Free speaking tool
Speech time calculator
Find out how long your speech will take, or how many words fit your time limit. Then time a practice run with the speech timer.
Speech time calculator
5:00
650 words at 130 words per minute
Between 3:49 (fast) and 5:55 (slow). Pauses and audience reactions add time, so leave about 10% spare.
Speech timer
Target 5:00
Ready when you are
- Green at 3:45
- Yellow at 4:30
- Red at 5:00
How many words per minute of speech?
Use this table when you have a time limit and need a word count. Most people speak between 110 and 170 words per minute. For a speech or presentation, 130 is a good default: clear enough to follow and still natural.
| Speech length | 110 wpm | 130 wpm | 150 wpm | 170 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 | 130 | 150 | 170 |
| 2 minutes | 220 | 260 | 300 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 330 | 390 | 450 | 510 |
| 4 minutes | 440 | 520 | 600 | 680 |
| 5 minutes | 550 | 650 | 750 | 850 |
| 6 minutes | 660 | 780 | 900 | 1,020 |
| 7 minutes | 770 | 910 | 1,050 | 1,190 |
| 8 minutes | 880 | 1,040 | 1,200 | 1,360 |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 12 minutes | 1,320 | 1,560 | 1,800 | 2,040 |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
wpm = words per minute. Figures are spoken words, not counting pauses for slides, laughter or applause.
How to time a speech
- Start from the limit, not the draft. Multiply your minutes by 130 to get a word budget, then write about 10% under it. A 5-minute slot means a script of roughly 600 words.
- Read it out loud with a timer. Silent reading is much faster than speaking, so it hides overruns. Use the timer above and stop when the light turns red.
- Measure your own pace. Read one paragraph aloud for a minute and count the words. Nervous speakers often speed up; if you land at 165 words per minute or more, plan for that and add deliberate pauses.
- Leave room for the room. Slides, demonstrations, laughter and questions take time. Mark the places where you'll pause, and cut a story before you cut the pauses.
- Cut from the middle. Keep your opening and your closing line. Trim repeated examples and side points in the middle first.
What is a good speaking pace?
There's no single right number. Around 120–140 words per minute suits speeches, lessons and presentations, because listeners need a moment to take in each idea. Casual conversation usually runs faster, around 150–160. Above about 170, most audiences start to miss things, especially with numbers or technical terms.
Pace also isn't constant. Good speakers slow down for the key point and speed up for a story. If you tend to rush, practice replacing filler words with short pauses. It slows you down without sounding forced.
Questions people ask
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 words at a clear presentation pace of 130 words per minute. Most people land between 550 and 850 words, depending on how fast they speak.
How many words is a 3-minute speech?
About 390 words at 130 words per minute, or roughly 330–510 words across slow and fast speakers.
How many words is a 1-minute speech?
About 130 words at presentation pace. A fast talker fits around 170 words into a minute; a slow, deliberate speaker closer to 110.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,300 words at 130 words per minute, or 1,100–1,700 words depending on pace.
How long is a 500-word speech?
About 3:51 at 130 words per minute, and between 2:56 and 4:33 depending on pace.
How long does it take to read 900 words out loud?
About 6:55 at a steady 130 words per minute, and between 5:18 and 8:11 depending on pace.
How long does it take to read 2,000 words out loud?
About 15:23 at 130 words per minute, and between 11:46 and 18:11 depending on pace.
How long is a 1,000-word speech?
About 7:42 at 130 words per minute, and between 5:53 and 9:05 depending on pace.