How Many Words Is a 5 Minute Speech? About 650 Words
Updated October 2026 · 9 min read · By Munir Afridi
Find the word count for any speech length from 1 to 30 minutes, then paste your draft into the free counter to check it against your time limit.
Quick Answer
A 5 minute speech is about 650 words at an average speaking pace of 130 words per minute. Speak slowly (110 wpm) and it is 550 words. Speak fast (160 wpm) and it is 800 words. A 10 minute speech is about 1,300 words, and a 20 minute speech is about 2,600 words.
A 5 minute speech at three speaking paces: 550, 650 and 800 words.
How many words is a speech by minutes?
This table covers every common speech length at a slow (110 wpm), average (130 wpm) and fast (160 wpm) speaking rate. Pick the column that matches how you talk. If you do not know your pace, use the average column and then time yourself reading the draft out loud.
| Speech length | Slow (110 wpm) | Average (130 wpm) | Fast (160 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 words | 130 words | 160 words |
| 2 minutes | 220 words | 260 words | 320 words |
| 3 minutes | 330 words | 390 words | 480 words |
| 4 minutes | 440 words | 520 words | 640 words |
| 5 minutes | 550 words | 650 words | 800 words |
| 7 minutes | 770 words | 910 words | 1,120 words |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 words | 1,300 words | 1,600 words |
| 12 minutes | 1,320 words | 1,560 words | 1,920 words |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 words | 1,950 words | 2,400 words |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 words | 2,600 words | 3,200 words |
| 30 minutes | 3,300 words | 3,900 words | 4,800 words |
Words = minutes × words per minute. Rates as of October 2026: slow is the low end of the 100 to 150 wpm comfortable presentation range, average is the midpoint of the 120 to 150 wpm conversation range, fast matches the 150 to 160 wpm audiobook and podcast pace. Sources: VirtualSpeech (August 20, 2026), citing the National Center for Voice and Speech; Mental Floss (May 2022); The Speaker Lab (updated May 2026).
How to check your speech length with the word counter
- Paste your speech into the free word counter. Note the total word count.
- Find the same word count in the table above, or divide it by your pace (130 is a safe default).
- Read the speech out loud with a timer. If your time is far from the estimate, use your own words per minute instead of the table.
- Cut or add to land 10 to 15 percent under your time limit. Live delivery is almost always slower than practice.
- Use the reading time calculator for a second estimate, and the words per minute tool to find your own pace.
How long is a 10 minute script?
A 10 minute spoken script is about 1,300 words at an average 130 wpm, and 1,100 to 1,600 words across the slow and fast range. If you are writing a video or podcast script that will be read at audiobook pace (150 to 160 wpm), 10 minutes is closer to 1,500 to 1,600 words. Scripts with pauses, music or on-screen visuals should be written shorter, around 1,100 to 1,300 words.
On paper, 1,300 words is about 5 pages double-spaced. See the words to pages converter for other lengths.
How long should a best man speech be?
Most guidance puts a best man or maid of honor speech at 3 to 5 minutes, which is about 390 to 650 words at 130 wpm. This is a convention, not an official rule. A wedding crowd is standing with a drink in hand, so the low end usually lands better. One story, one sincere line and a toast is enough.
Speech word counts by occasion
Typical lengths for common occasions, converted at 130 words per minute. These are common conventions, not official limits, so always follow the time you were given. TED describes 18 minutes as the traditional length for TED and TEDx talks, though it notes many talks are shorter or longer (TED, checked October 2026).
| Occasion | Typical length | Word count |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator pitch | 30 to 60 seconds | 65 to 130 words |
| Wedding toast | 3 to 4 minutes | 390 to 520 words |
| Best man or maid of honor speech | 3 to 5 minutes | 390 to 650 words |
| Eulogy | 5 to 10 minutes | 650 to 1,300 words |
| Conference session or lecture segment | 15 to 20 minutes | 1,950 to 2,600 words |
| TED-style talk (18 minute standard) | 18 minutes | about 2,340 words |
| Keynote | 30 minutes | about 3,900 words |
What speaking speed should I use?
Conversation runs about 120 to 150 words per minute, and a comfortable presentation pace is 100 to 150 wpm. Audiobook narrators, radio hosts and podcasters run 150 to 160 wpm. VirtualSpeech measured five popular TED Talks at 154 to 201 wpm, an average of 173, so skilled speakers can go well above the comfortable range. Sources disagree at the edges: The Speaker Lab suggests 140 to 160 wpm for presentations in one place and 100 to 130 wpm for keynotes in another. That is why this page shows three paces instead of one number.
Slow down for complex material, grief and important points. Speed up for stories and excitement. Varying your pace holds attention better than any single rate.
Why is my speech longer when I say it out loud?
Silent reading averages about 238 words per minute (Brysbaert, 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies), which is far faster than speaking. Reading your draft in your head will always make it feel shorter than it is. Nerves add pauses and filler words, and audience laughter takes time. Time an out-loud run-through, and keep it 10 to 15 percent under the limit.
Check your draft against your time limit
Paste your speech for an instant word count and estimated speaking time.
Count your words now →How should I split the words in a 5 minute speech?
For a 650-word speech, spend about 65 words (10 percent) on the opening hook, about 490 words (75 percent) on two or three main points, and about 100 words (15 percent) on the close. The opening should start with a story, a question or a surprising fact, never an apology. End with one sentence the audience can repeat.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
A 5 minute speech is about 650 words at an average pace of 130 words per minute. Speak slowly at 110 wpm and it is 550 words. Speak fast at 160 wpm and it is 800 words. Plan for roughly 600 to 700 words if you want pauses and audience reactions.
How many words is a 10 minute speech?
A 10 minute speech is about 1,300 words at 130 words per minute, with a range of 1,100 words (slow) to 1,600 words (fast). That is roughly 5 pages double-spaced at 250 words per page.
How long is a 10 minute script?
A 10 minute spoken script is about 1,300 words at an average pace. For a video or podcast script read at an audiobook pace of 150 to 160 wpm, 10 minutes is closer to 1,500 to 1,600 words. Write to the lower number if you plan to add pauses, b-roll or music.
How long should a best man speech be?
Most guidance puts a best man speech at 3 to 5 minutes, which is roughly 390 to 650 words at 130 wpm. There is no official standard. Shorter and well told beats longer and rambling, so aim for the low end if you are nervous.
How many words per minute is a normal speaking speed?
Conversation runs about 120 to 150 words per minute, and a comfortable presentation pace is 100 to 150 wpm, according to VirtualSpeech (August 2026) citing the National Center for Voice and Speech. Audiobook and podcast narration runs 150 to 160 wpm.
How many words is a 20 minute speech?
A 20 minute speech is about 2,600 words at 130 wpm. The range is 2,200 words (slow) to 3,200 words (fast). Add a few percent of buffer if you use slides or take questions.
Why are my speech and my script different lengths?
Most people read silently faster than they speak aloud, and nerves add pauses and filler words. Time yourself reading the speech out loud, and keep your practice run 10 to 15 percent under the limit so the live delivery still fits.
Sources and method
Pace ranges: VirtualSpeech, "Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute" (August 20, 2026), citing the National Center for Voice and Speech; Mental Floss, "How Many Words Per Minute Does the Average Person Speak?" (May 22, 2022); The Speaker Lab (last updated May 20, 2026). Silent reading speed: Brysbaert, M. (2019), Journal of Memory and Language, as summarized by the British Psychological Society Research Digest. TED length: TED/TEDx organizer guide. Word counts are minutes multiplied by words per minute and rounded. Written by Munir Afridi, October 2026.