Words per minute, realistically
Average speaking pace is 130–150 words per minute, but presentations are slower: you pause, emphasize, and let slides land. For a formal speech, plan 120–140 wpm; for a recorded video or podcast, 150–160 wpm is fine. Nervous speakers rush — rehearse at the pace you'll actually deliver, not the one you hope for.
Planning backwards
- 5-minute speech ≈ 600–700 words at 130 wpm.
- 10-minute keynote ≈ 1,200–1,400 words.
- Add 10–15% buffer for pauses, audience reactions and ad-libs.
- Slides with complex visuals deserve slower sections — the per-section breakdown helps you see which part runs long.
Using the tool
Paste the script for an exact count, or use the target-time mode to find how many words you should write. The table shows duration at all three paces — so you can see how much pacing changes the outcome.