How long should a documentary be?

Documentaries offer interesting insights into real-life events or important topics.

They can add a new spin on a chosen topic, or inform us about a subject we knew nothing about previously.

However, for those filming a documentary, it can be difficult to get it right, especially when it comes to deciding an appropriate documentary length.

What is the minimum length for a documentary?

The length of a documentary can vary; from two minutes to two hours!

However, a documentary that is less than five minutes in duration is unlikely to contain enough detail of an event or situation to provide the viewer a proper understanding of what happened.

On the other hand, a documentary that exceeds two hours in length risks becoming repetitive and prompt the person watching to tune out.

It’s not just the length that you need to pay attention to when making a documentary. Any documentary in production should focus on a subject that you know a lot about and have a passion for.

Providing factual information in a documentary is essential because many viewers turn to them as a method of educating themselves.

Furthermore, just because a documentary is more factual than a movie or a short film doesn't mean that you should neglect cinematography.

Using the correct angle and proper lighting can add to a story and emphasise certain points.

If a documentary isn't produced well, it can disengage viewers, meaning they won't be invested in its premise.

How long should documentaries be?

One of the first questions that people ask when they are considering filming a documentary is: 'how long should a documentary be?'

While there’s no specific length advised for a documentary, it should be long enough to ensure a viewer has enough information without it being so long that they become bored.

Of course, the length of a documentary also depends on the context and the platform where it will be showcased.

For example, if it’s to be shown in front of a big crowd at a public venue, it shouldn't be too short as they will expect to be there for a few hours.

Alternatively, putting an extremely lengthy documentary on social media platforms can lead to viewers dropping off as they like to consume short clips on those types of platforms.

How short can documentaries be?

For people asking 'how long should a short documentary be?', a documentary can be as short as you would like as long as it does a good job explaining an event or situation.

This is unlikely to be achieved with a documentary that’s just a few minutes long.

Those short documentaries, consisting of a few minutes, can be effective because they’re similar to the length of a music video.

Rather than overwhelming a viewer with factual information, the details are concise, clear, and direct, keeping audiences' attention throughout.

They’re also perfect for those people who don't want to commit to watching a lengthy documentary but still want to enhance their knowledge of a topic in a short space of time.

What is the best length for a short documentary?

Short-form documentaries are typically up to 30 minutes long to accommodate the budgets of documentary makers and to cut down equipment needed for filming.

In general, short documentary films are typically between five and 45 minutes.

However, the story that’s being told within this timeframe needs to engage and retain the audience so that they will watch for its entirety.

Therefore, you will also need to consider the type of story you’re trying to convey.

Let Eight Engines help you with documentary production

At Eight Engines, we specialise in creating engaging, cinematic content that injects life into your story.

As an award-winning video production company in Manchester, we offer a variety of video production services from brand and marketing, social media, and corporate, to theatre and arts as well as broadcast.

We can accommodate those who want to create shorter documentaries as well as longer pieces of video content, and are committed to helping you achieve your vision.

We can guide you through the entire process of managing your project, from planning and shooting to post-production, where we advise you on the distribution of the finished film.

So, if you want to discover more about documentary production in Manchester, why not get in touch? You can visit our website, email us at info@eightengines.com or give us a call on (+44) 0161 974 1319.

‍