SpeechesHow long is a speech in words?
It depends on how fast you speak. In everyday conversation most people speak at around 150 words a minute. In front of an audience a good pace is slower, around 120 to 130, because listeners need time and you need pauses. A new or nervous speaker should plan with the calm figure and then speak even a little slower.
| Time given | Slow (110) | Calm (130) | Fast (150) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 min | 110 | 130 | 150 |
| 2 min | 220 | 260 | 300 |
| 3 min | 330 | 390 | 450 |
| 5 min | 550 | 650 | 750 |
| 7 min | 770 | 910 | 1050 |
| 10 min | 1100 | 1300 | 1500 |
These are rule-of-thumb figures, not exact science. Hindi and other Indian languages, a hall with an echo, applause, and a speaker who uses pauses well will all change the result. The only true test is the stopwatch: speak the speech aloud, standing, and time it.
How to use this page
- Paste your draft into the box. Read the time under "calm".
- If it is over your limit, cut. Remove whole sentences, not single words; start with anything the audience would not miss.
- Leave a margin. For a three minute slot, aim for two and a half minutes. Walking up, greeting and applause eat the rest.
- Practise aloud with the stopwatch at least three times. Your time usually shortens by the third run as you grow sure of the words; do not use that to add more.
Why speeches run over
- Timing by silent reading. We read silently two to three times faster than we speak.
- Extra thanks at the start. A long list of "respected" names can take half a minute.
- Unplanned stories. A story you add on stage always takes longer than you think.
- No ending prepared. Speakers who have not written a last line circle around looking for one.
Is my text stored?
Your draft is kept only in this browser on your own device, so that it is still here if you close the page by mistake. It is never sent to us. Press Clear to remove it.
Still writing? See how to write a speech or start from a ready speech.