Best man speech length
About five minutes is the usual advice for a best man speech, which is roughly 700 words at a steady pace.1 Some advice is shorter, a minute or two and three at most, so ask the couple what they expect.2
Drag along the ruler to see how many words fit the time you have.
5 minutes
700words at a normal pace
Between 625 and 750, from a slow pace to a fast one.
Fitting your speech to the day
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Ask the couple how long you have.
Ask who else is speaking, and in what order. Bridebook says the speeches together usually run 20 to 30 minutes, and no more than 40.1
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Turn your minutes into words.
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Build it around one or two stories.
Choose something your friend does that most people in the room would recognize. Leave out stories that need a long explanation or only make sense to a few people.
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Leave room for the couple.
Plan a part about the two of them together, as well as your friend. If you know the partner less well, ask your friend for one thing you could say.
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Read it aloud and time it.
Read it standing, the way you'll give it, and time the whole run. Laughter and pauses add time on the day, so finish a little under your limit.
A speech length check counts the words in a draft you paste in.
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End with the toast.
Ask everyone to raise a glass, and say both names. Write that line in full, so it's there when you reach it.
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Decide how you'll hold it.
Cards, paper and a phone all work. If you'll read from your phone, these steps cover the settings to change first.
Where Lectern fits
Lectern is an iPhone app for writing, timing and reading a speech. Speechwriter asks about your friend one question at a time, out loud or typed, and drafts only from what you tell it. It needs a connection, and sends your answers only after you agree. Practice runs a timer, then shows how long the whole speech takes at the pace you set. You can add your own reminders, such as “Raise your glass”. On the day, tap to start or pause, and the words scroll at the pace you set.
Preparing any speech is free, and so are practicing and delivering its first 2 minutes. Buy Lectern once to practice and deliver every speech in full, with one Speechwriter speech included.
Sources
Bridebook, How Long Should a Wedding Speech Be?, updated October 8, 2026. Around five minutes for a best man speech; 20 to 30 minutes for all the speeches, and no more than 40.
Emily Post Institute, Vermont Vows: The Toast! The best toasts last a minute or two, three at most. The best man traditionally gives the first.
Baruch College, Tools for Clear Speech, Speaking Rate. About 140 words a minute, used for the normal pace.
Lumen Learning, Public Speaking, Articulation, Pitch, and Rate. A public speaking pace of 125 to 150 words a minute, used for the slow and fast ends of the ruler.
Time your speech before the day.
Preparing any speech is free, and so are practicing and delivering its first 2 minutes.