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Average Speaking Rate and Words per Minute

November 8, 2022 - Dom Barnard

The speed at which you talk has a huge influence on how the audience perceives you and your speech. It’s important, therefore, to understand your speaking rate and how to alter it depending on the type of speech you are delivering.

In this article, you’ll learn how to calculate your speaking rate and how it compares to the average rate for popular talks to give you some context. Audio samples of speaking rates at the extremes are provided, so you can understand the difference in words per minute.

At the end of the article, exercises are provided to help you develop an adaptive speaking rate.

How to calculate your speaking rate

Speaking rate is often expressed in words per minute (wpm). To calculate this value, you’ll need to record yourself talking for a few minutes and then add up the number of words in your speech. Divide the total number of words by the number of minutes your speech took.

Speaking rate (wpm) = total words / number of minutes

You can record yourself with this  online voice recorder . Once you have the audio of your speech, there are two ways to get the number of words:

• Manually count the words as you listen back to the audio
• Upload the speech recording to a  speech-to-text platform

When you have the speech converted to text format, copy the text into a software package such as Microsoft Word, which provides a useful word count for the document.

Once you have the number of words, convert the time to minutes – for example, if your speech was 4 minutes 30 seconds, you need to divide the number of words by 4.5 (as 30 seconds is half of a minute).

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, where he slowed his usually very high speaking rate down to below 100 wpm (his average was well above 150 wpm).

What is the average speaking rate?

The average speaking rate changes dramatically for the purpose of your speech. According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average conversation rate for English speakers in the United States is about  150 wpm . However, for radio presenters or podcasters, the wpm is higher.

Here is a list of average speech rates for different activities.

Average speech rates

• Presentations : between 100-150 wpm for a comfortable pace
• Conversational : between 120-150 wpm
• Audiobooks : between 150-160 wpm, which is the upper range that people comfortably hear and vocalize words
• Radio hosts and podcasters : between 150-160 wpm
• Auctioneers : can speak at about 250 wpm
• Commentators : between 250-400 wpm

To give these speech rates some context, if the speaking pace is 130 words per minute, you’ll finish reading an A4 page (Calibri, font size 11) in 4 minutes, 51 seconds.

Extremes of speaking rate – world record pace

Steven Woodmore  is a British electronics salesman and comedian known for his rapid speech articulation, being able to articulate 637 wpm, a speed four times faster than the average person.

Woodmore was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest talker, a title which he held for five years, taking the helm from the previous record holder, John Moschitta, Jr.

A comparison of words per minute for popular TED Talks

Let’s compare different presentation styles to show you how speech rates can vary widely. We’ll use popular TED Talks to compare words per minute for different presentations.

We’ve analyzed five TED Talks, ranging from short speeches up to 22 minutes. When we were calculating the length of the presentation, we included time when the audience was clapping and when the presenter changed slides.

We tried to pick from a wide range of speech topics to get an unbiased average.

The average speaking rate was 173 words per minute. The speaking rate ranged from 154 to 201 words per minute.

Popular TED Talk speaking rates

• How great leaders inspire action (Simon Sinek) – 170 wpm
• The power of introverts (Susan Cain) – 176 wpm
• Do schools kill creativity? (Sir Ken Robinson) – 165 wpm
• Why we do what we do (Tony Robbins) – 201 wpm
• The power of vulnerability (Brené Brown) – 154 wpm

What influences your overall speaking rate?

Here are several factors that affect the overall speaking rate, most of which can be controlled by you.

• Regular speaking rate  – this is the result of your environment, where you grew up, your parents, culture, friends around you, and more.
• Nervousness  – you’ve probably noticed it yourself,  when you are nervous , you speak much quicker and take short shallow breaths as you rush through the content.
• Saying something urgent  – understandably, we speak much quicker when there is an emergency, for example calling an ambulance or explaining an incident to the police.
• Mental fatigue  – tiredness affects our thought process, making it harder for us to articulate ourselves, causing us to talk more slowly.
• Complexity of the words  – longer, more complex words will take slightly longer to say, and if you are counting words per minute, it will affect speech pace slightly (although somewhat negligible)
• Complexity of content  – if you are presenting complex content, you’ll want to speak slower than usual to give the audience time to comprehend the concepts and content.
• Verbal pauses  – pauses are a great way to break up the content and give emphasis to what you are saying. Naturally this will slow down your speaking rate. Read  10 Effective Ways to use Pauses in your Speech .
• Event driven pauses  – these are pauses caused by a change in slides, a demo of your product, checking your notes, and so on.
• Audience driven pauses  – these events are caused by your audience, for example, when they laugh and ask questions.

Example audio clips of different speech rates

Example 1 – why we do what we do (tony robbins).

Sample of ‘Why we do what we do’ speech, spoken at 201 wpm.

Example 2 – We Shall Fight on the Beaches (Winston Churchill)

Sample of ‘We Shall Fight on the Beaches’ speech, spoken at 128 wpm.

Tony Robbins giving his TED Talk, Why we do what we do, with an average speaking pace of 201 wpm.

Is speaking rate important?

In short, yes, your rate of speech does have an impact on how the audience perceive you and your message.

Generally, a slower rate is easier to understand for the audience. If you include pauses as well, you give the audience time to absorb the messages of your presentation.

However listening back to the Tony Robbins speech above, which was at over 200 wpm, you’ll probably find you were still able to understand what he was saying. This is because he clearly articulates his words and uses easy to understand language. Clarity is just as important as speech pace.

Try to vary your speaking rate

No matter what your average speaking rate is over the entire speech, you should vary it throughout the speech. Varying your speech makes it more interesting for the audience and adds emotion to the content. Without pace variation, you’re in danger of sounding monotone.

For example, you can speak faster to convey excitement, or slower to reflect sadness or importance.

When to change your speed

• Speaking fast  – indication of passion, urgency, excitement, and emotion
• Speaking slow  – indication of importance, sadness, confusion, the seriousness of a point

When you’re speaking quickly, initially it is exciting for the audience, but after a minute or two, it stops being stimulating and becomes overwhelming.

When you are speaking slowly, it can grab the attention of the audience and help them process every word, but an entire talk at a slow pace will bore your audience: while waiting for you to get to the point they will lose interest.

Remember: The rate we speak at is highly individual

This is an important point to remember. If you take some well-known speeches and change the pace of their delivery, the meaning would be lost. For example, the “ I Have a Dream ” by Martin Luther King was spoken at a slow rate.

The long pauses and carefully spoken words give us time to absorb the information and plenty of time for the audience to applaud throughout. Even if you did not understand the words, the slow pace indicates that the message is important and should be taken seriously.

Cultural differences

Culture plays a big role in the pace we naturally speak at. Even locations within the  same country  can make a difference – people in London typically speak faster than people from Yorkshire for example. Also, if English isn’t the speakers first language, they usually speak a little slower as well.

How to practice: Getting the right speaking pace

Test your speaking pace.

Practice reading a transcript aloud at different paces to better understand how different speeds sound. Learn More

Here are two ways to measure and practice your speaking pace.

Use a metronome

The metronome ticks at a certain rate depending on what you set it to. If you want to speak at 130 words per minute, set the metronome to this value and practice saying a word every tick of the metronome.

This is a good start, however when actually presenting to an audience, you’ll want to vary this pace to emphasise certain points – a speech at exactly 130 wpm throughout would sound very monotone and rehearsed.

Use practice exercises

Online exercises let you practice your speech in a variety of scenarios. Practice presenting at a conference, delivering a sales pitch, answering interview questions, and more. With  VirtualSpeech practice exercises , you can get feedback on your speaking rate after your speech and adjust it accordingly for your next speech.

Example practice exercises you can use to measure your speaking pace during a speech or presentation. See all the  practice exercises here .

5 exercises to develop an adaptive speaking rate

Tips taken from  Quick & easy tips for speaking rate

1. Reading children’s stories

Read a children’s story silently several times to familiarize yourself with the flow. Go through it again, noting which passages would suit taking more quickly and which should be slower. Then read it aloud and listen carefully to how speed alters interpretation. Repeat the exercise altering your speed over particular passages, noting the differences.

Record yourself if possible doing this and all the following exercises. Save all the versions you do. You’ll then have them to refer back to. Recording takes out the guess work as you can hear exactly what you did, rather than what you imagined you did. It doesn’t lie!

2. Read factual reports

Pick an information loaded report from a newspaper or magazine.

Go through it silently to familiarize yourself with the flow of material and then read it aloud. Make a note of which passages need careful or slow reading and which can be taken at a faster rate. Re-read aloud until you feel you have the mix of speeds right.

As an extension exercise, read the report as if you were reading for an audience who knew nothing about the subject. Note what changes you made and why.

3. Experiment with one of your own speeches

Record and time yourself delivering a speech of your own at your current ‘normal’ speaking rate.

Note the time down. Now go through again having marked passages for slower or faster treatment. Note the new time and your new insights.

4. Listen to good speakers

Listen to speakers you admire. They could be radio presenters,  commencement speeches , anybody accustomed to speaking in public. Note the different rates of speech they use over the course of their presentation and the effectiveness and experiment with them for yourself.

5. Play with material you are familiar with

Read or recite part of a text you know well quickly (or slowly). If you can record yourself, do so. If not, listen and note the effect it has on you. If you’ve recorded yourself, play it back.

Ask yourself where was the speed effective? Where was it detrimental? Mark those places on your script. Read again incorporating your changes.

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Guide to Speaking Rates: How Many Words Per Minute Should Your Speech Be?

Ever find yourself grappling with the pace of your words during a presentation? You’re definitely not alone. It turns out, the average speaking rate for folks in the United States is about 150 words per minute – a little nugget of information that was a game-changer for me on my path to becoming more confident in public speaking .

In this article, we’re going to dive into everything from understanding different speech rates to fine-tuning your own rhythm , ensuring your next presentation strikes the perfect balance .

Stick around; you won’t want to miss these insights!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Speaking at the right speed is crucial for keeping your audience engaged. The average speaking rate in the United States is about 150 words per minute. But, this can change based on who you’re talking to and what you’re saying.
• Different types of speeches need different speeds. For TED Talks, aim for around 163 words per minute to keep things interesting. Political speeches should be slower, at about 110-120 words per minute, to add weight to your words. Business presentations work best at a pace of about 140 words per minute.
• Your speaking rate can vary because of many reasons like where you’re from, how excited you are, or if you know a lot about the topic. Other big factors include how confident you feel and physical things like being tired or sick.
• You can get better at finding the right speed by practicing out loud with exercises and asking people for their honest thoughts on your speech style. Using tools like word counts helps plan how long your talk will be.
• Changing how fast or slow you speak during a presentation makes it more exciting and helps highlight important points. Slowing down when sharing something significant or speeding up when showing excitement keeps listeners interested.

Understanding Speaking Rates and Words per Minute

Understanding speaking rates involves grasping the concept of speaking rate and average reading speed, as well as identifying the factors that influence how fast or slow someone speaks.

Additionally, it’s important to understand the ideal speaking rate for different types of speeches such as TED Talks , political speeches , and business presentations .

What is speaking rate

Speaking rate is how fast or slow you talk, measured in words per minute . For example, the average speaking rate for English speakers in the United States is around 150 words per minute.

This number can change depending on who you are talking to or what you’re talking about. Some people naturally speak faster, while others take their time and speak more slowly.

The speed at which someone speaks can affect how well the audience understands and engages with the speech. Speaking too fast might confuse listeners, but going too slow might make them lose interest.

Knowing your ideal speaking pace helps keep your audience hooked and conveys your message effectively. Let’s look into why understanding this balance is crucial for public speakers of all levels.

Average reading speed

After introducing the concept of speaking rate, it’s essential to touch on the average reading speed . This is crucial because it sets a baseline for understanding how our speaking speed compares to how fast we read.

This table outlines different scenarios and the average or recommended words per minute for each. It helps us gauge how our reading speed compares to various speaking contexts. For instance, while the average conversation rate and general speeches pace are similar at about 150 words per minute, voiceovers tend to be much slower, at 75 words per minute. This comparison underscores how context affects the ideal speaking speed, showing us that effective communication is not just about what we say but also how fast we say it.

Factors that influence speaking rate

The pace we speak at is influenced by several factors, including our regional dialect, cultural background, and level of excitement . Other key influencers are our familiarity with the topic , our own confidence levels, and any existing anxiety or nervousness. Additionally, physical factors like fatigue, illness, or even the layout of the speaking space can also impact our speaking rate.

• Regional dialect and cultural background : The rhythm and intonation patterns associated with different dialects and cultures affect how fast or slow someone speaks.
• Level of excitement : When we’re excited or passionate about a topic, we tend to speak more quickly.
• Familiarity with the topic : If we’re very familiar with what we’re talking about, we might speak faster than if the subject matter is new to us.
• Confidence levels and anxiety : Higher confidence levels generally result in a faster speaking pace, whereas anxiety may cause someone to speak more slowly.
• Physical factors : Fatigue, illness, or environmental factors such as an uncomfortable speaking space can also influence speaking rate.

These variables show that many diverse aspects can affect how quickly or slowly someone speaks during a presentation or speech.

The Ideal Speaking Rate for Different Types of Speeches

TED Talks, political speeches, and business presentations each have their own ideal speaking rates to keep the audience engaged and effectively convey the message. Varying your speaking rate is essential for captivating different audiences in these varied speech contexts.

TED Talks are renowned for their powerful, thought-provoking content. The ideal speaking rate for TED Talks is about 163 words per minute . This pace allows the speaker to convey their message clearly and engagingly, keeping the audience captivated throughout the talk.

It’s important to maintain a steady yet expressive speed while delivering a TED Talk to effectively communicate your ideas and connect with your audience.

– Political speeches

Political speeches

Political speeches should aim for a speaking rate of about 110-120 words per minute . This allows the audience to absorb the information and feel the emotion behind your words. Remember , slower speaking rates can add weight and significance to your message, especially during pivotal moments in a speech .

For political speeches, aiming for around 110-120 words per minute ensures that you convey gravitas and allow your audience to absorb every point without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Business presentations

When delivering business presentations, aim for a speaking rate of around 140 words per minute . It’s crucial to vary your speed and enunciate clearly to maintain audience engagement .

Keep in mind that the average reading speed is about 150 words per minute , so adjusting accordingly will help ensure your message is effectively communicated.

The ideal speaking rate for different types of speeches varies; however, for business presentations, a slightly slower pace can help convey complex information more clearly and allow time for the audience to digest key points.

Tips for Selecting the Right Speaking Speed

Select the right speaking speed by knowing your own rate, using word counts, planning for delays, and varying your pace to keep your audience engaged. Read more on our blog!

Know your own speaking rate

Assess your speaking rate by timing yourself for a minute as you speak naturally. Then count the number of words spoken. This will help determine your average speaking speed . Repeat this process a few times to get an accurate estimate.

For example, if you speak around 160 words in a minute, then your speaking rate is faster than the average English speaker.

Understanding how fast or slow you normally speak can inform adjustments needed when preparing speeches and presentations. This self-awareness enables better planning and aids in choosing the ideal pace for conveying your message effectively to different audiences, like when delivering TED Talks or political speeches.

Use word counts as an estimation

When determining your speaking rate , use word counts to estimate how many words you need for a specific time frame . For example, if you aim for a 5-minute speech and speak at the recommended rate of 140 words per minute, then plan to include around 700 words in your speech.

Knowing this estimation can help you tailor your content effectively for different speaking duration requirements.

By using word counts as an estimation tool , it allows you to gauge how much content is needed based on the duration of your speech. This method helps in planning and organizing the material to fit within the allocated time while ensuring that key points are effectively conveyed without rushing or dragging them out.

Plan for technical delays and Q&A

Plan for technical delays and Q&A by adding extra buffer time to your speech. It’s common for things to go off schedule, so allow a few extra minutes in case of tech hiccups or questions from the audience.

Prepare some backup material in case you need to fill time unexpectedly. Also, practice answering potential Q&A queries during your rehearsals so you can respond confidently and succinctly.

Remember that technical issues are part of public speaking , so remaining calm and prepared will help you deliver a smooth presentation even if something unexpected happens.

Vary your speaking rate

To keep your audience engaged, change the speed of your speech. Slow down for important points and speed up to show excitement or urgency. This technique helps maintain interest and emphasizes key ideas , making your speech more dynamic.

Try adjusting your speaking pace using pauses, emphasizing words, or changing tone. Varying your rate adds interest and keeps listeners focused through different speeds and rhythms.

It’s a simple yet effective way to enhance engagement throughout your speech.

How to Improve Your Speaking Rate

Improve speaking rate by practicing different exercises and seeking feedback for adjustment. Always aim to enhance your verbal delivery.

Practice with different exercises

To improve your speaking rate, try these exercises:

• Read aloud various texts at a comfortable pace , gradually speeding up.
• Use a metronome to set the pace and match your speaking rate to it.
• Practice tongue twisters to enhance articulation and fluency.
• Record yourself speaking and analyze areas for improvement.
• Engage in role – playing scenarios to boost confidence and spontaneity.
• Experiment with storytelling to vary your speaking speed and tone.
• Attend public speaking workshops or join clubs like Toastmasters for structured practice.

Now let’s delve into the different exercises for improving your speaking rate!

Seek feedback and adjust accordingly

As a beginner in public speaking, seeking feedback and making adjustments is crucial. Feedback helps you understand how others perceive your speech rate and style. Adjusting accordingly can make your delivery more effective.

Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect! Therefore, seek out opportunities to speak in front of diverse audiences or record yourself to get constructive criticism from different perspectives.

Taking this step will help you gain confidence and enhance your speaking skills.

I’ve learned a lot about speaking rates and how they can impact a speech. Speaking at the right speed can make your message clearer and more engaging for your audience. Now, let’s hear from an expert in public speaking.

Meet Dr. Linda Harris, a renowned communication specialist with over 20 years of experience teaching effective speaking techniques at prestigious universities. Dr. Harris has authored several influential papers on voice modulation and oratory excellence, securing her place as an authority in the field of public speaking.

Dr. Harris emphasizes that understanding your personal speaking rate is crucial for crafting speeches that resonate with audiences. By aligning your delivery with the content’s nature and audience expectations, you enhance comprehension and retention.

She refers to studies indicating optimal engagement levels when speakers maintain rates close to 140-160 words per minute.

On safety, ethics, and transparency in speech delivery, Dr. Harris highlights the importance of accurate information dissemination above maintaining specific speech speeds. Ensuring messages are truthful maintains credibility regardless of the presentation pace.

She advises incorporating varied speech rates into everyday conversations as practice for formal presentations. This flexibility not only improves adaptability but also enriches personal communication skills noticeably.

In her balanced evaluation, Dr. Harris recognizes potential challenges like adapting to technological aids during online presentations or managing time constraints in live talks effectively without sacrificing quality — issues often addressed through conscientious preparation and continuous self-awareness.

Ultimately, Dr. Harris endorses prioritizing clarity and emotional connection over rigid adherence to exact words-per-minute counts in most speaking scenarios while acknowledging certain contexts may demand stricter timing control for maximum effect.

Her insights underline practical apparatuses offered by knowing ideal speech velocities yet encourage speakers to prioritize their unique voice within this framework.

Ryan Nelson is the founder of Speak2Impress, a platform dedicated to helping individuals master the art of public speaking. Despite having a crippling fear of public speaking for many years, Ryan overcame his anxiety through diligent practice and active participation in Toastmasters. Now residing in New York City, he is passionate about sharing his journey and techniques to empower others to speak with confidence and clarity.

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What's your speech rate?

Why a flexible speaking rate is important.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Is your speech rate too fast, too slow, or just right?

And what is, a normal speaking pace?

The answers to both questions are not straight forward. They fall into the 'it depends' category. And what they're depending on is context. 

Context is everything when it comes to deciding whether the speed you speak at is good, extremely good, or poor.

What you'll find on this page

• why, and when, speech rate becomes important
• what speech rate is and how it is calculated
• 2 ways of finding out your own speech rate
• speech rate guidelines - what's fast or slow?
• reasons to change your speech rate
• exercises to develop a flexible speaking rate
• a link to a free printable: a diagnostic resource used by speech therapists to test speech fluency and rate, The Rainbow Passage
• a link to a quick reference guide: how many words per minute are in 1 through to 10 minute speeches .
• links to authoritative references for more information

Why, and when, is speech rate important? 

Speech rate – how fast, or how slowly a person talks, only becomes important when the speed of their speech becomes a barrier to effective communication.

If people listening are not able to fully take in or comprehend what is being said and a large part of the reason for that is speech rate, then it's time to take action. 

What is speech rate? How is it calculated?

Speech rate refers to a person's habitual speaking speed. It's calculated through counting the normal number of words they say per minute, and just like people, words per minute (wpm) can vary hugely.

Additionally, because all words are not equal, wpm can only ever be an approximate measure. For instance, a word can be as simple as a single syllable like "it" or a single letter like “I”, or a collection of many syllables such as “hippopotamus” or “tintinnabulation” - the ringing of bells.

One syllable is considerably quicker to say than many, just as a simple short sentence is faster to say than a complex longer one. 

How to work out your own speech rate

Here are two ways of working out your habitual speech rate.

The first is to read aloud The Rainbow Passage. This piece of text is frequently used by speech language therapists  as a diagnostic tool   to test a person's ability to produce connected speech . 

Record yourself as you read it aloud at your regular speaking rate for one minute.

How far you get through the passage will give you an indication * of your rate of speech.

Here are the first 175 words. The entire piece has 330 words.

(There's a printable pdf of the whole  Rainbow Passage for you to download at the bottom of the page.)

The Rainbow Passage

When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act as a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colors. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. (51 words)

There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When a man looks for something beyond his reach, his friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (99 words)

Throughout the centuries people have explained the rainbow in various ways. Some have accepted it as a miracle without physical explanation. To the Hebrews it was a token that there would be no more universal floods. The Greeks used to imagine that it was a sign from the gods to foretell war or heavy rain. The Norsemen considered the rainbow as a bridge over which the gods passed from earth to their home in the sky. (175 words)

* I've used the word 'indication' because you are reading aloud rather than giving a speech or talking to a friend. There is a difference.

You'll also need to take into account your familiarity with the text. A 'cold' reading, that is reading the passage without seeing it before hand will probably influence how much of it you get through in a minute.

Record yourself delivering a speech

The second way to test yourself is to record one of your own speeches or presentations. This will give you a much more accurate measure of your actual speech rate.

If you have the text of your speech in a word document you'll have access under the Tools tab (see image below) to the total word count.

Record the speech. Then take the time you took to deliver it and use it to divide the number of words.

To give you an example I recorded the 'Hall of Fame' speech I wrote for a client a couple of years ago. I took 4.9 minutes to say it through.  The total word count of the speech is 641. 

Therefore, 641 words divided by 4.9 minutes = a speaking rate of 130 words per minute.

Speech rate guidelines

Studies show speech rate alters depending on the speaker's culture, geographical location, subject matter, choice of vocabulary and its usage (simple short sentences v complex),  fluency, use of pauses,  gender, age, emotional state, health, profession, audience, and whether or not they're using their primary, or native, language.

However, despite these variables, there are widely accepted guidelines. These are:

• Slow speech is usually regarded as less than 110 wpm, or words per minute.
• Conversational speech generally falls between 120 wpm at the slow end, to 160 - 200 wpm in the fast range.
• People who read books for radio or podcasts are often asked to speak at 150-160 wpm.
• Auctioneers or commentators who practice speed speech are usually in the 250 to 400 wpm range.

Why change your speech rate?

Generally people are not conscious of their habitual speaking speed and if they are easily understood by those listening to them there is little reason to change. Their speech could be considered too slow or too fast by people outside of their normal environment but if they are not routinely communicating with them it doesn't really matter.

However changes of audience and speech purpose can force a need to become more aware of speaking speed.

For example - a shift from one part of a country to another, from a slower speaking area to a faster speaking one, will, through audience response, make a habitually slower speaker aware of their speech rate.

Similarly someone with naturally fast speech who takes a job requiring presentations to colleagues or customers, will find themselves having to slow down in order to communicate effectively.

Having an accent makes a difference too. If the language you're using is not your first one there may be pronunciation issues which make it harder for your audience to understand you. Slowing down your rate of speech will help. 

Public speaking and rate of speech

If you're giving a speech or presentation, the concept of a normal speaking speed doesn't apply.

What does is flexibility - the ability of the speaker to mix and match pace appropriately with speech content and the audience's ability to comprehend it.

Experience and audience reaction will teach you that a one-size-fits-all approach will be far less effective than careful variation in rate.

Exercises to change speaking rate

If you know you speak either too fast, too slowly or without speed variation then exercises to develop flexibility are what you need.

Here are   Quick and Easy Effective Tips for Speaking Rate Flexibility

These six exercises specifically address the undesirable audience responses brought on by a speaker either talking too quickly or too slowly. Have fun with them!

How many words per minute in a speech?

When you have a speech to give with a strict time limit it's useful to have an estimate of how many words will fit comfortably into the time allocated, before you begin to write.

For more see:  How many words per minute in a speech: a quick reference guide  for 1 through to 10 minute speeches.  

Do you know what your voice says about you?

Find out about Voice Image First impressions count and they're not only about looking good, but sounding good too!

References and additional information

Miller, N., Maruyama, G., Beaber, R. J., & Valone, K. (1976). Speed of speech and persuasion . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34(4), 615–624. 

Smith, S. M., & Shaffer, D. R. (1991). Celerity and cajolery: Rapid speech may promote or inhibit persuasion through its impact on message elaboration . Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(6), 663–669. 

Rodero, E. (2012). A comparative analysis of speech rate and perception in radio bulletins . Text & Talk, 32 (3), pp. 391–411 

Apple, W., Streeter, L.A., & Krauss, R. M. (1979).  Effects of Pitch and Speech Rate on Personal Attributions . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37( 5), 715-727

Optimal Podcast Words per Minute Rate for Biggest Impact - an extremely thorough article by Chris Land of improvepodcast.com

What is the ideal rate of speech?   Public speaking coach Lynda Stucky 'shows and tells' about speech rate. She's made 7 variations of The Rainbow Passage so that you can hear the difference speed makes.

Speech Pace: do you talk too fast or too slow? Take this test . - a YouTube video by speech teacher  Laura Bergells.

Perfect Your Speed Talking at This Auction School  - a YouTube video showing how The Missouri Auction School teaches speed speech. ☺

Download The Rainbow Passage

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Introducing Speech Time Calculate

Estimate how many minutes your speeches, presentations, and voice-over scripts will take based on your words per minute rate!

How To Speech Time Calculate Using This Tool?

If you have a certain number of words or a piece of text you want to time, you can either type in the word count or paste the text into the provided area. This tool will then calculate how long it would take to read that text out loud.

The talk time estimate is calculated using the average speaking speed of adults, which is determined to be 183 words per minute based on scientific studies. If you’re interested in how long it would take to read silently, it’s estimated at 238 words per minute ( This data is also backed by research )

You can adjust the slider to change the words per minute value, which will affect the talk time estimate. However, the silent reading time estimate remains fixed at 238 words per minute.

For ease of use, we’ve also provided reference points for slow, average, and fast reading rates below the slider.

To begin anew, simply click the ‘clear text’ button to erase the content and restore the slider back to its original setting of 183.

Who is This Words to Minutes Converter Tool For?

If you are a student wondering how long is my essay or you’ve been tasked with writing a speech and need to know how many words to aim for and how many minutes will it take to deliver or perhaps you are a podcaster, just starting out, who wants the ability to easily synchronize music and spoken word without having to painstakingly calculate seconds between them, then this Speech Time Calculate is precisely for you!

From now on, instead of spending long hours in front of the computer trying to figure out how many seconds it takes for one phrase or section of dialogue to end and another to begin, you can let our innovative tool do all the work and convert your text to time quickly and accurately. With this powerful tool at your disposal, whether you’re giving a TED talk or just need to nail a business presentation, your life will become a little bit easier.

So keep reading to learn more about what this fantastic words to minutes converter has in store for public speakers, aspiring students, and professional radio producers alike!

Whether you want to read the text silently or speak aloud, you can use this tool as both:

• Reading time calculator
• Talk time calculator

Explanation of the Reading Time

Reading time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a written text silently while still comprehending its content. Based on an extensive analysis of 190 studies that involved 18,573 participants , research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 suggests that the typical silent reading speed for an adult individual is approximately 238 words per minute .

To convert word count to read time for a specific text, you can do so by dividing the total word count of the text by this established value of 238. Here is the mathematical equation for determining the duration of reading time in minutes:

Reading Time = Total Word Count / 238

Explanation of the Speech Time

Speech time refers to the duration it takes for an average person to read a text out loud. Based on data from 77 studies involving 5,965 people , it’s been found that most adults read aloud at a speed of approximately 183 words per minute ( research conducted by Marc Brysbaert in 2019 ). To figure out how long it will take to read a specific piece of text aloud, you can divide the total number of words in the text by this average rate of 183 words per minute.

Of course, it’s important to note that talk time can vary depending on factors such as clarity of speech, pauses for emphasis, and use of visual aids. However, using this tool for converting the number of words to minutes can still provide a helpful guideline for planning and practicing your presentation. By having a better understanding of speech rates, you can ensure that your message is delivered effectively and efficiently.

Benefits of Using a Speech Time Calculate

Time management in presentations.

Effective time management during presentations is crucial to ensure the audience remains engaged and the information is accurately conveyed. This is where our words to speaking time converter comes in handy. By using this tool, presenters can easily determine how many words they need to include in their presentation to stay within the allotted time frame.

Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that the pacing of the presentation is consistent, making it easier for the audience to follow. With the use of this presentation time calculator, presenters can confidently deliver their presentations without the worry of running over time or rushing through it.

Estimated speech time for public speaking

Public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when you have too little or too much information to fill your time slot. You wonder only if there were an accurate public speaking time calculator available so that you could be able to allocate the appropriate amount of time to each section of your presentation, ensuring that you cover all the necessary points without rushing or going over time.

Effective pacing is key in ensuring your message is delivered with clarity and impact.

Most public speakers target an average of 130-150 words per minute for their spoken content, meaning you should aim to limit your speaking time to roughly one minute per 130-150 words. While this may take some practice to achieve, the end result is a confident, well-timed delivery that keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.

Remember, in public speaking, less is often more—take your time to breathe and emphasize key points. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful and measured approach. For that, you can use this tool and adjust your words to speech time.

Accurate estimations for audiobooks and podcasts

As more and more people turn to audiobooks and podcasts for their entertainment and information needs, accurate estimations of listening time have become more important than ever. After all, there’s nothing worse than settling in for a quick listen only to find yourself trapped in a story that goes on for hours longer than you anticipated.

That’s why it’s great to see publishers and podcast producers taking estimated reading time seriously, providing listeners with the information they need to choose the right content for their schedule. Whether you’re looking for a quick listen on your daily commute or a lengthy distraction for a lazy Sunday afternoon, accurate estimations using this words to speak time calculator make it easier than ever to find the perfect content.

Some Popular Speech Times

how many words in a 2 minute speech

Almost 300 words

how many words in a 3 minute speech

Almost 450 words

how many words in a 4 minute speech

Almost 600 words

how many words in a 15 minute speech

Almost 2250 words

The speech time is calculated taking 150 words per minute as reference value

Common conversions (average speed)

How long does it take to read 500 words?

3.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 750 words?

5.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 1000 words?

7.7 minutes

How long does it take to read 1200 words?

9.2 minutes

How long does it take to read 1500 words?

11.5 minutes

How long does it take to read 1800 words?

13.8 minutes

How long does it take to read 2000 words?

15.4 minutes

How long does it take to read 3000 words?

23.1 minutes

As the world becomes more fast-paced, time is a precious commodity. Determining how long your script will take to read, whether for a presentation or a video, can make a significant difference in engaging and retaining your audience’s attention.

That’s where our Words to Time Converter comes in handy. It’s a valuable tool for anyone working in various professions, from broadcast journalists to teachers to executives. No matter the industry, time is of the essence, and knowing how long your speech or presentation will take is crucial for effective communication.

Speaking time calculator

Type or paste your speech to instantly calculate your speaking time

How does this speech timer work

To begin, delete the sample text and either type in your speech or copy and paste it into the editor.

The average reading speed and speech rate is 200 words per minute and is the default setting above. Once you paste your speech, click “Play” and Speechify will analyze your speech by the number of words and generate a time to speak it at the default rate.

You can listen to your speech in various accents or languages. If you are aiming for a specific timeframe for your speech, click edit to either increase or decrease the number of words to see how long it would take to speak them.

You can also increase or decrease the speaking rate to gauge how fast or slow you should speak in order to get to a specific time with the number of words you have in your speech.

To get to that perfect word count to fit with the speech length time, you’ll have to keep editing between words per minute (WPM) and number of words.

The best part is that you can share your speech in audio format to your friends, relatives, or peers to review it. They can simply click play and listen to your speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words are there in a 1 minute speech.

Based on the average speed of speech, there are 150 words in a 1 minute speech.

How many words are there in a 2 minute speech?

There are 300 words per minute in a 2 minute speech. 2 minutes isn’t a long time so when you speak, you could endure the average speaking rate.

How many words are there in a 3 minute speech?

On average there are 450 words in a 3 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. At the 3 minute mark, even a novice speaker could keep going at the rate they started – with some practice.

How many words are there in a 4 minute speech?

On average there are 600 words in a 4 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. Still, even a novice speaker could maintain the 150 words per minute rate. Try it in the Soundbite above. Set your words per minute and speak along to see if you could endure consistency over 4 minutes.

How many words are there in a 5 minute speech?

On average there are 750 words in a 5 minute speech. This is based on the average speech rate of 250 words per minute. While this is simple math, we after all are humans and 5 minutes can be pushing the boundaries of a consistent speech tempo and words per minute.

How many words are there in a 10 minute speech?

In a 10 minute speech aim for 1000 words. The math might tell you 1,500 words but consider your speech. You might need pauses, rest for your voice, dramatic effects, and perhaps even audience interaction. Also, it becomes quite difficult to endure a consistent 150 words per minute speech rate for 10 minutes. Consider your listeners. We doubt very few people would want to listen to a precisely 150 words per minute speech for 10 minutes. It wouldn’t be engaging. And in a speech, you should engage and communicate.

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Average Words Per Minute Speaking (15 Experts Examples)

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What is the average words per minute speaking rate?

According to the National Center for Voice and Speech , the average rate for English speakers in the US is about 150 wpm. The average speaking rate can change for your project. Especially some professionals are known to speak faster purposeful ly.

Average words per minute speaking rates vary for different jobs and projects:

As you can see, presentations and conversational word per minute rates are lower. Those are situations where we care deeply about being understood. But also we have pauses and body language to capture the attention. 

Ebook publishers recommend the 150-160 wpm, which is close to the maximum speaking rate that also ensures full comprehension. 

150-160 words per minute (WPM) is also recommended for podcasts, radio hosts, and even YouTubers. This should be average for an entire show, while some of the passages should use a faster speaking rate while others slower. A smart adjustment will break the monotony and increase listener engagement.

On the fastest spectrum, there are auctioneers and commentators. Their job is to increase the hype, convey passion, and trigger a lot of emotions. 

We also cover the topic of how fast should you talk on a recording in this podcast episode:

Examples of average words per minute speaking rates by public figures

Analyzing transcripts of great and popular TED talks given by public figures, we checked how fast they talk. Talks are linked so you can check them, and they cover a variety of topics.

For these 14 talks, the average speaking rate is 167 words per minute. 

The Steve Jobs talk was not delivered as part of a TED conference, but it is included on the TED website. Above all, it is an excellent example of attention capturing and message delivery.

The fastest talker on the list, Tony Robbins, still delivers his message with clarity, and we can understand what he is saying. He achieves this by clearly articulating his words and using a simple language. His clarity compensates for his speed.

Your’ words per minute speaking rate should be perfectly adjusted to how fast people can listen and comprehend. If it is going to be too fast, you are going to lose a listener. If you are going to be too slow, their thoughts will drift away. The words per minute rate on your project should be just right.

The obvious question now is what is the “right” work per minute rate. In this article, we will discuss statistics, real-life examples, and present recommendations for making the most engaging recording.

Most people can talk quite fast when needed. Stress and other factors also can make us speed up. But it is essential to focus and slow down to speak perfectly for our audience. But always speaking at the same rate can also be too monotonous.

Can you control how fast we speak?

Definitely yes. According to professional speech coach Joan Detz:

“President John F. Kennedy was a notoriously fast talker – often topping 200 words per minute. You certainly don’t want to be that extreme. But, in general, talking a bit fast is better than talking too slow. Why? Speed projects charisma. Slowness projects lethargy and can frustrate listeners.” – “It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It.”

But for his most famous speech, his 1961 Inaugural Address, he slowed down significantly. He slowed his usually high speaking rate down to below 100 wpm. JFK projected command, vigor, and charisma. 

He achieved this using short sentences and action words. He had a focused message and he coveying it in an active voice.

JFK’s words per minute count was “Just Right” for the moment and the audience. Being this a live speech, he had some tools we don’t. He could pause, use facial expressions and body language, and keep attention focused on him. 

We can’t do this effectively during a voice-over, but there are methods to capture attention and reach optimal words per minute.

Is the average words per minute speaking rate important?

In short, yes, it is very important. Your rate of speech has an impact on how the audience perceives you and your message.

The speed of our speech affects comprehension, clarity, and customer experience.

• Comprehension is essential if you want your audio to be satisfying to your listeners and, most importantly if you genuinely want to help them. Working on improving your comprehension ensures that people that came looking for your show will find the answers quickly and won’t have to search the web for better and more valuable materials.
• With clarity , you increase your listeners’ focus, and you can help them learn and get a better result with your call to action. Clarity will allow you to get rid of the filler words. It keeps you focused on the topic. You will quickly cut away the redundant materials. 
• Customer experience will get you more good reviews, recommendations, and sales in the long run. 

When you nail your target WPM, you will start improving your language. You will remove empty words that don’t enhance meaning. Words that get overused are: literally, really, just, wrap my head around, etc.

Improved language, more precise communication, and clearer message simply mean there is more value in your podcast for your listeners.

How to calculate your average words per minute speaking rate?

Words per minute (wpm) is the most common way used to determine a speaking rate.

The calculation is simple and obvious. Just take the number of spoken words and divide by the number of minutes it took you to deliver the speech.

Speaking Rate (WPM) = Total words / number of minutes

There is one more way to calculate the speaking rate, but since it is harder to figure, it is not as popular as WPM. This other way is syllables per minute (SPM), and you get it by dividing the number of syllables spoken by the length of a speech.

Speaking Rate (SPM) = Total syllables / number of minutes

Let’s review this short example of how those numbers differ and what they can tell us about our speech.

• Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
• Modern, sophisticated presenters using expressive vocabulary can project passion and enthusiasm, thus successfully increasing listeners’ engagement.

Both passages have 17 words. But the first one has 19 syllables while the second one has 45 syllables. If you speak them both at the same words per minute rate, the longer passage will appear faster because you are saying more.

Using shorter words can help you say more in the same amount of time without sounding rushed.

How to easily check your average words per minute speaking rate?

To do it exactly, you need to memorize a passage and record yourself. Make a few tries speaking faster and slower to get different WPMs and determine when you sound the best.

You can also approximate this by reading a passage. It, however, calculates reading and not speaking rate. The familiarity of the material can impact the reading rate, so take this under consideration.

Reading rate, however, can be useful if you will be relying a lot on the script.

What influences how fast you talk on your audio project?

Many factors influence how fast you can talk . The good thing is that you can easily control the majority of these factors and achieve the speed you need for the most significant impact. 

• Regular speaking rate – this is highly influenced by our culture, and how people talk around. Along with a speaking rate, also pronunciation gets shaped thought the course of our lives. Thankfully all this can be influenced by a conscious effort. 
• Fatigue – whenever you are tired, you will speak slower. This is a natural response of the brain that you slow down when you are tired. Not only speaking is impacted. The simple answer here is to schedule your recording sessions in advance so you will be well-rested.
• New and complex content – when you will be working off a script that was completed a long time ago and is no longer familiar to you and on top contains a lot of long and complicated words. You will deliver it much slower. To avoid it, simply rehearse before recording and simplify. You can streamline your recording but splitting long sentences and using a more straightforward language.

Alongside being relaxed and prepared, other techniques can also help you sound better. Even what you drink and at what time of the day you record your voice-over can have an impact. Check here for a full list of tips to sound better: vocal tips 

How to use pauses effectively for better content delivery?

Pauses are a great way to capture attention during a speech. You have to use them smartly and strategically to engage your audience fully. 

When you make natural pauses, you automatically slow down your average words per minute speaking rate. In return, you should get more clear delivery and capture listeners’ attention.

Using pauses during a recording is a bit different than when giving a live speech. For example, on a podcast, you can always remove unwanted stops and keep only those you wish to include.

In a recording, you should use pauses to:

• Indicate a change in tone or topic – use a pause if you want to change the mood from excitement to being more calm and reflective. Or use one if you will change what you are talking about and ease the progression of the story. Adding music can help with changing tone.
• Emphasize key points – if you are reaching a conclusion or discuss some turning point in your story, you can pause to show that a critical piece is going to be addressed. Use those pauses in each episode to highlight the value you are delivering.
• Improve clarity of your message – when you are getting into the most convoluted part of your episode, slow down. This will give time to your listeners to process and fully appreciate the most complex and difficult to follow part of your speech.

How to control your words per minute rate on your project?

Control your environment and record your project in a soundproofed recording room . Using a quiet studio and planning your recording sessions will allow you to avoid distractions. This will help you with your speaking rate since:

• Adding control removes stress – having a controlled environment, and the scheduled session will allow you to speak more freely as it will remove some pressure. This will enable you to talk faster.
• Controlling your environment removes distractions – a soundproofed room guarantees no outside noises will lose your focus and break your concentration.

Controlling your schedule and understanding how noisy is your surroundings can help you get better audio and speak at the desired WPM even if you don’t have a fully soundproofed studio. Simply follow our guidelines on how to record in a bad room .

Is it better to speak faster, or is it better to speak slower?

There is no gold standard. If you are anywhere between 140-170 WPM, you should sound great.

Generally, slower is more intelligible than faster speech. Appropriate pauses allow your audience time to digest what you’ve said and begin to process it. 

Instead of obsessing about WPM, make sure your overall delivery is on point.

Put additional effort into:

• Simplification – use simple language, eliminate filler words, remove complex vocabulary and phrases to become more understandable
• Clarity – focus on diction, removal of vocal inflection, sharp pronunciation, and breathing.

How to practice average words per minute speaking pace?

The simplest and most effective way to practice keeping a constant pace is by using a metronome. You can buy one online (it’s a cool office decoration) or simply download any free app for your phone.

The metronome’s role is to tick at a specific rate and provide you with a constant rhythm. This is just for practicing as if you would talk precisely to the beat of the metronome you would sound very monotone (like voice assistants do). 

But practicing with a metronome will help you to oscillate at your desired words per minute rate.

There are many free metronome apps for Apple and Android phones, so you won’t have any issues finding one (you don’t need the premium versions).

How to Use Rate of Speech Effectively?

There are two valuable studies to help you craft your voice that talk about precipitation formed based on a rate of speech.

• In 1976 psychologists looked at speech rate and persuasion and concluded that faster speakers (195 wpm) were more persuasive than slower speakers (102 wpm). The results of this study suggest that speech rate functions as a general cue that augments credibility. 
• However, in 1991 a study on rapid speech suggested a more complicated relationship. Researchers conclude that when messages were in general disagreement with the audience’s views (counter-attitudinal), fast-talking increased persuasion. On the other hand, when the audience inherently agreed with the message (pro-attitudinal), slow speech emerged as the most persuasive way of delivery.

There is only one thing to do: vary your speaking rate

Always vary your words per minute speaking rate within one recording.

Don’t deliver all the sentences at the same rate. It will improve your delivery, and allow you to convey both meaning and emotions. Adjust the speed to match what you want to project at the moment.

Varying your WPM will make your recording more interesting for the audience. Without pace variation, you will sound monotone.

Change your speed according to what you want your listeners to feel.

• Speaking fast expresses passion, urgency, excitement, and emotion
• Talking slow expresses importance, sadness, confusion, the seriousness of a point

Tip : There is one more trick I use to control better my talking speed. I manage how close or far I’m from my dynamic mic.

What Playback Speed Is Used for Podcasts?

Surveys show that one of the podcasting trends is that, an increasing number of listeners regularly use higher than 1x playback speed to listen to podcasts.

The podcast player Pocket Casts estimates the feature has saved its listeners a cumulative 2,849 years between 2015 and 2019.

It may be an indication that busy people actually may enjoy a bit higher than average WPM rate.

How long should your script be for the best words per minute impression?

From analyzing podcast listeners’ demographics and usage patterns, we know that people mostly listen to podcast shows lasting between 30 and 40 minutes.

Experiment and measure your time to find the best way for you but start with a script of about 150-160 words per minute. In this case, start and experiment with:

• 2000 words for 15 minutes episode
• 3000 words for 20 minutes episode
• 4500 words for 30 minutes episode

We know that people mostly listen to podcasts between 30 and 40 minutes, but also take under consideration their attention span.

TED talks aim to be about 18 minutes. According to TED’s chief Chris Anderson, it is “long enough to be serious and short enough to hold people’s attention.” 

Information have material simply is harder and harder to digest as it goes on, so it is less satisfying for the listeners.

It is essential to care about quality and user experience with controlling the WPM speed. There are also other ways to improve the quality of your show. Besides, words per minute control my two favorites are thorough idea research and getting the best podcasting gear .

In conclusion

• 150-160 words per minute rate is the most typical speed at which radio and podcast host speak
• Many good speakers on TED lecture also talk close to this rate
• There is no golden solution and many speakers successfully deliver messages speaking above this rate
• Vary your speaking rate to avoid becoming monotone
• Speak faster to show more excitement and enthusiasm and speak slower to show importance and focus
• Alongside WPM rate a good speaker should also focus on clarity and simplicity
• A most common technique to train speaking rate is practicing with a metronome
• If you want to speak clearly and at a constant rate make sure you are rested, prepared for the recording, familiar with the material and record in a controlled and soundproofed environment
• Currently, people often use faster playback speeds to listen to podcasts. Consider this trend and test out how your audience will react to you, talking 10-20% faster.

Did you measure you average words per minute speaking rate? What did you found to be most effective for your project?

About the Author

I'm the owner and creator of ImprovePodcast.com, the site dedicated to providing actionable solutions for podcast creators. My goal is helping people to develop their podcasts into effective marketing and sales tools.

Very helpful! Thanks. This will help me with my pacing and script preparation!

Very helpful. I’ve adjusted my words per minute based on this article! Thanks.

I have no idea when this was written, but it’s rare to be searching the internet for new and useful information. I searched for “How many words per minute for a podcast” hoping to come across something that I might be able to adapt to my question. Wow. This article is everything I was asking for and more. You list famous Ted Talk speakers (interesting my two favorite Simon and Tony are 170/180. I think I found my model). Thank you for the effort on this. I will subscribe to this site.

I’m always happy to help.

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Words per Minute Calculator

Table of contents

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to deliver a speech? Or how much time you need to read a book? This words per minute calculator (or WPM calculator for short) will help you convert between the number of words and the time taken to read or say. This way, you will not only learn how many words is a 5-minute speech but also how long it takes you to read a document with 2000 words.

If you want to know how much time you need to finish a book, head straight to our reading speed calculator !

Words per minute (speech)

In order to determine how long your presentation takes, you first need to find your speaking speed — how many words per minute of speech you can deliver. For example, the average speaking speed in English is 130 wpm (words per minute). If, however, you are frequently told that you speak very slowly or very fast, you should adjust this value accordingly.

You could also measure your speaking speed experimentally. Set a timer to one minute and start reading a passage of text aloud. Once the timer stops, count the words you managed to read. This number is your words per minute speech speed — you can input it directly into our calculator after selecting the radio button Other .

Words per minute (reading)

The same principle as your speaking speed applies to your reading speed — the number of words per minute of reading. The average reading speed for the English language is between 170 and 240 wpm , depending on the text difficulty and your English ability.

Naturally, you can measure your reading speed and input it directly into this reading words per minute calculator. All you have to do is set a timer to one minute and start reading a book (or an e-book ), this time silently. Once the timer rings, count the words you read and input the number into the respective field (below the radio button Other in the reading section).

How many words is a 5 minute speech?

Once you know your speaking and reading speed, the calculations are a piece of cake! All you have to do is input the number of words you have to say into this words per minute calculator, which will tell you how long your presentation should take.

Of course, you can also use this calculator to figure out the maximum number of words in a speech with a limited time frame — for example, 5 minutes. Let's look at how to use this tool in more detail.

Choose whether you will speak to an audience or silently read the text. In this case, we are going to choose speech.

Select your speaking speed . We will stay with the average value of 130 wpm.

Determine the duration of the speech — here, we will pick a 5-minute elevator pitch.

Multiply the reading speed by the time to find out how many words are in a 5-minute speech:

130 × 5 = 650 words

Your speech can have a maximum of 650 words.

How many words per minute in a speech?

The average speaking speed in English is 130 words per minute . However, the average speaking rate changes according to the task before a speaker — for presentations, it goes down to 100-120 wpm, while for YouTubers, it's up to 150-160 wpm. When picking the right pace, you should also consider your audience, e.g., the presence of kids or non-native speakers!

How many words per 10 minute speech?

To deliver a successful ten-minute talk, prepare between 1000-1200 words. The absolute maximum you should have is 1300 words.

How many words are in a five minute speech?

A 5-minute speech should have between 500-600 words. Be careful not to exceed 650 words, or you'll talk too fast and, as a result, lose the audience!

How do I calculate the number of words in a talk?

To determine the number of words in a talk that will last m minutes:

Decide on the speaking rate r :

• Average: 130 wpm (words per minute);
• Slow: 100 wpm; and
• Fast: 160 wpm.

Multiply the speaking rate by the time you have in minutes:

The result in 2 is the number of words your talk should contain.

Number of words

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What is the Average Speaking Rate?

What’s the average speaking rate ? Is it better to speak faster or is is better to speak slower?

In this article, we answer these questions and look at the factors which influence your speaking rate , a critical component of your delivery.

• Speech Pauses
• Filler Words (um, ah)
• Speaking Rate
• Vocal Volume
• Vocal Projection
• Vocal Strength Exercises

How to calculate your speaking rate

The most common way to express one’s speaking rate is in words per minute (wpm). To calculate this, simply take the total number of words spoken and divide by the number of minutes it took you to speak them.

Speaking Rate (wpm) = Total words / # of minutes

Another way to measure speaking rate is in syllables per minute (spm):

Speaking Rate (spm) = Total syllables / # of minutes

Why syllables per minute? Not all words are equal. Consider these two sentences:

• Modern readability tests are designed to indicate comprehension difficulty when reading a passage of contemporary academic English. (17 words; 41 syllables)
• Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. (17 words; 19 syllables)

If you were to speak these two sentences at the same rate in words per minute, the first passage would seem considerably faster because you are saying more.

Despite the sensibility of using syllables/minute, the words/minute measure is more commonly used, because it is generally easier to calculate.

How to determine your speaking rate

A really quick estimate of your speaking rate can be obtained by timing yourself while reading a selection of text with a known word count. Then, simply calculate using the method above.

But, this is not really your speaking rate. It’s your reading rate . Even if you read out loud, it’s not the same thing as a speaking rate.

The best way to determine your speaking rate is to time yourself delivering a real speech with a real audience. (Video helps — you can count your words from it too.)

What is the average speaking rate?

The average speaking rate will vary across languages and situations. But, rather than dodging the question entirely, let’s come up an estimate given a fairly narrow speaking situation —  TED talks  — which we often study in Six Minutes  speech critiques.

I analyzed 9 TED talks which have been critiqued on Six Minutes . These talks ranged from just under 7 minutes in length to just under 20 minutes. Some speakers used visuals, some did not. Their topics were widely variable. [Click the links in the table below to view these speeches and read the critiques. Note that the Steve Jobs talk was not delivered at a TED conference, but is included on the TED website.]

• For these 9 talks, the average speaking rate is 163 words per minute .
• Two thirds of the talks are clustered in a narrow range between 153 and 168 words per minute.
• Remember that this average and range do not necessarily apply to all speaking situations.

One can also calculate the speaking rate for the 9 TED talks in syllables per minute, and these results are shown below, sorted in the same order as in the words/minute chart above.

• The most notable difference using the syllables/minute measure is that of Majora Carter. She has a much higher syllables/word count (1.62) compared to the others, which all fall between 1.43 and 1.54. More frequent use of longer words is one factor which contributes to my perception that she’s talking too fast.

What influences your overall speaking rate?

There are many factors which influence your overall speaking rate:

• Your normal speaking rate This is a product of your birth, your culture, and your history (family, profession, etc.) Some people talk faster. Some people talk slower. Neither is inherently  good or bad .
• Nervousness and stress Speaking under pressure tends to make you speak faster. I am not immune to this trait. If I’m speaking with notes of any kind, I’ll often write “SLOW DOWN” in red ink in the margin as a reminder.
• Mental fatigue If you are tired, you will tend to speak slower. You’ll also tend to make more mistakes which further slows your effective speaking rate.
• Complexity of the words If you’re measuring speaking rate in words per minute, then longer words will usually slow down your speaking rate.
• Complexity of content Longer sentences and more complex speech content means more pauses are necessary, and this will slow down your speaking rate, too. This is desirable because it helps your audience — they need more time to mentally process longer sentences and more complex content. However, it would help them more to simplify your content and shorten your sentences.
• Verbal pauses Insertion of natural pauses in your verbal delivery will slow your speaking rate, but the gains in understandability are worth it!
• Extra pauses induced by you Every time you stop to checking your notes, think to search for a word, show a prop or slide, or demonstrate something, your speaking rate drops. Often, the benefits of doing these things outweighs the drawbacks. [Some of these pauses can be reduced by more thorough preparation.]
• Extra pauses induced by your audience When your audience applauds or laughs, this slows you down too. Larger audiences tend to induce larger delays.
• Extra pauses induced by the environment These are harder to predict, but you should allow for them. For example, loud noises outside the room or other distractions may force you to pause, or repeat yourself.

All but the last two factors are completely within your control, and even those last two factors can be predicted somewhat.

Is it better to speak faster or is is better to speak slower?

It depends, but if you are anywhere close to the range of the speakers analyzed above (133 to 188 words/minute), you’re fine.

Generally, slower is more intelligible than faster speech. Appropriate pauses allow your audience time to digest what you’ve said and begin to process it. However, instead of worrying too much about your numerical speaking rate, it probably would be better to focus on improving your clarity and lowering the complexity of your language.

• Clarity : Good enunciation, sharp pronunciation, and proper stresses will produce clear language and make it easy for your audience to hear each word.
• Complexity : By simplifying words and simplifying your sentences by eliminating unnecessary words, you become much more understandable.

Vary your speaking rate!

No matter what your average speaking rate is over the entire speech, you should always vary it within a speech. Don’t deliver sentence after sentence at the same exact rate. Varying your speech rate adds life to your vocal delivery, and allows you to convey both meaning and emotional content.

For example, you can speak a little faster to convey excitement, or a little slower to reflect sadness or confusion.

Final Thoughts

I know very few people who speak considerably too slow, but many who speak too fast. Because of the common tendency to put too much content into our presentations, we tend to speak at a blazing speed to get through it all. So, in general, slow down!

Like many delivery characteristics, the best way to be aware of whether you are doing it well is to solicit feedback. Ask trusted audience members whether your pace was too slow, too fast, or just right.

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27 comments.

Great post Andrew. I love the analysis. Research shows that Australians generally speak slower than other english speakers, and I recently ( http://wp.me/p2k3hy-Ev ) suggested that we speak around 100 wpm. Quite a difference! Despite this, I have a flash card that I take into every high school speech class and I use it a LOT. It says “slow down”.

Fascinating! I wasn’t aware of the speaking rate difference in Australians. Do you have a reference to the research handy?

it is said that the normalspeaking rate is 140_160 word per minute

Thanks for this post Andrew. I think it also depends on the nature of the speech. My experience in Toastmasters tells me that, when telling stories and trying to convey emotion, I’ll speak much slower than when speaking about plain facts and figures. Is this your case as well?

Yes, it certainly depends on the nature of the overall speech and, as you have pointed out, on the nature of what you are presenting at a given time within the speech.

I agree that emotional content and stories (which have more dramatic pauses) tend to be delivered slower than factual details, but even that isn’t a hard rule.

Andrew, As always I appreciate your thoroughness and your practical approach to dealing with the challenges of public speaking. I agree with this article and thank you for your approach using syllables rather than words to assess rate of speech. One thought, another situation affecting ROS is the fact that people may not practice speaking at the slower pace often enough. This is where it is helpful to read a piece aloud that has the desired number of words in it (or syllables) and time yourself to be able to read it at the correct pace. If you do that often enough, you get the “feel” of that pace and can more easily duplicate it under pressure. And you’ll also notice that when you slow down you are more able to add nuances and variety, making the slower pace actually MORE interesting than the faster one, in case you are worried about boring people when speaking more slowly.

Up to now, I’ve never seen syllables used to express speaking speed, but it makes such sense – as the comparison of sentences with the same word count but vastly different syllable counts clearly shows in this post.

A while ago, I published a piece about using fewer syllables when speaking. It lists 14 terms that people often use when speaking (or writing), and it gives low-syllable equivalents (up to 80% shorter) for each term: http://remotepossibilities.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/minimise-blur-firstframework-part-1m/#bb3

If you make simple changes like those, you can avoid rushing, and your audience can absorb your message far better.

Here’s another tip related to speaking rate, which I’ve found really handy when listening to recorded speeches or webinars: By using Windows Media Player (or a similar tool), you can play recordings slower or faster than normal speed.

Typically, speakers talk too fast. So you can use Media Player to slow down the recording, and/or you can keep clicking Pause to give yourself time to digest what was just said.

Conversely, for slow or well-paced speakers, you can play a recording at (say) 150% speed, so for instance you can hear a 1-hour webinar in only 40 minutes. What a timesaver! (I’m in Australia like Claire, above, but the slowest speaker I’ve come across is actually a well-known CEO from the US. In a live speech, the slow speed lets you absorb what he’s saying, but in a recording it can get frustrating unless you speed it up.)

If your version of Media Player’s like mine, you’ll find the speed control by choosing View > Enhancements > Play Speed Settings. (In Media Player on Windows 7, instead you choose Play > Play Speed, which gives you just 3 speeds to choose from.)

I hope you find that as handy as I have!

Thanks for the tip, Craig. I’ll have to try that out.

Andrew, This is extremely helpful for novice public speakers. I am forever being asked how much can I say in a minute? What’s interesting about the numbers for me is that they look so high. Once you allow time for audience reaction and time to pause to let your points sink in, I always find that even the fastest public speakers struggle to get much more than 140 words per minute. 150 tops. It’s our nervous novices that speak at 180. I’d be interested to know: Why is it that these experienced hands say so many words? Does their experience mean that they can command an audience’s attention and compress more content into less time? Or would they be better if the slowed down?

Without a great deal more data, it’s hard to answer your questions. However, I think it is fair to say that these TED speakers are able to deliver at a higher words/minute rate because [1] they are extremely well-prepared, and thus rarely make any verbal slips which would slow them down and [2] the culture of TED talks tends to allow for a pretty high information density.

As for whether these talks would be better if slowed down, I leave it up to the audience.

As a trainer of professional actors I can assure you that there seems to be more of a correlation of slower speed with “reading” and faster speed with passion. Perhaps the TED speakers are a bit more passionate about their ideas?

Wow. I couldn’t disagree more. If a person is aligning operative words then TEMPO has almost no bearing on the speech. If someone is passionate then they are going to speak at a faster rate (SPM), but they will also hit words in such a way as to convey meaning. Anything between 160-210 (wpm) is common in everyday speech. Why should conveying ideas in a “speech” be different?

Love your pages! However, please take caution when using the word ” slower”. It is an adjective. When speaking of how something is done, the proper use is ” more slowly”. 😉

I agree with you SO much that I filed a federal lawsuit asking court and other public officers to SLOWDOWN. My lawsuit is called Ovitsky v. Washington County, etc. It’s less about money and more about understanding what people are speaking, for me most of the time it is “too fast,” quite literally. Federal relay types about 60 wpm. Court officers speak 100+ wpm. If I can walk away with one non financial gain, it would be a federal order asking the locals to slow down and also asking FCC to hire faster typists to transcribe calls for deaf. I write for myself, I cannot read 100+ wpm, I can read about 80 wpm and I can hear maybe 60 wpm with pauses and repeats, which is why I use deaf telecom, I need a SLOWDOWN more than I need the visual but after seven years, I’m accustomed to doing both. I am in Oregon, not far from where ye hail from? Au Canada? In any event, thank you for your wonderful article and I appreciate your posting it. I re-posted it on my FaceBook page with a link back to this site.

Hi, Andrew, Congratulations for your blog! It’s terrific! I also write about public communication, but I focus on phonetics. I’ll keep reading your posts, thanks!! Carolina (Madrid, Spain)

Ray Hull, Ph.D. recommended 124 wpm.

That was great to read your research Please advise the top 10 speech or speaker in a world

Many Thanks

Nice article, I came here looking to learn what speed I wanted to be able to play guitar at. I was wondering if you might have an article you could direct me to which delves deeper into the mood tone/frequency or as you put it an article that tells me what speed rates convey what sorts of meanings and emotions?

Andrew, thank you! One of the 1st training segments of Accent training ( Not “accent reduction” – rather “Accent Addition”) is to train folks how to monitor their speaking rate. We do this by doing an analysis of TED speakers on the # of words per minute ( WPM). The Syllables Per Minute (SPM) analysis that you have done is phenomenal. A person cannot change how they move their speaking/articulator-voice muscles until they can be attuned to and control the speed of their speaking movements. Additionally, they cannot be attuned to how their listeners are responding or understanding if they cannot use effective pauses. Your analysis of the WPM and SPM of top TED speakers helps others to strategically garner specific tactics to be more effective speakers. Again, Thank you!!!

Thank you for this post Andrew! I learned a lot of details about public speaking while browsing through your blog. It actually inspired me to create an app which estimates the speaker’s speaking rate, pauses, pitch and volume (a digital presentation coach). Now available for free on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quantle/id1241930976 Thanks again for your valuable pages!

a very good job. I hope you will creat a a android version of the app. Thank you.

Hi Andrew. Thank you for your very interesting post on speaking rate. I am interested in doing this at a more academic level, in a paper, for instance. Do you have any papers/references on calculating speaking rate? Thank you in advance for your help.

Interesting that the fact of deafness are not being dealt with enough. Some deaf persons (especially older persons) has big difficulties in following newsreaders. It must be remembered that with the years all functions slow down a little bit with extreme cases here and there.Also older persons tend to listen more to radio and tv and find it very difficult in understanding than in the past.I am very fond of news channels but find that some readers (especially women ) are faster readers than their male colleges.To all out there please speak slower!

Do you have DVDs to help with practice sounds

Recently I reviewed a video where the speaker talked at 230 wpm! (I linked to this post for comparison with other talks.)

You might think that’d be WAY too fast, but in that case I think the speaker pulled it off.

If done well, one benefit of speaking so fast is that it conveys passion for the topic. See what you think…

The reason why Majora Carter’s spw is so much higher is because she says ‘sustainability’, ‘environmental’ and ‘sustainable development’ a lot.

You could also say that: • the avg wpm of those “2/3 between 153 and 168 wpm” is 160; and that • the avg spm of those talks is 274, and 237 amongst without the 3 fast-talking women and slomo Gore.

Personally, I’m more interested in how fast can people listen. Any clues?

Recent Tweets

163 words per minute is an average speaking rate for presentations. http://t.co/Tknk8f0A0O #speaking — @anthea_rowe Sep 10th, 2015

This was helpful to me as I’m preparing a talk: What is the Average Speaking Rate? https://t.co/oA8Scl26sx by @6minutes — @cesarbrea Oct 19th, 2015

@AlexWattsEsq about 90 hours by my very unscientific estimate. Used average speaking rate here: https://t.co/8CHXhuUt5K — @InfiniteClock Dec 2nd, 2015

What is the Average Speaking Rate? Very insightful 🙂 @GitteWBruhn and @SCThatcher https://t.co/UmmT6sa4N3 by @6minutes — @ClaireLauper Dec 18th, 2015

@grace_elliot Varies quite a lot. Some useful info here https://t.co/lXLdUZty91 😊 — @DamianSomebody Apr 20th, 2016

The average speaking rate of English as 1st Language TED speakers in Words & syllables https://t.co/ekitKC9jw6 — @accentcoach Jun 14th, 2016

#TuesdayTips Too fast, too slow, or just right? Good article by @6minutes on pace of speech. https://t.co/hPXErFUsVX — PitchVantage (@pitchvantage) Jul 5th, 2016

.@6minutes Found today. Looking forward to following. https://t.co/yWCQwBzJjg — @realestaterossi Nov 19th, 2016

¿sabías que la velocidad media de hablar óptima en un discurso está entre 153 y 168 palabras? #apor1600kwds https://t.co/bbwrBgo7BU — @DanielRDelPino Oct 17th, 2017

What is the Average Speaking Rate? https://t.co/Th6LajR5J8 — @BigDru Jul 6th, 2018

1 Blog Link

Hearing | Sherry Chandler — Nov 17th, 2012

Featured Articles

• Majora Carter (TED, 2006) Energy, Passion, Speaking Rate
• Hans Rosling (TED, 2006) 6 Techniques to Present Data
• J.A. Gamache (Toastmasters, 2007) Gestures, Prop, Writing
• Steve Jobs (Stanford, 2005) Figures of speech, rule of three
• Al Gore (TED, 2006) Humor, audience interaction
• Dick Hardt (OSCON, 2005) Lessig Method of Presentation

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Speech calculator:  how long does it take to deliver your speech?

With this speech calculator, you can easily calculate how long it will take you to deliver a speech.

How many words per minute?

In the English language, people speak about 140 words per minute. A fast speaker will get to 170 words per minute, a slow speaker will use around 110 words.

Professional speechwriters use this speech calculator to find out how long a speech takes.

Copy your full text and paste it in the box below:

The entire analysis happens within your browser. The text will NOT be stored and NOT be sent over the web.

Word count:

Your speech rate:

Speech duration:

FAQ’s

How many words is a 3 minute speech  .

A speaker with an average speaking speed will need 420 words for a 3 minute speech. A fast speaker will need 510 words while a slow speaker will only need 330 words.

How many words is a 5 minute speech?  

A speaker with an average speaking speed will need 700 words for a 5 minutes speech. A fast speaker will need 850 words for the same speech length. A slow speaker will only need 550 words.

Is this a word count calculator?  

The speech calculator is a word count calculator. Insert your text and the tool will automatically calculate the word count.  It will then also calculate the speech length depending on the selected talking speed.

How to best select the right speaking speed?

Fast, average or slow? The answer depends on the speaker, the speech type and the speech setting.

The speaking speed of the speaker

Some speakers are natural fast or slow speakers. The best speakers keep a variance during their speeches. They speed up to keep momentum and slow down to put special emphasis on other parts.

The speech type

The type of speech matters a lot in selecting the right speech speed. If you read the whole speech word for word from paper then your average speech speed will be lower. If you intend to use the written speech as speaker notes then your average speaking speed will be much higher.

The speech setting

An informal setting will have a faster average speaking speed compared to a more formal setting.

Keeping all three factors in mind you will able make a better judgement about selecting the right speech speed in the speech calculator.

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Average Words Per Minute Speaking: Why It Matters

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• Last Updated On: April 14, 2024

Understanding your speaking pace can unlock new levels of communication effectiveness and personal insight. While many overlook the importance of speaking speed, it plays a crucial role in connecting and conveying our messages to others.

This exploration delves into the nuances of your average speaking rate, providing actionable advice to refine your verbal delivery and overall presentation skills.

Let’s explore the common pitfalls in speech delivery and master the art of impactful communication, backed by research indicating that influential speakers adjust their speed to match their message and audience.

📝 Key Takeaways

• 📊 Ideal speeds vary from 100-150 WPM for presentations to 250-400 WPM for commentators.
• 🕰️ Time yourself reading aloud to identify your average pace and areas for improvement.
• 📈 Your cultural background, confidence, and public speaking comfort significantly impact your speaking speed.
• 💻 Practice, feedback, and technology can help you fine-tune your speaking rate for clearer communication.

What Is The Average Words Per Minute For Speaking?

One may wonder, “How many words does the average person speak per minute?”

The average speaking rate is 150-160 words per minute (WPM) for podcasters. This can vary with context and individual differences, ranging from 110-250 WPM . Radio presenters or podcasters may speak faster than the average rate.

Average Words Per Minute (WPM) by Speaking Context:

Words to minutes calculator – podcast episode timing.

Planning your podcast episode ? Use this simple calculator to determine how long your script will take to deliver. Enter your script length and choose your average speaking speed.

Get results instantly to help manage your episode timing perfectly. This free tool is great for podcasters who want to plan their episodes and keep their audience engaged.

How to Determine Your Speaking Rate

Calculating this and adapting your average WPM can greatly enhance communication skills and ensure effective information delivery.

• Select a passage or piece of text that is around 200-300 words long. This length is ideal because it’s long enough to get an average rate but short enough to be manageable.
• Before you start reading, set a timer. Smartphones usually have a stopwatch function that works perfectly for this.
• Read the passage out loud, just as you would in a conversation or presentation. Do not rush or deliberately slow down; aim for a natural pace.
• Once you’ve finished reading, stop the timer and note down the time taken.
• To determine your speaking rate in words per minute (WPM), divide the number of words in the passage by the time taken in minutes to read it.
• Your speaking rate can vary depending on context, mood, or the complexity of the content. Repeating the process with different types of passages (e.g., technical content vs. casual conversation) might help you get a range of your average speaking speed.
• If your speaking rate is too fast or slow for your intended audience or purpose, practice adjusting it. Using a metronome can help maintain a consistent pace.
• Sometimes, we do not judge our speaking pace best. It can be beneficial to get feedback from peers or mentors. They can provide insights into whether you’re speaking too fast, too slow, or just right.
• Several apps and online tools can automatically calculate your speaking rate by analyzing a recorded speech sample.

Remember, while determining your speaking rate is useful, paying attention to clarity, intonation, and enunciation is also essential. The goal is to communicate effectively; sometimes, that might mean adjusting your pace to ensure comprehension.

Speaking Rate (WPM) of Professional Speakers

The average speaking rate of professional speakers is 167 words per minute (WPM).

It’s important to note that while Steve Jobs’ talk isn’t from the regular TED conferences, it’s featured on the TED website. This presentation, given by the late visionary, is a masterclass in capturing the audience’s attention and delivering a poignant message.

Tony Robbins, the fastest speaker on our list, epitomizes that speed need not compromise clarity. His crystal-clear articulation and lucid language ensure his message is understood, irrespective of the brisk pace.

Speakers must adjust their speaking rate to match their audience’s listening comfort . Racing through content might lose listeners, while a languid pace could let their attention drift. The art lies in striking that perfect equilibrium.

Optimal Script Length for Podcast Episodes

As podcasting continues to gain traction as a favored medium for content delivery, understanding the ideal script length for varying episode durations can be invaluable.

The table below provides a guideline for scriptwriters and podcasters to ensure content remains engaging and concise for listeners.

By aligning the script length with the intended duration, creators can better plan, structure, and deliver their content for maximum impact. Dive in to discover the recommended word count for your next episode!

➡️ How Long Should a Podcast Be ?

Factors That Influence The Speed Of Speech Of The Average Person

Many factors influence the speed at an average person speaks, including:

The Culture You Were Raised In

It might sound crazy, but the culture you were raised in can significantly impact your average speaking speed. Some cultures and languages naturally speak much faster than others, which can seriously impact your average WPM.

If you grew up speaking a first language that is naturally fast-paced, such as Spanish or Italian, then it is likely that you will speak at a faster rate than someone who grew up speaking a language with slower speech rates, such as English.

Slower speakers might take two seconds to say a word, while faster speakers could say the same in half a second. This difference may not seem like much, but it can increase over time. If you speak for five minutes, you will likely say twice as many words as the slow speaker.

Additionally, if you are used to hearing the average person speak quickly, you may find adjusting to slower speech patterns difficult. Slow speakers can often be frustrating for natives who speak faster, who may find themselves impatient or lost.

The good news is that you can learn to speak slower if necessary, no matter your natural speech rate.

Just remember to take your time and focus on speaking rather than worrying about the number of words you say. With practice, you can find the perfect balance for you.

How Confident You Feel

Your confidence level also has a huge effect on your speaking speed. If you feel confident, you’ll naturally speak slower and more evenly than if you feel insecure.

If you are nervous, you are more likely to rush your speech with faster-than-average speaking speed and trip over your words. A good speaker can control their speed and use it to their advantage.

World Fastest Speaker

Stephen Peter Woodmore (13 December 1959 – 6 February 2023) was a British salesman recognized for his extraordinary speech speed, articulating at 637 words per minute (wpm) — four times faster than average.

From August 1990, he held the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest talker, succeeding John Moschitta Jr. However, in 1995, Sean Shannon from Canada surpassed him with a speed of 655 wpm.

How Comfortable You Are With Public Speaking

Finally, your comfort level when speaking in public can significantly impact your speaking rate. If you are not used to being in front of large groups of people, you may struggle to keep up a steady pace, thus speaking faster and rushing your speech.

Good speakers, such as those from popular Ted talks, often have extensive practice and experience in public speaking , which has helped them become more comfortable and confident when addressing large audiences.

Tips To Improve The Speed Of How The Average Person Speaks

As you can see from our list above, several different aspects affect the speed of your speech. However, there are some simple things that you can do to improve your speaking rates.

Slow Down When Talking About Difficult Topics

When discussing difficult topics, such as politics or religion, it is important to think carefully about what you say. If you speak too quickly, you risk making mistakes and sounding awkward .

Instead, try to speak slowly and deliberately, and make sure that you pause between each sentence.

Practice Before Giving Presentations

Practice makes perfect, and this applies to speaking as well. If you plan on giving a presentation, practice speaking slowly and pausing frequently.

Avoid rushing through your speech and focus on getting all your points across without any mistakes. This will help you feel more confident and relaxed and allow you to speak more easily.

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Practice Reading Out Loud

Reading aloud is one of the best ways to improve your talking speed because it forces you to slow down and pay attention to how you speak, especially when reading complicated words.

It also helps you to learn to control your breathing , another factor affecting your speaking speed.

Speak Clearly And Slowly

You should always aim to speak slowly and comfortably—even if you are nervous. If you speak too fast, you are more likely than ever to trip over your words, increasing your stress levels and mental fatigue.

As we mentioned earlier, nerves can cause you to breathe faster, so take note of your breath rate and try to slow it down slightly.

Take Deep Breaths

Taking deep breaths before talking will help you relax and give you time to prepare for your presentation. People speak more quickly when nervous or anxious, so it is essential to stay calm.

If you are tackling complex content, it can be helpful to slow down your thoughts by taking a few moments to pause and think about what you want to say before speaking. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you say what you want.

Taking deep breaths will also help you calm down, reduce the chances of you tripping over your words, and maintain a regular speaking rate.

Why Does Speaking Speed Matter?

When you are speaking publicly, the speed of your speech is important and can offer you several advantages when delivering a speech. These include:

Increasing Your Credibility

If you have a high speaking rate, you risk sounding like you are trying to convince everyone around you that you know what you are talking about.

Many speakers would want to avoid this, but if you speak at an appropriate pace, you can be seen as credible and trustworthy.

Radio hosts and TED Talk speakers are known for speaking slowly and deliberately, which helps them engage the audience and build trust .

Improving Your Audience’s Attention Span

Speaking too quickly can cause your audience to lose interest. They may find themselves nodding off or looking bored, meaning they won’t pay close attention to what you say.

By contrast, speaking slowly lets them listen carefully and absorb everything you say.

➡️ How To Make Your Podcast Popular ?

Avoiding Slips Of The Tongue

Speaking too quickly can make you more likely to slip up and accidentally say something embarrassing.

For example, if you talk about your favorite movie and say, “I love watching movies with my friends,” you could say, “I love watching movies alone.” This slip-up is unacceptable, and it is easy to see why.

FAQs: Average Words Per Minute Speaking

How fast does the average podcaster speak.

The average podcaster speaks approximately 150 to 160 words per minute, while the average professional speaker is slightly higher at 167 WPM (words per minute).

How Fast Does the Average Person Talk?

The average person speaks at a rate of approximately 125 to 150 words per minute.

How many words is a 5 minute speech?

A 5-minute speech would be around 750 to 800 words using the average speaking rate.

Is 100 words per minute fast speaking?

Speaking at 100 WPM is slightly below the average conversational rate, so it’s not considered fast.

Is 150 wpm speaking fast?

Speaking at 150 WPM is about average for most people, especially in presentations and general conversations.

Is speaking 200 words a minute fast?

Speaking at 200 WPM is faster than average and is typically seen in enthusiastic or rapid conversations.

How long is a 700 word speech?

A 700-word speech would last roughly 4.5 to 5 minutes at an average speaking rate.

Is 150 words per minute good for a speech?

Yes, 150 WPM is a good rate for a speech as it’s comfortable for listeners and ensures clarity.

Is it possible to speak 300 words per minute?

Speaking at 300 WPM is extremely fast. While some individuals, like certain record-holders, can achieve it, it’s beyond the average speaking rate for most people and can challenge comprehension.

How long is a 2 minute speech?

A 2-minute speech is typically 300 to 320 words, based on an average speaking rate of 150-160 words per minute (WPM).

Final Thoughts On How Many Words You Can Say Per Minute

Your speaking speed isn’t fixed; it can change with time. Utilizing our guidelines, you can determine your words-per-minute rate and refine your speech to be more composed, captivating, and effective for your listeners.

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What are the Average Words Per Minute When Speaking?

The average person speaks between 125 and 200 words per minute. However, this can vary depending on a number of factors, including the difficulty of the topic, the urgency of the situation, and a lot of other things.

In this article, we will explore more on average words per minute a person speaks and why it varies. Keep reading to learn more!

Also, be sure to check out our handy guide on how many words should be in your speech (based on number of minutes).

Speaking Speed at Regular Condition

Terms complexity, pauses in speaking, difficulty of the topic, speaking to an audience, cultural variances, can a person control how fast they speak, average words per minute: why does it matter, how average speaking speed varies.

There are a number of factors that can affect how fast someone speaks. Here are  some of the most common reasons:

In regular conditions,  the average person speaks at a rate of 125 to 200 words per minute. The rate may be different based on the person’s age, gender, and mother tongue. However, the speaking rate will vary depending on his situation. For example, if the person is nervous, they might speak faster than usual. If the person is bored or tired, they might speak slower than usual.

The average number of words per minute can increase or decrease depending on the complexity of the terms being used. If you’re speaking to an audience of experts on a complicated topic and using highly technical jargon, your speech will naturally slow down so that everyone can understand what you’re saying.

On the other hand, if you’re speaking with a group of friends about something that doesn’t require complex language, your speech will naturally be faster.

You may have noticed that the average rate of speech is given in terms of words per minute, rather than syllables or sounds. This is because pausing between words is a normal and essential part of speech. In fact, if you were to speak at a rate of one syllable per second, it would sound very odd and choppy.

There can be different types of  pauses in speech, such as:

• Breath pauses , which happen when you take a breath in between phrases or sentences.
• Thinking pauses happen when you need a moment to think about what you’re going to say next.
• Emotional pauses can add emphasis or communicate how you’re feeling about what you’re saying.
• Verbal pauses happen when you take a moment to let someone else speak or to give them time to respond.

The average words per minute can also be affected by the difficulty of the topic. If you’re giving a presentation on a complex subject that is new to you, your speech will naturally be slower than if you were discussing something that you are familiar with. On the other hand,  if you’re discussing a topic that is easy for you, your speech will naturally be faster.

When speaking to an audience, the speaking rate can change based on how well you know them. If you are familiar with the people in your audience, you will speak more quickly than if they were complete strangers.

This is because you will be more comfortable and have a better understanding of their level of knowledge.

You will also take into account their age, gender, and culture when speaking to them. For example, you might speak more slowly to an older person or someone from a different culture so that they can understand you better.

The urgency of the situation can also affect your speaking speed. If you’re giving a speech that has a lot of time pressure, such as in an interview or debate, you’ll speak faster than if you were delivering a presentation with no time limit.

Anxiety and stress can also affect speaking speed. If you’re nervous about giving a speech, you may speak more quickly than usual. However, if your anxiety is so severe that it prevents you from speaking, you may be diagnosed with selective mutism .

Cultural variances can also affect words per minute. For example, in some cultures, it is considered impolite to speak quickly, while in others it is seen as a sign of confidence. In some cases, the language itself may dictate how quickly someone speaks.

Some languages, such as Spanish or Italian, have more syllables per word than English, so people who speak these languages tend to speak more slowly.

There are a few things that you can do to try to control your speaking speed. If you’re nervous about speaking, practice beforehand so that you can get a feel for the natural flow of your speech. It may also help to focus on breathing deeply and evenly. You can also try to be aware of how fast you’re speaking and make an effort to slow down when you need to.

However, it’s important to note that there is no one “correct” speaking speed. What matters most is how well you’re understood, not how quickly or slowly you’re speaking. So if you find that you’re naturally a fast speaker, don’t worry – as long as your audience can understand you, you’re doing just fine.

So why is it important to know your average words per minute? Well, there are a few reasons.

If you’re giving a speech or presentation, knowing your average words per minute can help you to stay within the time limit that you’ve set for yourself. It can also help you to pace your speech evenly, so that you’re not speaking too quickly in some places and too slow in others.

If you’re a student or someone who is learning English as a second language, knowing your average words per minute can help you to track your progress. It can be helpful to know whether you are speaking more slowly than usual because of the difficulty of the topic, or because you’re feeling anxious.

Besides, if you’re interested in finding out how fast you speak compared to other people, knowing your average words per minute can be a fun way to see where you fall on the spectrum.

Although it’s difficult to estimate exactly how many words per minute one speaks, we can get a general idea of the average person’s speaking speed. This information can be helpful for people who want to become better public speakers or improve their vocal delivery when recording audio content.

Keep in mind that everyone speaks at different speeds, so don’t worry if you’re not on the high end of the scale – just aim to be as clear and concise as possible when communicating with others. Do you know your average words per minute?

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Understanding Your Speaking Rate

Your speaking rate has a major effect on how an audience perceives your speech. Thus, it is essential to comprehend your speaking rate and how to adjust it based on what type of speech you are delivering.

Calculating Your Speaking Rate

Speaking rate is usually accounted in words per minute (wpm). To figure out this value, record yourself talking for several minutes, then count the words in your speech. Divide the total number of words by the number of minutes the speech took.

The Average Speaking Rate

The normal speaking rate changes significantly relying upon the function of the speech. According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the typical talk rate for English speakers in the United States is about 150 wpm. Nonetheless, for radio hosts or podcasters, the wpm rate is higher.

Listed below are the usual speech rates for various activities:

• Presentations – between 100-150 wpm for a comfortable rate
• Conversational – between 120-150 wpm
• Audiobooks – between 150-160 wpm, which is the upper boundary that people can follow and vocalize words
• Radio hosts and podcasters – between 150-160 wpm
• Auctioneers – can talk at about 250 wpm
• Commentators – between 250-400 wpm

Extreme Speaking Rates - World Record Pace

Steven Woodmore, a British electronics salesman and comedian, is well-known for his quick speaking articulation. He can articulate 637 wpm, a speed four times faster than the average person.

Woodmore was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's fastest talker, a title he held for five years, taking the helm from the previous record holder, John Moschitta, Jr.

A Comparison of Words Per Minute for Popular TED Talks

We compared various presentation styles to showcase how speaking rates can vary greatly. We'll use popular TED Talks to compare words per minute for different presentations.

We've analyzed five TED Talks, ranging from brief speeches up to 22 minutes. When we calculated the length of the speech, we incorporated when the audience was clapping and when the presenter changed slides.

We tried to select from a broad range of speech topics to obtain an objective average.

Popular TED Talk Speaking Rates

• How great leaders inspire action (Simon Sinek) – 170 wpm
• The power of introverts (Susan Cain) – 176 wpm
• Do schools kill creativity? (Sir Ken Robinson) – 165 wpm
• Why we do what we do (Tony Robbins) – 201 wpm
• The power of vulnerability (Brené Brown) – 154 wpm

Factors That Affect Speaking Rate

Here are a few aspects that influence the overall speaking rate; most of which can be controlled by you.

• Regular speaking rate – this is the outcome of your environment, parents, culture, friends, etc.
• Nervousness – when nervous, people tend to talk much quicker and take short breaths as they rush through the content.
• Saying something urgent – obviously, people speak much faster when there is an emergency, such as calling an ambulance or explaining an incident to the police.
• Mental fatigue – exhaustion affects our thought process, making it harder for us to articulate, resulting in slower speaking.

Developing an Adaptable Speaking Rate

By understanding the factors that influence your speaking rate, you can become a better speaker. To practice, try recording yourself for a few minutes and then comprehend the number of words you said in that amount of time. Calculate your wpm and compare it with other speaking rates to understand your current rate.

Public speaking can be daunting, and it's important to have an understanding of the impact that speaking rate has on your audience. So, is speaking rate important when you are giving a presentation or speech? Read on to find out.

The Impact of Speaking Rate on Audience Perceptions

Yes, the rate of your speech does have an effect on how effectively the audience comprehends and engages with your message. Generally, speaking at a slower pace helps the audience understand and digest the content of your presentation. Long pauses and verbal stops are a great way to emphasize a point and give the audience time to process your words.

Clarity Versus Speech Pace

It's important to balance speed and clarity. While the Tony Robbins speech mentioned above was over 200 words per minute, it was still comprehensible due to the clarity of language used. It's wise to vary your speaking rate throughout the speech as keeping a consistent pace can make it monotonous for the audience.

There are also certain signs to look out for when choosing the appropriate speaking rate. Speaking quickly implies urgency, excitement, and emotion, while speaking slowly implies importance, confusion, and sadness.

Factors That Affect Speech Rate

• Complexity of the words – longer and more complex words will take slightly longer to say.
• Complexity of content – if you are discussing complex concepts, speak slowly so that the audience can comprehend them.
• Verbal pauses – pauses give the audience time to absorb the content.
• Cultural influences – the rate of speech can vary from location to location.
• Native language – those for whom English is not their first language usually speak more slowly.

Testing and Improving Your Speaking Pace

The two best ways to measure and practice your speaking rate are:

• Using a metronome. Set the metronome to your desired rate of speech (e.g. 130 words per minute) and practice speaking one word for each tick. Make sure to vary the rate occasionally to emphasise points.
• Utilising practice exercises. VirtualSpeech offer practice exercises to help you present at a conference, deliver a sales pitch, and answer interview questions. This platform also provides feedback regarding your speaking rate which can help you modify your speech accordingly.

Developing an Adaptive Speaking Rate

The following five exercises are taken from 'Quick & Easy Tips for Speaking Rate' and will help you to develop an adaptive speaking rate:

• Read a children's story silently several times and then read it aloud. Listen to how the speed alters the interpretation of the story, and then repeat the exercise with slight variations in the speaking rate.
• Find a report from a newspaper or magazine that is packed with information and read it aloud. Make notes of which passages should be read faster or slower and repeat until you get the mix of speeds right.
• Record yourself giving a speech at your normal speaking rate and then mark the passages where the speed should be altered. Once completed, repeat the speech and note the new time and insights.
• Listen to speakers you admire and pay attention to their speaking rate and how it changes their message.
• Read a report as if you were presenting to an audience who knew nothing about the subject. Note the changes you have made and the reasons behind them.

Playing with Familiar Material

Take note of the different speaking speeds used by different presenters and experiment with them yourself. Pick a text that you know well and read or recite it quickly or slowly. This will help you get a sense of the impact that changing your pace of speech has on the audience.

Improving Your Speed of Speech

Developing effective speaking skills can be made easier by refining your speed of speech. To assess your current rate, there are a few simple steps to follow.

Recording Your Speech

Before beginning any improvements, it's important to understand your current rate of speech. To get the best idea, it's helpful to record yourself speaking. This allows you to play back your recording and analyse areas that need improvement. If you're unable to record yourself, simply listen to your own speech and make a note of any areas where the speed of speech could be better.

Making Improvements

Once you have identified areas where you can improve, the next step is to make changes. Make sure you take notes on the changes you need to make and then read your speech again, implementing the changes you have identified.

Keys To Success

• Record yourself speaking to get the most accurate understanding of your current speed of speech.
• Make notes on where your speed of speech could be improved or refined.
• Re-read your speech, implementing the changes where necessary.

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Speaking Rate

Rhythm & thought groups, linking & connected speech, what is an effective speaking rate.

It might seem like the faster you are able to speak a second language, the clearer and “more native-sounding” your speech will be. Actually, this is not the case! Speech that is too fast will often be harder to understand than speech that is spoken at a more moderate rate. This is particularly true when one’s speech is difficult to understand at a moderate rate; just speeding up the rate of speech will not necessarily solve the problem. 1 On the contrary, it may make one’s speech even harder to understand. 1, 2, 3

On the other hand, speaking too slowly may also have a negative impact on your intelligibility. If you think your speaking rate might be affecting your intelligibility, we recommend that you speak just slightly slower than the average English speaker (about 150 words per minute). That means that you might want to aim for about 140 words per minute. 4 That sounds like this:

Approximately 143 Words Per Minute :

Actually that reminder of my daughter brings me to the beginning of my story. 1996, when I gave my first TEDTalk, Rebecca was five years old and she was sitting right there in the front row. I had just written a book that celebrated our life on the internet and I was about to be on the cover of Wired magazine. In those heady days, we were experimenting with chat rooms and online virtual communities. We were exploring different aspects of ourselves. And then we unplugged. I was excited. And, as a psychologist, what excited me most was the idea that we would use what we learned in the virtual world about ourselves, about our identity, to live better lives in the real world. Now fast-forward to 2012. I’m back here on the TED stage again. My daughter’s 20. She’s a college student. She sleeps with her cellphone, so do I. Connected, but alone? | Sherry Turkle

What factors affect speaking rate?

Your speaking rate is likely to change based on the type of speaking and the context. For example, you should probably speak at a slightly slower rate when giving a presentation than when you are having a normal conversation. It’s also normal for nervousness to affect speaking rate, which is why rehearsing for public speaking events is crucial ( come practice with us! ).

In addition, individual speaking rates naturally vary. Some people speak at a faster or slower rate than others, and that is perfectly okay! The goal is only for your speaking rate not to affect your intelligibility. We provided more examples of different speaking rates below .

How can I figure out my average speaking rate?

The formula for calculating speaking rate is number of words divided by number of minutes (# words/# mins) . Here are some suggested steps for figuring out your average speaking rate:

How can I practice modifying my speaking rate?

We highly recommend incorporating shadowing practice into your daily pronunciation and speaking practice. Shadowing is the action of imitating a speech sample as closely and as quickly as possible. With or without a transcript, you follow “just behind” a recording. It’s a good idea to pick a specific feature of intelligibility to focus on when shadowing, and speech rate is one option. Try it with the TED Talks above or below, and check out our other suggested resources for shadowing !

In addition, if you want to change your speaking rate, it’s a good idea to be mindful of your pausing . Short pauses between thoughts are normal and expected in spoken American English. However, pausing too often or for too long can make speech harder to understand. 5 Our sections on Thought Groups will introduce you to focus words and pausing, and will give you helpful tips on how to pause appropriately to improve your intelligibility.

More examples of speech that is spoken at other, also intelligible rates:

Approximately 120 words per minute :.

In 1991, I went to my first lecture on brain SPECT imaging. SPECT is a nuclear medicine study that looks at blood flow and activity, it looks at how your brain works. SPECT was presented as a tool to help psychiatrists get more information to help their patients. In that one lecture, my two professional loves, medical imaging and psychiatry, came together, and quite honestly, revolutionized my life. Over the next 22 years, my colleagues and I would build the world’s largest database of brain scans related to behavior on patients from 93 countries. The most important lesson from 83,000 brain scans | Daniel Amen | TEDxOrangeCoast

Approximately 165 Words Per Minute :

I’m a storyteller, and I would like to tell you a few personal stories about what I like to call the danger of the single story. I grew up on a university campus, in eastern Nigeria. My mother says that I started reading at the age of two, although I think four is probably close to the truth. So I was an early reader, and what I read were British and American children’s books. I was also an early writer, and when I began to write at about the age of seven, stories in pencil with crayon illustrations that my poor mother was obligated to read, I wrote exactly the kinds of stories I was reading. All my characters were white and blue-eyed; they played in the snow; they ate apples; and they talked a lot about the weather, how lovely it was that the sun had come out. Now this despite the fact that I lived in Nigeria, I had never been outside Nigeria. We didn’t have snow; we ate mangoes; and we never talked about the weather because there was no need to. The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

What do you do now?

First , visit our section on Thought Groups to learn more about how pausing affects your intelligibility. We also recommend practicing your rhythm and connected speech , both of which will help you improve your fluency and intelligibility overall.

Second , as we noted above, we highly recommend incorporating shadowing into your daily pronunciation and speaking practice. Shadowing is the action of imitating a speech sample as closely and as quickly as possible. With or without a transcript, you follow “just behind” a recording. It’s a good idea to pick a specific feature of intelligibility to focus on when shadowing, and speech rate is one option. Check out our list of recommended TED Talks for shadowing on our Helpful Links & Resources page .

Third , make an appointment with a Speech Consultant to discuss your speaking rate and get personalized recommendations that fit your intelligibility goals.

References: 1 Anderson‐Hsieh, J., & Koehler, K. (1988). The effect of foreign accent and speaking rate on native speaker comprehension. Language learning , 38 (4), 561-613. 2 Munro, M. J., & Derwing, T. M. (2001). Modelling perceptions of the comprehensibility and accentedness of L2 speech: The role of speaking rate. Studies in Second Language Acquisition , 23 (4), 451-468. 3 Llurda, E. (2000). Effects of intelligibility and speaking rate on judgements of non-native speakers’ personalities. IRAL-International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching , 38 (3-4), 289-300. 4 The National Center for Voice and Speech. (n.d.). Voice Qualities. Retrieved April 20, 2020 from http://www.ncvs.org/ncvs/tutorials/voiceprod/tutorial/quality.html 5 Kang, O. (2010). Relative salience of suprasegmental features on judgments of L2 comprehensibility and accentedness. System , 38 (2), 301-315.

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Presentation Time Calculator

PT Time Controller

보다 정확하게 측정하고 싶다면, Customize를 이용하세요.

1. If you scroll right or left, it will calculate PT time according to corresponding speed. 2. You can consider your speech speed and the interval of your PPT pages .

140 WPM (Words Per Minute)

* 매우 천천히 설명하는 발표는 330 CPM까지도 내려갑니다.

1. Read your script for 20 seconds using below stopwatch. 2. Enter the script as much as you just read and it will calculate PT time about total script. 3. If you have PPT, enter the number of PPT pages, the interval of PPT pages and the time to view materials.

2021.03.18. Modified