Free Online TeleprompterWords Per Minute Calculator
Paste a script to see how long it takes to read out loud, and the words-per-minute rate you would need to fit it into a slot.
Spoken length
What Speaking Rate Should I Use?
The right rate depends on how quickly the audience can take the material in. Anything they are hearing for the first time, or have to hold in their head, needs to go slower.
| Situation | Words per minute |
|---|---|
| Technical explanation, tutorial, figures and names | 110–130 |
| Presentation, lecture, conference talk | 120–140 |
| Audiobook narration (industry standard) | ~150 |
| Conversation, video narration, YouTube script | 140–160 |
| Advertising read, high-energy delivery | 160–180 |
| Silent reading, for comparison | ~240 |
A "reading time" estimate from a blog platform measures silent reading, which runs at about 240 words per minute against 150 spoken. Time a script with one and the read will take over half as long again.
Common Script Lengths
At 130 words per minute, a sensible default for anything prepared and spoken to an audience:
| Duration | Words (at 130 wpm) | Words (at 150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds | 65 | 75 |
| 1 minute | 130 | 150 |
| 2 minutes | 260 | 300 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 750 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,500 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,250 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 3,000 |
| 30 minutes | 3,900 | 4,500 |
| 45 minutes | 5,850 | 6,750 |
| 60 minutes | 7,800 | 9,000 |
Write towards the lower column, since pauses only ever add time.
Why the Figure Is Only an Estimate
Counting words is really counting syllables badly. A script full of long technical terms takes longer per word than one of plain monosyllables, so the same thousand words can differ by twenty or thirty seconds. Numbers read aloud are worse: "1,250" is one word on the page and four or five out loud.
Write to the estimate for the first draft, then read it once with a stopwatch and trim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words per minute is a normal speaking rate?
Conversation runs at roughly 150 words per minute. Presentations and prepared talks sit lower, around 120 to 140, because the audience is hearing the material for the first time. Audiobook narration is standardised at about 150.
How long does it take to read 1000 words out loud?
About 6 minutes 40 seconds at 150 words per minute, or 7 minutes 42 seconds at a slower presentation pace of 130.
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
Around 650 words at a presentation pace of 130 words per minute, or 750 words at a conversational 150. Write towards the lower figure, since pauses only ever add time.
Is reading time the same as speaking time?
No. Silent reading runs at about 240 words per minute, well over speaking pace, so a reading-time estimate will badly under-count how long a script takes out loud.