What this calculator does
Turning a word count into minutes is the practical question behind writing a speech, a presentation or a podcast script to a set length. This calculator does that conversion at a speaking rate you set, defaulting to 140 words per minute, a reasonable pace for a prepared talk.
It also works the other way: given a target length in minutes, it works out roughly how many words a script needs to fill that time at the same rate. Either direction uses the same relationship between words, minutes and pace.
The formula
Speaking time is the word count divided by the speaking rate. Word count needed for a target time is the target time multiplied by the speaking rate. Typical prepared-speech rates run from about 110 words per minute for a slow, deliberate delivery to around 170 for a brisk one; conversational speech is often faster still.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Speaking rate | Words spoken per minute. Adjustable here, defaulting to 140 wpm, a common figure for a paced, prepared talk. |
| Word count | The number of words in the script or passage being timed. |
| Target time | A length in minutes to fill, used when working backwards from time to word count. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| What are you working out | Choose whether you are converting a word count to a time, or a target time to a word count. |
| Word count | The word count of the script, used when converting to a speaking time. |
| Target speaking time (minutes) | The target speaking time, used when working out how many words are needed. |
| Speaking rate (wpm) | The speaking rate to use, in words per minute. Slower for careful or technical material, faster for casual delivery. |
When to use it
Timing a speech or presentation script
Drafting a script of a known length gives an estimated speaking time before ever rehearsing it aloud, useful for checking against a strict time slot.
Writing to a target length
Given a 5-minute slot, working out the word count needed up front avoids writing a script that turns out to run long or short once spoken.
Adjusting for a slower or faster speaker
Not everyone speaks at 140 words per minute. Adjusting the rate to match how a particular speaker actually talks gives a more accurate estimate than the default.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
Speaking time for a 750-word script at different rates
The same script timed at a range of speaking rates.
| Speaking rate | Speaking time |
|---|---|
| 110 wpm | 6 min 49 s |
| 130 wpm | 5 min 46 s |
| 140 wpm | 5 min 21 s |
| 150 wpm | 5 min 0 s |
| 160 wpm | 4 min 41 s |
| 170 wpm | 4 min 25 s |
Words needed to fill different target times, at 140 wpm
The word count needed to fill a range of target speaking times, at the default rate.
Questions
What speaking rate should I use?
About 140 words per minute is a reasonable default for a paced, prepared talk. Slower material, or a deliberate, formal delivery, might sit closer to 110 to 120; casual or brisk delivery can run to 160 or 170.
Is this the same as a words per minute reading calculator?
No. A words per minute calculator measures reading speed from a timed passage. This calculator estimates speaking time from a word count and an assumed rate, or the reverse, and is aimed at scripting a talk rather than measuring how fast someone reads.
Why does my actual speech run longer than the estimate?
Pauses, emphasis, audience reaction and slower delivery of complex points all add time beyond a flat words-divided-by-rate calculation. Treat the estimate as a starting point, then adjust after a read-through.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
At the default 140 words per minute, about 1,400 words. Use a slower rate for a more deliberate delivery, which will need fewer words for the same 10 minutes.
To measure an actual reading speed from a timed passage instead of estimating from a fixed rate, see the words per minute calculator. For a combined reading and speaking time estimate with page and slide counts, see the reading and speaking time calculator.