Speaking Time: How Many Words Per Minute Do People Speak?

A typical speaking pace

Most people speak at about 120 to 150 words per minute in an ordinary conversation, and the National Center for Voice and Speech is often cited for a figure near 150 for English speakers in the United States. A comfortable pace for a presentation is usually quoted as 100 to 150 words per minute.

This counter uses 130 words per minute for its speaking time. That is inside both ranges, a sensible middle for a prepared talk, and it gives a time that most speakers can meet without rushing.

From words to minutes

To estimate the length of a speech, divide the number of words by the pace. A script of 650 words at 130 words per minute takes five minutes. A script of 1,300 words takes ten. A talk of 20 minutes needs about 2,600 words at that speed.

Paste the script into the counter and read the speaking time. It updates as you edit, so you can cut or add until the figure matches the time you have.

Why scripts run longer than planned

Many speakers find that a talk takes longer in front of an audience than in rehearsal. Pauses for emphasis, laughter, questions, slides and demonstrations all add time that the word count does not include. A speaker who is nervous may also speak faster and run short.

A sensible rule is to plan for a script that fills about 80 to 90 per cent of the time slot. That leaves room for pauses and for the unexpected, and it avoids the problem of being cut off before the closing.

Pace changes the message

Speed carries meaning. A slow, measured pace suggests weight and is easier to follow when the content is difficult. A faster pace suggests energy, and listeners can follow it when the topic is familiar. Audiobook narrators and radio presenters often speak at about 150 to 160 words per minute, which is slightly above the conversational average.

Varying the pace keeps listeners attentive. Speaking a little more slowly for the key point, and pausing before it, is more effective than raising the volume.

Languages and speaking speed

Languages differ in how many words and how many syllables they use for the same idea, so words per minute is not comparable across languages. Japanese, for example, is usually timed by characters. A Japanese report on reading aloud gives 300 characters per minute as the standard speed, and this counter uses that figure for Japanese and Chinese speaking time.

When you give a talk in a second language, plan for a slower pace and a shorter script than in your first language.

Videos, podcasts and voice-overs

Voice-over and video scripts need exact timing. A 60-second video with a voice-over of 130 words per minute needs a script of about 130 words, and a 30-second advertisement about 65. Keep a few seconds free for a pause at the start and the end.

For a podcast or an audio guide, read the script aloud once with a timer and compare the result with the estimate. The difference tells you your own pace, which you can enter next time as a correction.

Common speech lengths in words

At 130 words per minute, a one-minute message needs about 130 words. A three-minute toast needs about 390 words, a five-minute presentation about 650, and a ten-minute talk about 1,300. A 30-minute lecture needs about 3,900 words if it is read in full, though most lecturers speak from notes and take longer.

These figures help you decide how much to include. If your outline has eight points and each needs 150 words, you have a ten-minute talk. If you only have five minutes, cut to four points rather than speaking faster.

Practising with a timer

The best test of a script is to say it aloud with a timer. Record your first run, note the time and compare it with the counter’s estimate. If you are consistently slower or faster, correct the estimate by that ratio when you plan the next talk.

Practise the beginning and the end most, because they are where nerves hit hardest. A talk that opens clearly and ends on time leaves a good impression even if the middle is imperfect.

Reading speed and speaking speed

Silent reading is much faster than speech: about 238 words per minute for non-fiction, against 130 for speaking in this counter. A listener therefore receives information more slowly than a reader, so a text written to be spoken should use shorter sentences, simpler words and more repetition of the key points than a text written to be read.

Write the script the way you speak. Read it aloud, mark where you run out of breath, and shorten those sentences.

A quick checklist

• Divide the word count by 130 for a typical talk.
• Aim for 80 to 90 per cent of the time slot.
• Add time for slides, questions and demonstrations.
• Read the script aloud once with a timer.
• Shorten sentences that are hard to say in one breath.

The counter gives the speaking time automatically, and you can adjust the estimate to your own pace after a trial run.