Funeral prayer cards

Print at home or order them

Online printers can make prayer cards overnight, but they need a day or two to ship. If the service is tomorrow, printing at home is faster. You need 80 to 110 lb card stock, a printer that prints double-sided (or patience to flip the stack), and a paper trimmer or a good pair of scissors. Each sheet holds six cards with cut marks.

If you would rather have them printed, use the print-shop PDF. Office stores and local print shops can cut and, at some shops, laminate them while you wait.

How many to make

Plan on one card per guest plus extras for family who couldn’t come. For a service of 80 people, print 100: that is 17 sheets. Leave a stack on the guest book table and put one in each program.

Choosing a prayer

The back of the card holds about 60 words. Traditional choices include Psalm 23, the Hail Mary, Eternal Rest and an Irish blessing, and each design offers them in the editor. For other short verses, see short verses for memorial cards. For more on sizes and printing settings, see the prayer card template guide.

Questions families ask

How long does it take to make prayer cards at home?

About an hour for 100 cards, most of it cutting. Filling in the design takes a few minutes, and each sheet of six prints in under a minute.

Is it cheaper to print prayer cards myself?

Usually. A pack of card stock and some ink costs much less than ordered cards, and you can print more if you run out. Ordering makes sense when you want laminated cards or need several hundred.

Can a print shop print these?

Yes. Download the print-shop PDF, which has bleed and crop marks, and ask for 2.5 × 4.25 inch cards on heavy card stock. Many shops can do it the same day.