Speech Time Calculator
Estimate how long a speech takes to say out loud from its word count and your speaking pace.
How it works
Speaking is slower than reading in your head. A comfortable, clear speaking pace sits around 130 words a minute, so a 750-word toast runs a little under six minutes. Paste your script and it counts the words, or drop a number straight in.
Pace matters more than people expect. Rushing to 160 words a minute shaves time but loses the room; slowing to 100 for emphasis or a serious topic stretches it out. The slow, average, and fast presets let you see how much a change of pace moves the clock.
Use it to hit a time limit. If you've got a five-minute slot, this tells you roughly how many words your script can hold — and whether that draft you wrote is going to run long before you ever step up to speak.
Frequently asked questions
What's a normal speaking pace?
For a prepared speech, about 130 words a minute is natural and easy to follow. Conversational speech runs faster, often 150 or more, while deliberate, weighty delivery can drop to 100. Podcasters and narrators usually aim for the 130 to 150 range.
How many words is a five-minute speech?
At the default 130 words a minute, five minutes is roughly 650 words. Speak faster at 160 and you could fit around 800; slow to 100 for effect and you'd want closer to 500.
Should I pad the estimate for pauses?
A little, yes. Real delivery includes pauses, laughs, applause, and slides, which this raw estimate doesn't count. Leaving 10 to 15 percent of buffer keeps you from overrunning when it counts.