Speaking Time Calculator
Find out how long your script runs when spoken aloud, at slow, natural and fast delivery — or at the pace you actually speak.
6m 40s
Speaking time at 150 wpm
150 words per minute · average is 150
At other speeds
1,000 wordsCommon lengths
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Speech length in words
| Duration | Slow (130) | Natural (150) | Fast (170) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 | 150 | 170 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 | 510 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 750 | 850 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
| 30 minutes | 3,900 | 4,500 | 5,100 |
When you have a hard limit, write to the slow column. Running short is recoverable; being cut off mid-point is not.
Writing for the ear
Spoken sentences need to be shorter than written ones, because a listener cannot re-read. A 40-word sentence that works on the page is very hard to follow aloud — and hard to deliver, because you run out of breath before the end.
The readability checker lists the sentences long enough to cause trouble aloud, with their word counts, so you can find them without reading the whole script again.
Frequently asked questions
What speaking speed should I use?
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
Should I add time for pauses?
How do I find my own speaking rate?
Related tools
Related reading
How Many Words Is a 5 Minute Speech?
A 5 minute speech is about 750 words at a natural speaking pace. Here is the full range, why it varies, and how to check your own script.
January 12, 2026
How Many Words Is a 10 Minute Speech?
A 10 minute speech is about 1,500 words at a natural pace. Here is how to structure that length, and why most people write 300 words too many.
January 14, 2026
Average Speaking Speed
The average speaking speed is 130 to 150 words per minute for presentations, and faster in conversation. Here is what the ranges mean for your script.
January 20, 2026