Speech time calculator: words to minutes
Enter a word count or paste your script to see how long it takes to read aloud at a slow, average or fast speaking pace.
700 words take about 5 min 00 s to read aloud at 140 words per minute.
Open the teleprompterQuick answers
- How many words is a 1-minute speech?
- About 110 to 170 words, or around 140 words at an average pace.
- How many words is a 5-minute speech?
- About 550 to 850 words, or around 700 words at an average pace.
- How many words is a 10-minute speech?
- About 1,100 to 1,700 words, or around 1,400 words at an average pace.
- How long does it take to read 1,000 words aloud?
- About 7 minutes at an average pace of 140 words per minute (6 to 9 minutes depending on pace).
- How long is a 2,000-word speech?
- About 14 minutes at an average pace (12 to 18 minutes depending on pace).
Words to minutes conversion table
| Words | Slow (110/min) | Average (140/min) | Fast (170/min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 55 s | 43 s | 35 s |
| 250 | 2 min 16 s | 1 min 47 s | 1 min 28 s |
| 500 | 4 min 33 s | 3 min 34 s | 2 min 56 s |
| 750 | 6 min 49 s | 5 min 21 s | 4 min 25 s |
| 1,000 | 9 min 05 s | 7 min 09 s | 5 min 53 s |
| 1,500 | 13 min 38 s | 10 min 43 s | 8 min 49 s |
| 2,000 | 18 min 11 s | 14 min 17 s | 11 min 46 s |
| 2,500 | 22 min 44 s | 17 min 51 s | 14 min 42 s |
| 3,000 | 27 min 16 s | 21 min 26 s | 17 min 39 s |
| 4,000 | 36 min 22 s | 28 min 34 s | 23 min 32 s |
| 5,000 | 45 min 27 s | 35 min 43 s | 29 min 25 s |
How speaking time is calculated
Speaking time is the number of words divided by the speaking rate. At an average pace of about 140 words per minute, a 700-word speech lasts about 5 minutes.
Most people speak between 110 and 170 words per minute. Presentations and speeches with pauses are usually slower than conversation; podcasts and explainer videos are often faster.
Your real pace depends on the language, the complexity of the text, pauses for emphasis and your audience. Time yourself once with the teleprompter and adjust.
Ready to rehearse?
Paste your script into the free teleprompter and read it at exactly the pace you need.
Open the teleprompter