Speech Time Estimator
Estimate how long a speech or presentation will take to deliver.
Fitting a speech to its slot
How long a speech takes depends on its word count and speaking pace, and it is far better to know before you stand up than to run over. This estimates the delivery time from the length of your speech, so you can shape it to fit the time you have.
Paste your speech or enter a word count to estimate the time.
Pace, pauses and the pressure of the moment
A comfortable speaking pace is around one hundred and thirty words a minute, slower than reading silently, because clear delivery needs pauses for breath and emphasis. The classic error is writing to the silent-reading pace and running badly over. It is also wise to build in a margin, since a live audience brings pauses for reactions, and nerves push some speakers faster and others slower than they expect. The estimate covers the spoken words; anything interactive — questions, applause, a demonstration — adds real time on top. Knowing roughly how long your material runs, and rehearsing to the clock, is how speakers finish comfortably within their slot rather than being cut off mid-point or racing an ending, which is exactly the difference between a polished talk and a rushed one.
Frequently asked questions
How many words per minute should I assume for a speech?
Around 130 for clear spoken delivery — slower than silent reading, because speaking needs pauses for breath and emphasis.
Why does my speech run longer than the estimate?
Because a live audience adds pauses for reactions, and anything interactive like questions or applause adds time beyond the spoken words.
Is my speech uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.