Quick answer
At a normal speaking pace of about 130 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is roughly 650 words. If you speak a bit slower, plan for closer to 500 words; if you speak faster, you can fit 750–800 words into 5 minutes.
Words per minute, by speech length
| Speech length | Slow pace (110 wpm) | Normal pace (130 wpm) | Fast pace (160 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 words | 130 words | 160 words |
| 2 minutes | 220 words | 260 words | 320 words |
| 3 minutes | 330 words | 390 words | 480 words |
| 5 minutes | 550 words | 650 words | 800 words |
| 7 minutes | 770 words | 910 words | 1,120 words |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 words | 1,300 words | 1,600 words |
These numbers assume a formal speech or presentation pace, not rapid conversational speech. Treat them as a planning estimate, not an exact rule — your own pace is what actually matters on the day.
Why 130 words per minute?
Most speakers, speaking formally and clearly, land somewhere between 120 and 150 words per minute. 130 is a safe middle estimate for planning a script, since it leaves a little room for the natural pauses, emphasis, and breathing that always make a script run a bit longer than it reads on the page.
Get a number that matches your own pace
- Write or paste your script into the WordlyCounter word counter to get your exact word count and estimated speaking time.
- Read the script aloud once, at your natural pace, with a timer running.
- Compare your actual time to the table above, and adjust up or down for your next script.
Everyone's pace is a little different, so after timing yourself once, you'll have a far more accurate personal benchmark than any general average.
Running long? Here's what to cut first
- Repeated points made more than once in different words.
- Transitional filler ("as I mentioned earlier," "moving on to") that adds no information.
- A third example where one or two would make the same point.
Related reading
For a deeper look at pacing by context — presentations, podcasts, and auctioneers — see how many words per minute should you speak. For reading speed instead of speaking speed, see the reading time calculator guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
At a normal speaking pace of about 130 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is roughly 650 words. At a slower pace it's closer to 500 words, and at a faster pace it can reach 750–800 words.
How many words is a 1 minute speech?
About 110–150 words at a normal speaking pace, with 130 words being a safe average estimate.
How many words is a 10 minute speech?
Roughly 1,200–1,400 words at a normal speaking pace of 130 words per minute, or up to 1,600 words if you speak faster.