Speech length: how many words for a 5-minute talk?

If you have a time slot and a blank page, the first useful number is a word budget. Write to the budget and you won’t find yourself cutting a third of your talk the night before.

Speaking is slower than reading

Most people read silently faster than they can speak aloud. That is why a script that looks short on the page can run long at the lectern. Our reading-time guide uses 238 words per minute for silent reading; for speaking, we use 130 words per minute by default.

130 is a measured presentation pace. It leaves room to breathe, stress key words, and let a point land. Many speakers talk faster in casual conversation, and some talk faster on stage when they are nervous. But a talk that is easy to follow usually runs slower than a chat over coffee.

Why presentations run slower than conversation

Several things slow a speaker down in front of an audience, and most of them are good:

• Pauses. A pause after a key sentence gives listeners time to absorb it. A pause before a new section signals the change. Each one costs words.
• Emphasis. Stressing a word stretches it.
• Slides and demos. Turning to a chart, pointing at something, or switching windows all take time with no words spoken.
• Audience reactions. Laughter, a question, or a show of hands eats into the slot.
• Unfamiliar material. Listeners can’t reread. Experienced speakers slow down for numbers, names, and new ideas so nobody gets lost.

How many words for your time slot

Multiply minutes by words per minute. At our default of 130:

People speak at different speeds, so it helps to see the range. Here is the same table from a slow 110 words per minute to a brisk 170:

The spread is wide. A 10-minute script could be anything from about 1,100 to 1,700 words depending on who delivers it. That is why the only reliable number is your own.

For reference, here is reading time next to speaking time for common lengths:

Reading: average silent reading of English non-fiction by adults (Brysbaert, 2019). Speaking: a measured presentation pace. Change both in the reading-time calculator.

Find your own pace

You can measure your speaking rate in five minutes:

1. Take a passage you have written, at least 300 words long.
2. Read it aloud at the pace you would use in front of an audience, with pauses.
3. Time yourself with your phone.
4. Divide the word count by the minutes. 390 words in 3 minutes is 130 words per minute.

Do this standing up if you will present standing up. Most people speak differently at a desk.

Tip: Our reading-time calculator lets you switch between 110, 130, 150, and 170 words per minute. Once you know your pace, pick the closest one.

Timing advice

Rehearse aloud with a timer. Reading a script silently tells you nothing about how long it takes to say. Rehearse the whole thing aloud at least once, timed.

Plan for 90 percent of the slot. If you have 10 minutes, write for about 9. Introductions, technical glitches, and applause all start the clock early.

Mark cut points. Note one or two paragraphs you can drop if you are running late. Deciding in advance is easier than deciding on stage.

Write for the ear. Listeners can’t scan back. Short sentences, clear signposts (“there are three reasons”), and repetition of the main point help. Our sentence-length checker can show you which sentences will be hard to say in one breath.

Before: It is important to note that, given the considerable increase in costs that we have observed over the course of the past fiscal year, a review of our vendor contracts is something we should undertake.

35 words · 1 sentence · grade 15.6

After: Our costs rose sharply last year. So we should review our vendor contracts.

13 words · 2 sentences · grade 2.4

The second version is shorter, easier to say, and much easier to hear.