Speech Length Calculator
Paste your speech or enter a word count to see how long it takes to deliver at any speaking speed, how long it takes to read silently, and how many words you need for a target length.
0 words · 0 paragraphs
–
Speaking time at every speed
| Speed | WPM | Duration | Words for target |
|---|
How to use the Speech Length Calculator
- Paste your speech, or switch to Word count and type the number of words.
- Choose a speaking speed. Average speech is about 130 words per minute; pick Custom to enter your own pace.
- Add a pause per paragraph if you plan to stop for slides, applause or breath.
- Read the speaking time and the silent reading time. The table shows the time at every preset speed.
- Enter a target length to see how many words to write, then press Copy results.
Speech length formula
Speaking time is simply the number of words divided by your speaking rate:
minutes = words ÷ words per minute
Example: a 1,000 word speech at 130 wpm takes 1,000 ÷ 130 = 7.69 minutes. The 0.69 minute is 0.69 × 60 ≈ 42 seconds, so the speech runs about 7:42. Turned around, the words you need for a target length are minutes × wpm: a 5 minute toast at 130 wpm needs 5 × 130 = 650 words.
Speech length chart
| Words | Slow (100 wpm) | Average (130 wpm) | Fast (160 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1:00 | 0:46 | 0:38 |
| 250 | 2:30 | 1:55 | 1:34 |
| 500 | 5:00 | 3:51 | 3:08 |
| 750 | 7:30 | 5:46 | 4:41 |
| 1,000 | 10:00 | 7:42 | 6:15 |
| 1,500 | 15:00 | 11:32 | 9:23 |
| 2,000 | 20:00 | 15:23 | 12:30 |
| 3,000 | 30:00 | 23:05 | 18:45 |
Typical speaking rates
| Situation | Words per minute |
|---|---|
| Slow, deliberate delivery, speeches with translation | about 100 |
| Presentations, lectures, sermons | 110–130 |
| Everyday conversation | 120–160 |
| Podcasts, radio, audiobooks | 150–160 |
| Very fast talkers, auctioneers | 180+ |
Tips for timing a speech
- Nerves speed most people up. Plan for your normal pace, then rehearse with a timer and slow down where the room needs time to react.
- Leave about 10% of your slot unused for pauses, applause and laughter: for a 10 minute slot aim for about 9 minutes of material.
- Numbers, names and technical terms take longer to say than ordinary words, so dense scripts run slower than the estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How many words per minute do people speak?
Most people speak at about 120 to 160 words per minute in conversation. Public speakers and presenters usually slow down to roughly 100 to 150 words per minute so the audience can follow, which is why 130 wpm is a good default.
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
At an average 130 words per minute, a 5 minute speech is about 650 words. A slow speaker needs around 500 words and a fast speaker around 800 words for the same time.
How long is a 1,000 word speech?
A 1,000 word speech takes about 7 minutes 42 seconds at 130 words per minute, 10 minutes at 100 wpm and about 6 minutes 15 seconds at 160 wpm.
How do I find my own speaking speed?
Read a passage of known length aloud as you would on stage and time it with a stopwatch. Divide the word count by the minutes taken. For example 390 words in 3 minutes is 130 words per minute. Enter that number as a custom speed.
Why is reading time different from speaking time?
Silent reading is much faster than speaking. Adults read English silently at around 238 words per minute on average, nearly twice the typical speaking rate, so a text that takes 4 minutes to read can take 7 minutes to deliver.
Does the calculator include pauses?
Only if you add them. Set a pause per paragraph and it is added between paragraphs of pasted text. Leave some extra time for applause, laughter, slides and audience questions.