Quick rule: minutes × 140 = your word count. A 5-minute speech is about 700 words, a 10-minute talk about 1,400, a 20-minute presentation about 2,800 — at the average speaking pace of 140 words per minute. The full table below covers every common length at slow (110), average (140) and fast (170) delivery, and the calculator turns any exact time slot into a word target.
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Words for every speech length (1–60 minutes)
| Speech length | Slow (110 wpm) | Average (140 wpm) | Fast (170 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 | 140 | 170 |
| 2 minutes | 220 | 280 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 330 | 420 | 510 |
| 4 minutes | 440 | 560 | 680 |
| 5 minutes | 550 | 700 | 850 |
| 6 minutes | 660 | 840 | 1,020 |
| 7 minutes | 770 | 980 | 1,190 |
| 8 minutes | 880 | 1,120 | 1,360 |
| 9 minutes | 990 | 1,260 | 1,530 |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,700 |
| 12 minutes | 1,320 | 1,680 | 2,040 |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 | 2,100 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 | 2,800 | 3,400 |
| 25 minutes | 2,750 | 3,500 | 4,250 |
| 30 minutes | 3,300 | 4,200 | 5,100 |
| 45 minutes | 4,950 | 6,300 | 7,650 |
| 60 minutes | 6,600 | 8,400 | 10,200 |
Need one length in depth — with pacing advice, structure and examples? The per-minute guides go deeper: 1-minute, 5-minute, 10-minute and up to the 60-minute keynote.
Why the same minutes need different words
Three things move your number. Your natural rate — measure it in sixty seconds on the speaking rate guide; most people sit between 120 and 160 wpm. The format — a read script runs faster than slide-driven delivery, which loses time to transitions and audience reaction; budget 5–10% fewer words for live presentations. Pauses — deliberate silence is a feature, not lost time, and experienced speakers write for it. When the draft exists, the script timer times it paragraph by paragraph so you can see exactly where the minutes go, and the words to minutes calculator handles the reverse direction.
FAQ
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 700 words at an average 140 wpm — between 550 (slow) and 850 (fast delivery).
How many words per minute should I plan for?
140 wpm is the standard planning figure for presentations; use 110 for deliberate delivery and 170 for fast, energetic pace.
How many words is a 20-minute presentation?
Roughly 2,800 words at average pace — a range of 2,200 to 3,400 depending on your speed and pauses.
Does slide time count against my word budget?
Yes — every pause, slide transition and audience moment eats speaking time, so most experienced speakers write 5-10% fewer words than the table suggests.