Speech time refers to the estimated duration it would take to deliver a piece of text as a speech or presentation out loud.
The speech time is calculated by dividing the number of words in the text by the assumed speaking speed in words per minute (wpm).
Speaking rates are usually slower than reading rates. Speech speeds vary, but a commonly referenced average speed for public speaking is between 125 and 150 words per minute (wpm). This speed enables precise articulation and facilitates audience comprehension.
For instance, if a
presentation script contains 900 words and the speaking speed is assumed to be 150 words per minute, then the estimated speech time would be:
The average speaking rate for native speakers is around 150–160 words per minute. However, it can vary significantly depending on the speaker’s speaking ability, education, and the subject being discussed.
Speaking Pace
Speaking Speed
Slow
100 words per minute
Average
150 words per minute
Fast
200 words per minute
Speaking Words Per Minute
Speech Rate Category
Words Per Minute (wpm)
Slow Speech Rate
Less than 110 wpm
Normal Conversational Speed
120–160 wpm
Presentation Speech Speed
100–150 wpm
Radio Podcast Speech Speed
Over 150 wpm
Commentator Speech Speed
Over 250 wpm
Enthusiastic Public Speaking
160–250 wpm
How many words do we speak per minute?
There’s a lot of talk about rapid-fire speaking, but what’s the reality?
The speed varies in different contexts, like giving a presentation or hosting a podcast. Some naturally talk fast, while others prefer a slower, more measured approach.
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Presentations are typically done at a fast pace of 100-150 WPM. This helps make them clear and concise.
While podcast hosts might ramp it up to over 150 wpm for a more engaging delivery.
Sports commentators often go even faster, exceeding 250 wpm, to keep up with the action.
So, don̵
7;t stress about hitting a specific speed next time you prepare a speech or presentation. Focus on what’s easy and effective for you and your audience. That’s the real key to successful speaking!
A study examined how fast people talk affects their ability to understand what they hear. They tested three speeds:
Fast (200 words per minute or 3.8 syllables per second),
Medium (150 words per minute or 2.85 syllables per second),
Slow (100 words per minute or 1.93 syllables per second), using 350 to 400-word passages.
The results? When people spoke at a moderate pace, the listeners’ understanding decreased. However, there was no significant difference in knowledge between the slow and average speech rates.
The researchers di
scussed how to balance time and effectiveness in teaching.
Words Spoken Per Time Period (Based on 150 WPM Average)
Minutes
Average Words
Range (Slow–Fast)
1
150
100–200
2
300
200–400
3
450
300–600
4
600
400–800
5
750
500–1,000
10
1,500
1,000–2,000
15
2,250
1,500–3,000
20
3,000
2,000–4,000
25
3,750
2,500–5,000
30
4,500
3,000–6,000
Speech Time for Common Page Counts
Number of Pages
Estimated Speech Time
1 Page
3 minutes and 20 seconds
10 Pages
33 minutes and 20 seconds
20 Pages
1 hour and 6 minutes
30 Pages
1 hour and 40 minutes
40 Pages
2 hours and 13 minutes
50 Pages
2 hours and 46 minutes
100 Pages
5 hours and 33 minutes
200 Pages
11 hours and 7 minutes
300 Pages
16 hours and 40 minutes
400 Pages
22 hours and 13 minutes
500 Pages
27 hours and 46 minutes
800 Pages
44 hours and 26 minutes
1000 Pages
55 hours and 33 minutes
*Note: These estimates are based on an average speaking speech
Speech To Word Time
Use a simple formula to determine how long a speech will take.
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Slow: About 100 words per minute (wpm).
Average: Around 150 wpm.
Fast: Approximately 200 wpm.
lock-heading">Calculate the Word Count for a Minute Speech
Use the formula: Word Count = Speaking Speed (wpm) × Time (minutes).
For a 10-minute speech, the calculation for each speed would be:
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Slow: 100 wpm × 10 minutes = 1000 words.
Average: 150 wpm × 10 minutes = 1500 words.
Fast: 200 wpm × 5 minutes = 1000 words.
lock-heading">How Many Words In a 1 to 10-Minute Speech
Speech Length (Minutes)
Words for Slow Speech (100 wpm)
Words for Average Speech (150 wpm)
Words for Fast Speech (200 wpm)
1 Minute
100 words
150 words
200 words
2 Minutes
200 words
300 words
400 words
3 Minutes
300 words
450 words
600 words
4 Minutes
400 words
600 words
800 words
5 Minutes
500 words
750 words
1000 words
6 Minutes
600 words
900 words
1200 words
7 Minutes
700 words
1050 words
1400 words
8 Minutes
800 words
1200 words
1600 words
9 Minutes
900 words
1350 words
1800 words
10 Minutes
1000 words
1500 words
2000 words
FAQs
How Many Words Are in a 2-Minute Speech
For a 2-minute speech, assuming an average speaking rate of 125 to 150 words per minute, the estimated word count would be between 250 and 300 words.
How Many Words In A 3-Minute Speech
The number of words in a 3-minute speech can vary depending on several factors, mainly your speaking speed and delivery style:
Average Speaking Speeds:
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Slow speaker: Around 110 words per minute (wpm) – 330 words in 3 minutes.
Average speaker: Around 140 wpm – 420 words in 3 minutes.
Fast speaker: Around 170 wpm – 510 words in 3 minutes.
lock-heading">How Many Words in a 5-Minute Speech
The number of words in a 5-minute speech can vary depending on the speaking speed. Here are some estimates based on different speaking rates:
Slow pace (around 100 words per minute): 5 minutes x 100 words = 500 words.
Average pace (about 150 words per minute): 5 minutes x 150 words = 750 words.
Fast pace (approximately 200 words per minute): 5 minutes x 200 words = 1000 words.
So, for a 5-minute speech, you could have anywhere from 500 to 1000 words, depending on how quickly you speak. The average range is typically around 750 words.
How Many Words for a 10-Minute Speech
For a 10-minute speech, the recommended word count range is between 1,500 and 2,250 words.
To break that down
further:
For a 10-minute speech at a slow, clear pace with dramatic pauses: roughly 1,500 words. This translates to approximately 150 words per minute.
For a 10-minute speech, the average speaking pace is around 1,875 words. This translates to approximately 185 words per minute.
For a faster-paced 10-minute speech, up to 2,250 words. That’s 225 words per minute.
Generally, 10-minute speeches tend to have between 1,800 and 2,100 words, allowing for an engaged speaking pace with some effective pauses incorporated. This typically translates to 180–210 words per minute.