Most people speak at roughly 120 to 150 words a minute, and slower when giving a speech. At an average speech pace of about 130 words a minute, a 5-minute speech is about 650 words, a 3-minute speech about 390, and a 10-minute speech about 1,300. Use the calculator for your own length and pace, then read the draft aloud with a timer to check.
Quick reference
| Speech length | Slow (110 wpm) | Average (130 wpm) | Fast (150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 words | 130 words | 150 words |
| 2 minutes | 220 words | 260 words | 300 words |
| 3 minutes | 330 words | 390 words | 450 words |
| 5 minutes | 550 words | 650 words | 750 words |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 words | 1,300 words | 1,500 words |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 words | 1,950 words | 2,250 words |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 words | 2,600 words | 3,000 words |
Everyday conversation is often quoted at around 120 to 150 words a minute. Speeches usually run slower, because of pauses, emphasis and nerves that make good speakers deliberately slow down. If you don't know your pace, plan on the average column.
How to find your own pace
- Pick a paragraph of about 130 words from something you've written.
- Read it aloud at the pace you'd use in front of people, with a timer running.
- Divide the words by the seconds, then multiply by 60. That's your words per minute.
Writing a speech to length
- Work out the word budget with the calculator. A 5-minute wedding toast is about 650 words.
- Draft it long, without stopping. Write the whole speech the way you'd say it out loud, in one sitting. Speeches stall when you polish the opening joke for an hour. Our guide on how to finish a first draft applies here too.
- Cut to the budget. Keep one story, one point and one ending. Remove anything that only makes sense written down.
- Read it aloud with a timer, and leave space for laughter or applause.
The hardest part is usually the first draft, especially for a eulogy or a speech where the words feel heavy. Writing it blind, where you can't reread each line, helps for the same reason it helps with the hard email you keep rewriting.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 words at an average pace of 130 words a minute. Between 550 and 750 words, depending on how fast you speak.
How many words is a 3-minute speech?
About 390 words at an average pace, or 330 to 450 depending on your speed.
How many words is a 2-minute speech?
About 260 words at an average pace.
How long is a 1,000-word speech?
About 7 to 8 minutes at an average pace, or 6½ to 9 minutes depending on your speed.
How long should a wedding speech be?
Many people aim for 3 to 5 minutes, which is about 400 to 650 words. Check with the couple or the organiser if there's a running order.
Can an AI assistant use this calculator?
Yes. The form is a WebMCP tool called estimate_speech_length. See For AI agents.
