Speaking Time Calculator
Find out how long your speech, presentation, or script takes to deliver — at slow, conversational, and fast speaking paces.
About this tool
Speakers average 125–150 words per minute in presentations — slower than conversation, because pauses, emphasis, and audience reaction all take time. This tool defaults to 130 wpm, a comfortable presentation pace.
A 5-minute talk is therefore roughly 650 words; a 20-minute keynote about 2,600. Voice-over scripts are usually read a little faster, around 150–160 wpm.
Rehearse with a timer once your draft is close — live delivery almost always runs longer than the calculator, never shorter.
Everything runs locally in your browser — your text is never uploaded, stored, or shared.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 words at a 130 wpm presentation pace. If you speak quickly (160 wpm), up to 800 words — but leaving room for pauses is safer.
How long is 1,000 words spoken aloud?
Roughly 7 minutes 40 seconds at 130 wpm, or just over 6 minutes at a brisk 160 wpm.
Why is speaking slower than reading?
Silent reading skips vocalization entirely — the eye takes in whole phrases at once. Speech is limited by articulation, breathing, and deliberate pauses for emphasis.