Words to Minutes Calculator

How long does it take to say 1,000 words?

At a conversational pace of about 130 words per minute, 1,000 words takes roughly 7 minutes 42 seconds to say aloud. Most people read silently much faster, at around 238 words per minute, so the same text takes about 4 minutes to read.

Speaking time (minutes) = number of words ÷ words per minute Words for a time limit = minutes × words per minute

Words	Slow (100 wpm)	Average (130 wpm)	Fast (160 wpm)
100	1 min	46 sec	38 sec
250	2.5 min	1.9 min	1.6 min
500	5 min	3.8 min	3.1 min
750	7.5 min	5.8 min	4.7 min
1,000	10 min	7.7 min	6.3 min
1,500	15 min	11.5 min	9.4 min
2,000	20 min	15.4 min	12.5 min

Choosing a speaking speed

• 100 to 120 wpm: slow and clear, good for teaching, sermons or a nervous first speech.
• 120 to 150 wpm: a normal conversational and presentation pace.
• 150 to 170 wpm: radio, podcasts and confident speakers.
• 170+ wpm: fast, used for auctioneers and quick-fire reads.

Time yourself reading a paragraph aloud and use the custom speed for the most accurate result. Add a few seconds for each slide change or pause for applause.

Uses

• Wedding, best man and maid of honor speeches.
• School presentations with a strict time limit.
• Video scripts, podcast intros and voice-overs.
• Sermons, eulogies and conference talks.

Frequently asked questions

How many words is a 5-minute speech?

About 650 words at 130 words per minute, or 750 at 150 wpm.

How many words is a 3-minute speech?

About 390 to 450 words.

How many minutes is 2,000 words?

About 15 minutes spoken at 130 wpm, or about 8½ minutes read silently.

What is the average speaking rate?

Around 130 to 150 words per minute in English.

Is my pasted text saved?

No. Words are counted in your browser and nothing is uploaded.