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How many words a minute do people speak?
Most speeches and presentations run at 130 to 150 words a minute. Conversation is often faster, and slowing down slightly for an audience is usually wise.
Work it out
Line spacing
words, at 130 to 150 words a minute
- At 140 words a minute
- 700 words
- Script pages, double-spaced
- 2.6–3
- Pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt
- 1.3–1.5
- Reading it silently
- 2 min 56 sec
- Paragraphs
- 3–8
Write it in the word counter with a limit of 750 words.
Open the word counterWords by speaking time
| Speaking time | Speaking at 130 words a minute | Speaking at 140 words a minute | Speaking at 150 words a minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 | 140 | 150 |
| 2 minutes | 260 | 280 | 300 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 420 | 450 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 700 | 750 |
| 7 minutes | 910 | 980 | 1,050 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,400 | 1,500 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,100 | 2,250 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 2,800 | 3,000 |
| 30 minutes | 3,900 | 4,200 | 4,500 |
Typical speaking rates
| Situation | Words a minute |
|---|---|
| Careful presentation, large room, or a second language | 110–130 |
| Typical speech or presentation | 130–150 |
| Conversation, podcasts, audiobooks | 150–170 |
| Fast talkers, auctioneers | 200 and more |
These are common ranges rather than precise measurements; individual speakers vary a lot, and everyone speeds up when nervous.
Find your own pace
- Take a page of your script and count its words with the word counter.
- Read it aloud at the pace you would use on stage, with a timer.
- Divide the words by the minutes. Use that number, not an average, to plan your talk.
Questions and answers
What is a good speaking rate for a presentation?
About 130 to 150 words a minute: slow enough to follow, fast enough to keep energy.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 to 750. See the 5-minute speech guide.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,300 to 1,500.