Quick reference
At an average pace of 130 words per minute: 1 minute is about 130 words, 3 minutes about 390, 5 minutes about 650, 10 minutes about 1,300 and 20 minutes about 2,600.
Words to Minutes Calculator
Find out how long your speech or presentation will take. Enter a word count or paste the script and choose your speaking pace.
Speaking pace
Speaking time
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Enter a word count or paste your script to see how long it takes to say and to read.
How long will it take to say?
Speaking time is word count divided by pace. Here are the common figures and how to plan a talk around them.
Choose the right pace
Use the slow setting for formal speeches, technical material or audiences listening in a second language. Use the fast setting only for conversational delivery you have rehearsed.
Tighten the script
If you are over time, cut whole points before you cut words. The summarizer can show which sentences carry the argument, and the readability checker flags long sentences that are hard to say aloud.
Questions, answered.
About 650 words at an average speaking pace of 130 words per minute. Plan for around 550 words if you speak slowly and 800 if you speak quickly.
About 7 minutes 40 seconds at 130 words per minute. At a slow pace of 110 words per minute it takes about 9 minutes.
Presentations are usually delivered at roughly 110 to 160 words per minute. This calculator uses 130 as the average, which leaves room for pauses.
People read silently faster than they speak. This tool estimates silent reading at 230 words per minute, so a script takes less time to read than to deliver aloud.
Work out the word budget from your time slot, write to it, then rehearse with a timer. Leave about 10% spare for pauses, slides and audience reaction.
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