ideas.
Check names, dates, locations, and service details with a trusted family member before submission.
If the publication has a strict limit, prioritize accurate identifying details and arrangements, then retain the biographical details that matter most to the family.
Short fictional example
The following is a fictional example for structure only.
It does not describe a real person.
[Full name], [age, if the family wishes to include it], of [city or community, if desired], died on [confirmed date].
[Name] was known for [verified interest, quality, or contribution].
[Name] is survived by [family members or loved ones the family wishes to name].
A [public or private] memorial gathering will take place [confirmed date, time, and location, if available].
This brief example includes an announcement, one personal detail, family information, and an arrangement update.
A family could expand it with additional verified details or shorten it to meet a publication’s requirements.
Before you submit the obituary
Confirm the submission deadline and length limit with the newspaper, funeral home, or memorial website.
Ask about pricing directly because newspapers set their own rates.
Review the final text for names and practical details, and make sure the people closest to the deceased are comfortable with what will be shared.
The right length is the one that meets the publication’s requirements and communicates the family’s chosen message clearly.