How long is your speech?

Paste or type your speech to see how many words it has and how long it takes to say at three paces. It’s all worked out on this page.

Nothing is sent or saved. Close the page and your words are gone. Directions in angle brackets, like <Pause>, aren’t counted.

0words

Slow125 words a minute

0sec

Normal140 words a minute

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Fast150 words a minute

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Minutes into words.

At a normal pace of 140 words a minute, with the slow and fast range beside it. Leave room for laughter and pauses: if your speech is close to its time, plan on the slow figure.

How many words is a 1-minute speech?
About 140 words. Between 125 and 150, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 2-minute speech?
About 280 words. Between 250 and 300, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 3-minute speech?
About 420 words. Between 375 and 450, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 4-minute speech?
About 560 words. Between 500 and 600, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 700 words. Between 625 and 750, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 7-minute speech?
About 980 words. Between 875 and 1,050, depending on your pace.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,400 words. Between 1,250 and 1,500, depending on your pace.
How long is a wedding toast?
Usually a minute or two, and three at most, says the Emily Post Institute. That’s about 140 to 420 words. For the best man, see how long a best man speech should be.
How long is a eulogy?
Usually five to ten minutes, or about 700 to 1,200 words, says the National Association of Funeral Directors. If you’re not sure how long you have, ask the funeral director or celebrant. More in how long a eulogy should be.

Your own pace may differ a little. Lectern for iPhone has a practice timer that runs at the pace you set, so you can hear how long your speech takes before the day. If you’ll read from your phone, here is how to read a speech from your phone, and 15 facts about wedding speeches and eulogies.

Lectern comes to the App Store on Thursday, November 19. One email when it’s out, and nothing else.

Where the figures come from.

  1. Slow and fast: 125 and 150 words a minute

    The range suggested for public speaking in Articulation, Pitch, and Rate, Public Speaking, Lumen Learning.

  2. Normal: 140 words a minute

    The rate suggested for a presentation in Speaking Rate, Tools for Clear Speech, Baruch College, City University of New York.

  3. A wedding toast: one to three minutes

    Vermont Vows: The Toast!, the Emily Post Institute.

  4. A eulogy: five to ten minutes, about 700 to 1,200 words

    How to Write a Eulogy, Funeral Directory, National Association of Funeral Directors (UK).