Speech Time Calculator
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How long will my speech run? Word count ÷ speaking rate — default 130 words per minute.
Script
Speech duration
10m 0s
10 minutes at 130 WPM
- Total seconds
- 600
- Decimal minutes
- 10
Related calculators
Speech length from word count
Speech duration equals total words divided by speaking rate in words per minute (WPM). Conversational English is often 120–150 WPM; practiced presenters may slow to 100–120 for clarity or speed up for time-limited pitches.
Pause for applause, slides, and audience questions is not included — add buffer for classroom or conference formats. Reading aloud from a script usually runs faster than extemporaneous speaking with planned pauses.
Example: a 1,300-word essay read at 130 WPM takes about 10 minutes. At 150 WPM the same text finishes in roughly 8 minutes 40 seconds — adjust rate to match your rehearsal timing.
Common questions
What speaking rate should I use?
Rehearse a timed section and divide words by minutes for your personal WPM. Default 130 WPM is a middle estimate for English presentations.
Does this count slide time?
No — only spoken words at the rate you enter. Add 30–60 seconds per slide if you pause on visuals.
How do I count words?
Paste your script into a word processor word count, or count a representative paragraph and multiply. Exclude speaker notes if you will not read them aloud.