Speech length calculator
Type how long you have to speak and get the word count to aim for, or type a word count and see how long it runs. Results show a slow, an average and a fast pace, since people speak at different speeds.
Step by step: fit a script to an exact time
- Paste the script. The editor counts the words you’ll actually say, leaving out # labels and [notes], and shows how long the script runs at your speed.
- Type a target in Fit to. Need it to land at 2:30? Type 2:30 into Fit to and save. Reframely sets the speed for you: here, 165 words a minute.
- Read with the time left in view. The prompter counts down the time left as you read, so you know at a glance whether you’re on schedule.
| Pace | Words | Double-spaced |
|---|
Common lengths
| Length | Words (120 to 160 wpm) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 120 to 160 | Introducing yourself, an elevator pitch, a short video |
| 2 minutes | 240 to 320 | Introducing a speaker, accepting an award, opening a talk |
| 3 minutes | 360 to 480 | A wedding toast, the Three Minute Thesis |
| 5 minutes | 600 to 800 | A eulogy, a class presentation, a first Toastmasters speech |
| 10 minutes | 1,200 to 1,600 | A conference slot, a team presentation, a pitch with a demo |
How it's worked out
Words = minutes × words per minute. The calculator shows three paces: 120 words a minute for slow, deliberate delivery; 140 for an average conversational pace; 160 for a fast, energetic one. Pages assume about 250 words to a double-spaced page.
Plan for the slow end if you'll pause for laughs, show slides or speak to a room, and for the fast end for short videos. To find your own pace, read a script for one minute with a timer and count the words.
Make it fit
If you already have a script, paste it into the words per minute calculator to see how long it runs. In Reframely's editor, type a target such as 5:00 into Fit to and the teleprompter sets the speed so you finish on time.
Questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 600 to 800 words, or around 700 at an average pace of 140 words per minute.
How many pages is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,200 to 1,600 words: five to six and a half double-spaced pages, or about three single-spaced pages.
What is a normal speaking pace?
Many people speak at roughly 120 to 160 words a minute when presenting. Time yourself reading for one minute to find yours.
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