Set how long you have and this tells you how many words to write. A five-minute speech is about 700 words at a normal pace, not 1,200 — writing at reading pace and delivering at speaking pace is why most talks overrun.
Drag to set the length of your speech, video or presentation.
140 wpm is a normal speech pace. Nervous speakers go faster, good ones go slower.
| Length | Slow (110 wpm) | Normal (140) | Fast (170) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 | 140 | 170 |
| 2 minutes | 220 | 280 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 330 | 420 | 510 |
| 5 minutes | 550 | 700 | 850 |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 | 1,400 | 1,700 |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 | 2,100 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 | 2,800 | 3,400 |
| 45 minutes | 4,950 | 6,300 | 7,650 |
Almost everyone writes too long. The reason is that people draft at reading pace and deliver at speaking pace, and speaking is roughly forty percent slower.
There is a second reason nobody plans for: pauses. Laughter, a sip of water, waiting for a slide, losing your place. In practice a rehearsed talk runs ten to twenty percent longer than the word count predicts. Write to about eighty-five percent of your slot and you will land on time.
Three to five minutes is the ceiling for a toast, and three is better than five. That is 420 to 700 words — roughly one and a half pages double-spaced.
If you have written two pages, you are at seven minutes, and the room will feel it. Cut the second anecdote. There is always a second anecdote.
| Format | Pace | Note |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube explainer | 150–160 wpm | Faster than live speech; viewers can rewind |
| Corporate voiceover | 130–150 wpm | Clarity over speed |
| Audiobook | 150–160 wpm | Comfortable for hours of listening |
| TikTok or Reels | 170–190 wpm | Deliberately fast to hold attention |
| Meditation or guided audio | 90–110 wpm | Slow on purpose, long pauses |
How many words is a 5-minute speech? About 700 words at a normal speaking pace of 140 words per minute. Aim for around 600 to leave room for pauses.
How many words is a 1-minute video? Around 150 to 160 for a YouTube explainer, or 170 to 190 for TikTok and Reels where the pace is deliberately faster.
How long should a wedding or birthday toast be? Three to five minutes, which is 420 to 700 words. Three minutes is almost always better than five.
Why does my speech run longer than planned? Pauses. Laughter, water, slide changes and losing your place add ten to twenty percent that no word count predicts.
How many pages is a 10-minute speech? Roughly five and a half pages double-spaced, or 1,400 words at a normal pace.