Speech Length Calculator
A 2-minute speech is about 300 words at an average speaking pace of 150 words per minute, or 260 to 340 words if you speak slowly or quickly. Enter a word count or paste your script below to see how long it takes to say, or enter a length in minutes to see how many words to write. The results are approximate, because everyone speaks at their own pace.
Words to speaking time
A whole number up to 100,000.
Counted in this page. Your script isn’t saved or uploaded.
Speaking time
- Slow 130 words per minute
- 2 min 18 sec
- Average 150 words per minute
- 2 min
- Fast 170 words per minute
- 1 min 46 sec
Minutes to words
Up to 600 minutes. Use a decimal for part minutes, such as 2.5.
Words to write
- Slow 130 words per minute
- 260 words
- Average 150 words per minute
- 300 words
- Fast 170 words per minute
- 340 words
Times are approximate. Most people speak at 130 to 170 words per minute; read your script aloud once and time it for an exact figure.
Ready to rehearse? Paste your script into the free online teleprompter, or try Notch for Mac and Windows, which follows your voice as you speak.
How to use the speech length calculator
Type a word count, or paste your script to count its words.
Read the speaking time at a slow, average and fast pace. Most people land near the average.
To plan a talk instead, enter the length in minutes and see how many words to write.
How many words are in a speech of each length?
These figures use the same three paces as the calculator: slow (130 words per minute), average (150) and fast (170).
| Length | Slow | Average | Fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 | 150 | 170 |
| 2 minutes | 260 | 300 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 | 510 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 750 | 850 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
For a quick estimate without the calculator, multiply the minutes by 150 to get words, or divide the words by 150 to get minutes.
What changes your speaking pace
- The setting. A relaxed team update is usually quicker than a formal speech or a lesson where people take notes.
- The content. Numbers, names, technical terms and step-by-step explanations slow most people down, and they should.
- Nerves. Most people speak faster when they're nervous, so a talk that took five minutes at your desk can take four on the day.
- Language. Speaking in a second language, or to an audience listening in theirs, usually calls for a slower pace.
- Pauses. Stopping for a slide, a demo or a question adds time that a word count can't see.
How to time your speech accurately
- Read the whole script aloud at the pace you'd use for your audience, not under your breath.
- Time it with a stopwatch, then divide the word count by the minutes to find your own words per minute.
- Use that figure to trim or extend the script, and leave about 10% spare for pauses and questions.
- Time it again on the day you rehearse properly, because a second run is usually a little faster.
Rehearse with a teleprompter
Once the length is right, practise reading it the way you'll deliver it. Paste your script into the free online teleprompter to read it at a steady pace in your browser. For calls and presentations, Notch for Mac and Windows keeps your script at the top of your screen near the camera and follows your voice as you speak, so the text moves at your pace rather than a fixed speed. New to teleprompters? Start with how to use a teleprompter.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 2-minute speech?
About 300 words at an average pace of 150 words per minute. A slow speaker gets through about 260 words in two minutes, and a fast speaker about 340.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 750 words at an average pace, or roughly 650 to 850 words depending on how quickly you speak.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,500 words at an average pace, or roughly 1,300 to 1,700 words. Leave some room for pauses, slides and questions.
How long does it take to say 1,000 words?
About 6 minutes 40 seconds at an average pace of 150 words per minute. That's around 7 minutes 42 seconds if you speak slowly and 5 minutes 53 seconds if you speak quickly.
What is a normal speaking rate?
Most people giving a talk or presentation in English speak at about 130 to 170 words per minute, and 150 is a widely used average. Nerves usually make people faster, while careful explanations, lessons and speeches in a second language tend to be slower.
Is my script saved or uploaded?
No. The words are counted in the page, in your browser. Your script isn't stored or sent anywhere, and it's gone when you close the tab.
Should I write exactly the number of words the calculator suggests?
Aim a little under it. Pauses, emphasis, slide changes and the odd unscripted sentence all add time, so a script of about 90% of the suggested length usually fits comfortably.