Speech length calculator
How long is your speech? Paste it below, or type a word count, to see how long it takes to say out loud. At a steady 130 words per minute, 650 words take about 5 minutes and 1,000 words take about 7 min 42 s.
How long is my speech?
Paste your speech or type a word count to see how long it takes to say.
How many words do I need?
- Slow, 120 WPM600 words
- Steady, 130 WPM650 words
- Brisk, 150 WPM750 words
Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you paste is saved or sent anywhere.
Words per minute used here
The calculator shows three paces side by side: 120 words per minute (slow and deliberate), 130 (a steady speech pace) and 150 (brisk). Everyday conversation in American English runs at about 150 words per minute, according to the National Center for Voice and Speech, and a speech is usually delivered a little slower, with pauses. That is why 130 is a good number to plan with.
Your own pace may be faster or slower. Type it into the calculator, or measure it first with the speaking rate test.
Speech length chart: 1 to 20 minutes
| Speech length | Slow (120 WPM) | Steady (130 WPM) | Brisk (150 WPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 120 words | 130 words | 150 words |
| 2 minutes | 240 words | 260 words | 300 words |
| 3 minutes | 360 words | 390 words | 450 words |
| 4 minutes | 480 words | 520 words | 600 words |
| 5 minutes | 600 words | 650 words | 750 words |
| 7 minutes | 840 words | 910 words | 1,050 words |
| 10 minutes | 1,200 words | 1,300 words | 1,500 words |
| 15 minutes | 1,800 words | 1,950 words | 2,250 words |
| 20 minutes | 2,400 words | 2,600 words | 3,000 words |
How long is a 500, 1,000 or 2,000 word speech?
| Words | Slow (120 WPM) | Steady (130 WPM) | Brisk (150 WPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 words | 2 min 5 s | 1 min 55 s | 1 min 40 s |
| 500 words | 4 min 10 s | 3 min 51 s | 3 min 20 s |
| 750 words | 6 min 15 s | 5 min 46 s | 5 min |
| 1,000 words | 8 min 20 s | 7 min 42 s | 6 min 40 s |
| 1,500 words | 12 min 30 s | 11 min 32 s | 10 min |
| 2,000 words | 16 min 40 s | 15 min 23 s | 13 min 20 s |
A 1,000-word speech takes about 7 min 42 s at a steady 130 words per minute. For more on a single length, see how many words is a 5-minute speech.
Why your real time differs from the estimate
- Pauses. Planned pauses add time without adding words, and they make a speech easier to follow.
- Nerves. Most people speed up when they're nervous, so a speech often runs shorter on the day than at home.
- Laughter and applause. Toasts and award speeches need room for the audience to react.
- Hard words. Names, numbers and technical terms take longer to say clearly.
- Slides and demos. Clicking, pointing and waiting for a video take time the word count can't see.
A simple rule: write your draft for about 90% of your time slot, then time it out loud.
Check your real pace
The only way to know how long your speech takes is to say it. Read it out loud with a stopwatch, or record yourself and check the length of the take.
Mic Buddy does this on iPhone and iPad: after each take it shows your pace in words per minute, your filler words, your pauses and your clarity, and keeps the length of every take. It's free to download. Using it takes a subscription: a yearly, monthly or weekly plan. This calculator is free to use and runs in your browser.
For a step-by-step rehearsal routine, see how to practice a speech.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a 1,000-word speech?+
About 7 min 42 s at 130 words per minute, 6 min 40 s at 150 and 8 min 20 s at 120.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?+
About 650 words at a steady 130 words per minute, or 600 to 750 depending on your pace.
How do I calculate how long my speech will take?+
Divide the number of words by your speaking rate in words per minute. At 130 words per minute, 650 words take 5 minutes. The calculator above does it for any length.
How many words per minute is a speech?+
Most speeches are planned at about 120 to 150 words per minute. Everyday conversation runs at about 150 (National Center for Voice and Speech), and speeches are usually a little slower.