How Many Words Is a 5-Minute Speech?
Quick answer
A five-minute speech is about 650 words at a normal pace of 130 words per minute, with a useful range of 550 to 800 words. Measure your own pace with a timed 150-word sample.
About 650 words at a normal speaking pace. The useful range is 550 to 800, because pace varies more than most people expect and a speech is not delivered at reading speed.
Word counts by length
The three columns assume 110, 130 and 160 words per minute.
| Length | Slow | Normal | Fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 | 130 | 160 |
| 2 minutes | 220 | 260 | 320 |
| 3 minutes | 330 | 390 | 480 |
| 5 minutes | 550 | 650 | 800 |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,600 |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 | 1,950 | 2,400 |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 | 2,600 | 3,200 |
Why 130 words per minute
Conversation runs at roughly 120 to 150 words per minute. Audiobooks sit a little faster, around 150 to 160, because there are no pauses for an audience. A speech is slower than either: you pause, you look up, you let a point land, and the room sometimes reacts.
130 words per minute is the working figure for a presentation that includes those pauses. If you speak quickly and rarely stop, 160 is closer. If you are projecting to a large room, 110 may be more honest.
Measure your own pace
Do not guess. Take 150 words of your draft, read them aloud at the pace you would use on the day, and time it. Then:
words per minute = 150 ÷ (seconds ÷ 60)
If it takes 68 seconds, you speak at about 132 words per minute. If it takes 90 seconds, you are at 100, and a five-minute slot holds about 500 words rather than 650.
Leave room for the pauses you forgot
A five-minute slot is not five minutes of words. It includes walking to the front, a sip of water, a pause after the main point, and the occasional laugh. Aim for about four and a half minutes of material, which is roughly 585 words at a normal pace.
How to cut a draft that is too long
- Cut the throat-clearing. “Today I want to talk about…” can usually go. Start at the first real sentence.
- Merge two examples into one. The second example rarely earns the time it takes.
- Remove the second-best story. Keep the one that lands.
- Shorten the transitions. “Moving on to…” costs four seconds and adds nothing.
- Do not cut the ending. Trim the middle. A rushed ending is the part an audience remembers.
How many slides is that?
Roughly one every 30 to 60 seconds, so five to ten slides for five minutes. Fewer is usually better: a slide that stays up while you talk is doing its job.
Rehearse with a timer, not a word count
The count gets you close; the clock settles it. Read the draft aloud once, all the way through, and time it. Do not stop to edit. If it runs long, cut a section and time it again. Two full runs are worth more than an hour of adjusting the count, because the pauses you actually take are the ones that decide whether you finish inside the slot.
Questions
Is 650 words a lot to memorise?
It is about two and a half pages double-spaced. Most people do not memorise a speech word for word. They memorise the structure and the opening and closing lines, and speak the middle from notes.
How many words per minute do people speak?
Conversationally, 120 to 150. In a presentation, 110 to 160 depending on pace and pauses.
Is speaking speed the same as reading speed?
No. Silent reading is much faster, often 200 to 250 words per minute, which is why a script that looks short can run long when spoken.
How do I check the count of my draft?
Paste it into the word counter. It counts in your browser and does not upload the text.
Related
Common questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650 words at 130 words per minute. The practical range is 550 to 800, because a slow, deliberate delivery holds fewer words than a fast one.
How do I measure my speaking pace?
Take 150 words of your draft, read them aloud at the pace you would use on the day, and time it. Divide 150 by the seconds and multiply by 60 to get words per minute.
Does the word count include pauses?
No. The count is words only. Pauses, audience reaction, projection to a large room, and switching slides all reduce how many words fit in the slot, so leave a margin.