Paste your script above — the Speaking stat estimates delivery time at a natural pace of 130 words per minute, updating as you edit.
Words to Minutes: Quick Conversion Table
| Speaking time | Word count |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | ~130 words |
| 2 minutes | ~260 words |
| 5 minutes | ~650 words |
| 10 minutes | ~1,300 words |
| 15 minutes | ~1,950 words |
| 20 minutes | ~2,600 words |
| 30 minutes | ~3,900 words |
| 60 minutes | ~7,800 words |
Guidelines reviewed as of July 2026.
How Fast Do People Actually Speak?
- Slow, deliberate delivery: 100–110 words per minute — keynote openings, eulogies, technical material.
- Average presentation pace: 120–140 wpm — the range most speech coaches recommend.
- Conversational / energetic: 150–170 wpm — fine for podcasts, risky for live audiences.
We use 130 wpm as the default because under-running a slot is always safer than over-running it.
Planning Tips
- Write 10% fewer words than the math allows. Live delivery always runs longer than rehearsal — pauses, laughter, and transitions add up.
- Pauses are part of the speech. A deliberate pause after a key point can be worth more than another sentence.
- Rehearse out loud with a timer at least twice; reading silently underestimates duration by 20–30%.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 600–700 words at a comfortable pace. Aim for 650 and you will land near the middle of your slot with room for a strong pause or two.
Is it better to run short or long?
Short. Nobody remembers a talk ending two minutes early; everyone remembers one that overran and got cut off.
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