TP24

Words per minute & speech length calculator

Paste a script to get its reading time, or pick a duration to see how many words you need. A 5-minute speech is about 650 words at an average pace.

Speaking pace130 words/min
0
words
—
at 130 wpm

Free · reads it back as a scrolling teleprompter

How many words for a speech of…

DurationSlow (110)Average (130)Fast (160)
1 minute110130160
2 minutes220260320
3 minutes330390480
5 minutes550650800
10 minutes1,1001,3001,600
15 minutes1,6501,9502,400
20 minutes2,2002,6003,200
30 minutes3,3003,9004,800

How fast do you talk?

Take the free talking speed test: press start, speak for 20–30 seconds, and see your real speech rate in words per minute. No typing, no guessing.

Press start and just talk. Riff about your day, run through your opening lines, or read the sample passage below. Your browser transcribes as you speak, and we turn the word count and elapsed time into your speech rate.

Your browser will ask for microphone access.

Sample passage · 60 words

Success on camera comes down to rhythm. Take a breath, look straight at the lens, and let each sentence land before you move to the next. Great speakers are rarely the fastest ones; they simply sound sure of every word. Keep your shoulders loose, your pace steady, and give your audience a brief moment to catch up with your ideas.

Privacy: speech recognition runs through your browser's own speech service. We never receive or store your audio or your words. The timed reading test doesn't use the microphone at all.

Most people are surprised by their number. We tend to misjudge our own pace by 20 wpm or more. Once you know your real speech rate, hit “Use my pace” and the calculator above times every script to the way you actually speak, not a generic average.

How the speech calculator works

Speaking time comes down to two numbers: how many words you have, and how fast you say them. Most people speak at 120–150 words per minute, so we use 130 as the average, 110 for a slow, deliberate delivery, and 160 for a fast one. Divide your word count by that pace and you have your run time.

The catch is that your real pace on stage or on camera is rarely the one in your head. Nerves push it up, pauses pull it down. That's why the most reliable way to hit your time is to rehearse the script at a fixed pace. Paste it above to get the number, then read it back on the free teleprompter at exactly that speed.

Common speech lengths

A 1-minute speech is ~130 words, a 2-minute speech ~260, a 3-minute speech ~390, a 5-minute speech ~650, and a 10-minute speech ~1,300, all at an average pace. Speaking slowly? Aim about 15% lower. The table in the calculator gives every duration for slow, average and fast delivery.

Words per minute & speech length FAQ

How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 words at an average speaking pace of 130 words per minute. If you speak slowly, plan for roughly 550 words; if you speak quickly, up to 800. Paste your draft into the calculator above to see the exact reading time for your script.
How many words per minute do people speak?
Conversational and presentation speech is typically 120–150 words per minute, with 130 a good average. Audiobook narration sits around 150–160. Nervous speakers often rush past 160, and reading from a teleprompter helps you hold a steady, calm pace.
How fast do I talk?
Most people talk at 110–160 words per minute, and presenters average around 130. To find your own number, use the talking speed test on this page: press start, speak for 15–30 seconds, and it counts your words to work out your real speech rate. Most of us misjudge our own pace by 20 wpm or more, so it's worth measuring.
What is a good speaking pace for a speech?
110–160 words per minute sounds natural and confident to an audience, and about 130 wpm is the average for presentations. Slow down to 100–120 wpm for complex or emotional material, and only push past 160 for short, energetic passages. Reading from a teleprompter at a fixed speed is the easiest way to hold the pace you choose.
How do I measure my speech rate?
Two simple ways. The microphone test on this page uses your browser's speech recognition to count your words while you talk, then divides by the elapsed time. No mic? Read the 60-word sample passage aloud against the built-in stopwatch and the tool does the same maths. Either way you get your words per minute, and one click sends it into the calculator.
How many words is a 3-minute or 10-minute speech?
At an average 130 words per minute, a 3-minute speech is about 390 words and a 10-minute speech about 1,300 words. Use the table above for slow, average and fast pacing at every common duration.
How do I calculate reading time for my own script?
Switch the calculator to “My script → time”, paste your text, and it counts the words and divides by your chosen speaking pace. Adjust the words-per-minute slider to match how fast you actually talk.
Can I practise my speech with a teleprompter?
Yes, that's what Teleprompter24 is for, and it's free. Once you know your word count, hit “Prompt this script” to read it back as smooth scrolling text at the exact pace you set, so your timing on stage or on camera matches the plan.