We present a simplified procedure for the analysis of the phonon-induced lifetimes of surface states. The model includes information about the electron and phonon structure and is thus more reliable than procedures based on phonon Debye models. We apply the model to calculate the lifetime broadening of Cu(1 1 1) and Al(0 0 1) surface states. The obtained Eliashberg functions and lifetimes are in reasonable agreement with previous detailed studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.