Minutes by length
| Words | Speaking | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | - | - |
| 500 | - | - |
| 750 | - | - |
| 1,000 | - | - |
| 1,500 | - | - |
| 2,000 | - | - |
| 3,000 | - | - |
Minutes, rounded. Speaking follows the pace selected above.
Choosing a pace
- 100 words a minute
- A measured talk with pauses. Ceremonial delivery, or a technical talk with slides.
- 130 words a minute
- Ordinary presentation delivery. The default here, and the safest planning figure.
- 160 words a minute
- Reading confidently from a prepared script. Faster than most audiences prefer for new material.
- 238 words a minute
- Silent reading of English prose, used for the reading figure. Not a speaking pace.
Questions
How many words is a five minute speech?
About 650 words at an ordinary pace of 130 words a minute. Between 500 and 800 words covers the range from a measured delivery to a brisk one.
How long does it take to say 1,000 words?
About eight minutes at 130 words a minute, ten minutes at a measured 100, and six minutes if you are reading briskly from a script.
Why is reading time so much shorter than speaking time?
Silent reading averages 238 words a minute against roughly 130 for speech. Reading skips the pauses, breaths and emphasis that speaking needs.