Speech time calculator
Paste your speech or type a word count. You get the time it takes to say it out loud at a calm, middle or brisk pace, or at your own.
Add your speech to see the time
How many words is a 1, 3, 5 or 10 minute speech?
At 130 to 160 words per minute, the pace Commawise treats as comfortable for answering questions and presenting:
| Speech length | Words |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130–160 |
| 2 minutes | 260–320 |
| 3 minutes | 390–480 |
| 5 minutes | 650–800 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300–1,600 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950–2,400 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600–3,200 |
How the time is worked out
Time = words ÷ words per minute. A 1,000 word speech takes about 7 min 42 sec at 130 words per minute and 6 min 15 sec at 160. Nothing you paste leaves this page; the count happens in your browser.
The real talk usually runs longer than the arithmetic. Pauses, a laugh, a slide that won't advance and a question from the room all add time. If you have a hard limit, count your words at the calm pace so there is room for them.
Your own pace may sit outside this range. Time yourself reading a short passage and use that number as Your own.
Your pace without a script
Reading from a page is not how you talk in a meeting. Answer one real question out loud for up to 2 minutes and Commawise shows your pace, the ums and likes in your transcript, and the pauses you took instead.
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