Text & Writing
Speaking Time Calculator
Work out how long a speech, presentation or script takes to say aloud, and how many words fit your time slot.
Free to useNo sign-up requiredNo watermarkRuns in your browser
Speeches, presentations, video scripts and podcasts are usually planned in words but delivered in minutes. Dividing one by the other only works if you know your pace - and pace varies a lot between a slow, deliberate keynote and a quick explainer video.
Enter your word count and pick a pace (or type your own) to see the speaking time in minutes and seconds. The table underneath works the other way, showing how many words fit common time slots at that pace.
How this tool works
Enter the word count
Paste your script into the word counter first if you do not know it.
Choose a pace
Slow, normal or fast - or enter your own words-per-minute figure.
Read the time
Speaking time as minutes and seconds, plus the words that fit 1 to 20 minutes.
How it works
Speaking time in minutes is the word count divided by your speaking rate in words per minute. Multiply by 60 for seconds.
The words-for-a-slot table multiplies the minutes by the same rate, rounded to the nearest word.
The result is pure speaking time. Pauses for emphasis, slide changes, demonstrations, laughter and questions all add to it.
Common use cases
- Checking that a wedding toast, eulogy or best-man speech fits the time you have been given.
- Planning a conference talk or classroom presentation to a strict slot.
- Sizing a video, YouTube or voice-over script before recording.
- Estimating podcast or audiobook segment length from a script.
Typical speaking rates
There is no single correct pace, and published figures vary. Everyday conversational English is often quoted at around 150 words per minute, and comfortable presentation pace is commonly given as roughly 130-160 wpm. Slower, deliberate delivery - speeches with pauses, complex material, non-native audiences - is often closer to 100-120 wpm, while quick explainer-style delivery often runs above 160.
The most reliable figure is your own: read a 150-200 word passage aloud at performance pace, time it, and divide the words by the minutes.
| 1 minute | 110 slow · 140 normal · 170 fast |
|---|---|
| 3 minutes | 330 slow · 420 normal · 510 fast |
| 5 minutes | 550 slow · 700 normal · 850 fast |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 slow · 1,400 normal · 1,700 fast |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 slow · 2,800 normal · 3,400 fast |
Formula
Speaking time (minutes)
words ÷ words per minute
Speaking time (seconds)
words ÷ words per minute × 60
Words for a time slot
minutes × words per minute
Worked examples
A 750-word speech
At a normal 140 words a minute, 750 words takes 5.36 minutes - about 5 minutes 21 seconds. At 150 wpm it is exactly 5 minutes.
A 2,500-word keynote, delivered slowly
At a deliberate 110 words a minute, 2,500 words takes 22.7 minutes (22:44) - too long for a 20-minute slot, which fits about 2,200 words at that pace.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
Around 550 to 850 words depending on pace - about 700 at a normal 140 words a minute. Leave some of that for pauses if the speech has laughs or applause lines.
What is a normal speaking speed?
Commonly cited figures put comfortable conversational and presentation pace at roughly 130-160 words per minute. Nervous speakers often run faster than they think, so rehearse with a timer.
Why is reading time different from speaking time?
Silent reading is much faster - often estimated at around 200-250 words a minute for adults - because you do not have to form each word aloud. Speaking time is always longer for the same text.
Does this include pauses and slides?
No. It is speaking time only. Many speakers leave 10-20% of their slot free for pauses, transitions and questions.
Is my text uploaded?
No text is needed here - you enter a word count, and the calculation runs in your browser. The word counter also counts in your browser.