A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes: preparing an intermediate body including a plurality of light emitting elements spaced apart from each other, each of the light emitting elements having a pair of electrodes disposed on the same side, and a covering member covering side surfaces of the light emitting elements while a part of a surface of each of the electrodes is exposed from the covering member, the covering member having a recess between adjacent ones of the light emitting elements; forming a metal layer that continuously covers the surface of each of the electrodes of the light emitting elements and an inner surface of the recess of the covering member; and cutting the metal layer and the covering member at the inner surface of the recess.