How long is a 1,200 word speech? (about 7 to 11 minutes)
At an average pace of 140 words per minute, a 1,200 word speech takes about 8 minutes 34 seconds. Slow speakers at 110 words per minute need about 10 minutes 55 seconds, fast speakers at 170 words per minute get through it in about 7 minutes 4 seconds. Reading the same text silently takes roughly 5 minutes.
1,200 words at three paces
| Pace | Words/min | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 110 | 10 minutes 55 seconds |
| Average | 140 | 8 minutes 34 seconds |
| Fast | 170 | 7 minutes 4 seconds |
Reading silently: about 5 min 0 s at 240 words per minute
Check it against your own pace
The calculator is pre-filled with 1,200 words. Change the pace, enter your own words per minute or paste your text.
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Speaking time at 140 words per minute
8 min 34 s
Reading silently: about 5 min 0 s at 240 words per minute
| Pace | Words/min | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 110 | 10 min 55 s |
| Average | 140 | 8 min 34 s |
| Fast | 170 | 7 min 4 s |
Pauses, slides, laughter and questions add time. Plan 10 to 20 % on top of this number.
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Tips for a 1,200 word speech
This is a keynote, a lecture or a conference talk: roughly ten to twenty minutes. Attention drops after ten minutes, so plan a change of pace every five: a story, a question, a slide that shows instead of tells. Mark your pauses in the script, budget 15 % of the slot for them and rehearse the full run at least twice.
Questions about 1,200 words
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