Speaking time calculator: turn words into minutes
Paste your speech or type a word count, pick your pace and read the time. Rehearse against the clock, cut to your slot, or find out how many words to write for five minutes.
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Typing a number replaces the pasted text.
Speaking time at 140 words per minute
0 min 0 s
Reading silently: about 0 min 0 s at 240 words per minute
| Pace | Words/min | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 110 | 0 min 0 s |
| Average | 140 | 0 min 0 s |
| Fast | 170 | 0 min 0 s |
Pauses, slides, laughter and questions add time. Plan 10 to 20 % on top of this number.
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How it works
- 01
Paste your text or enter a number
Drop in your speech, presentation notes or toast. The word count updates as you type. No text yet? Type a word count instead.
- 02
Pick your pace
Slow, average or fast, or your own words per minute. If you have never measured yourself, average (140) is a safe starting point.
- 03
Read the time and rehearse
The time updates instantly, with all three paces in a table. Add 10 to 20 % for pauses, copy the result and start rehearsing.
Why time your speech before you give it?
A speech that runs long is the most common way to lose a room. The number tells you where you stand before the first rehearsal, and how much to cut or add.
Rehearse against the clock
Know your target time before the first run-through. If a rehearsal comes in far off the number, you know where to look: a section you rush, or a story that grew.
Cut to the time slot
Ten minutes is about 1,400 words. If your draft has 1,900, you need to cut 500, not polish. The number tells you how much before you start editing.
Know how many words to write
Start from the time you have. Switch to time to words, enter your slot and write to that count. No overlong first draft to cut later.
Pace, situations and languages
What pace means
Pace is words per minute (wpm): how many words you say in sixty seconds. To measure yours, pick a 200 word passage, read it aloud the way you would on stage and time it. 200 words in 80 seconds is 150 wpm. Enter that as a custom pace.
Typical paces by situation
Everyday conversation runs at 150 to 170 words per minute. A presentation with slides sits at 130 to 150, a formal speech, eulogy or ceremony at 100 to 120. Audiobook narrators hold about 150. Nervous speakers speed up, so plan a little slower than you think.
Other languages
German and French words are longer on average than English ones, so speakers get through slightly fewer words per minute at the same tempo. Spanish and Italian pack more syllables into a second but land at similar words per minute. The presets fit all of them; measure your own pace for a tighter result.
Common speech lengths
Pick a length to see its speaking time, a pace table and tips for that format.
Frequently asked questions
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