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How many words is an 8-minute speech?
An 8-minute speech is about 1,040 to 1,200 words, or 4.2 to 4.8 double-spaced pages.
Work it out
Line spacing
words, at 130 to 150 words a minute
- At 140 words a minute
- 1,120 words
- Script pages, double-spaced
- 4.2–4.8
- Pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt
- 2.1–2.4
- Reading it silently
- 4 min 42 sec
- Paragraphs
- 5–12
Write it in the word counter with a limit of 1,200 words.
Open the word counterWords for 8-minute speech at different speeds
| Pace | Words | Double-spaced pages |
|---|---|---|
| Measured, 130 words a minute | 1,040 | 4.2 |
| Typical, 140 words a minute | 1,120 | 4.5 |
| Conversational, 150 words a minute | 1,200 | 4.8 |
Estimates for US Letter or A4 with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins and ordinary paragraphs; reading at 238 words a minute, speaking at 130 to 150.
Eight minutes
A typical slot for a student presentation, a project report to a board, a short sermon or homily, or a talk at a club. It is long enough that the audience needs a clear structure, and short enough that you should not try to cover everything.
Structure
- Opening and the one-sentence point of the talk (about a minute).
- Three sections of about two minutes each.
- Summary and what you want the audience to do (about a minute).
Questions and answers
How many words is an 8-minute speech?
About 1,040 to 1,200 words.
How many slides for an 8-minute presentation?
There is no rule, but one slide per minute or so, about eight, keeps you from reading slides aloud.
How many pages is an 8-minute speech?
About 4.2 to 4.8 double-spaced pages.