Free tool
Speech Length Calculator
Paste your script to estimate how long it will take to read aloud, or scroll down to see how many words fit in a 1, 2, 5, or 10 minute speech at slow, average, and fast speaking pace.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Speaking time
- 0 sec
How many words in a speech?
Reference table for common speech lengths, at three speaking paces.
| Duration | Slow (100 wpm) | Average (130 wpm) | Fast (160 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 100 | 130 | 160 |
| 2 minutes | 200 | 260 | 320 |
| 3 minutes | 300 | 390 | 480 |
| 5 minutes | 500 | 650 | 800 |
| 10 minutes | 1,000 | 1,300 | 1,600 |
| 15 minutes | 1,500 | 1,950 | 2,400 |
| 20 minutes | 2,000 | 2,600 | 3,200 |
| 30 minutes | 3,000 | 3,900 | 4,800 |
How many words is a 2 minute speech?
At the average speaking pace of 130 words per minute, a 2 minute speech is about 260 words. Slow, deliberate delivery (100 wpm) is closer to 200 words; a faster pace (160 wpm) fits about 320 words.
How many words in a 1 minute speech?
About 130 words at an average pace, 100 if slow, and up to 160 at a faster conversational pace.
How many words in a 5 minute speech?
Roughly 650 words at 130 wpm — 500 if slow, 800 if fast.
What's a good speaking pace?
Conversational speech is 120–160 words per minute. Public speakers usually aim for 130–150 wpm; audiobook narration averages 150–160 wpm. Slow down for technical content and speed up for casual storytelling.