10 minute speech how many pages

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• How many words per minute in a speech

How many words per minute in a speech?

A quick guide for slow, average and fast rates of speech.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

If you're preparing a speech or presentation with a strict time limit it’s useful to have an estimate of the number of words you’ll need to fit the number of minutes you've been given.

And it's even more useful to have those guidelines before you rush into writing, only to discover when you’re done, you’ve written far too much. Something I used to do on a regular basis! (And then, I had the tedious job of pruning to fit.)

What's on this page:

How many words are there in a 1-minute speech, how many words are there in a 2-minute speech, how many words are there in a 3-minute speech, how many words are there in a 4-minute speech, how many words are there in a 5-minute speech, how many words are there in a 6-minute speech, how many words are there in a 7-minute speech, how many words are there in an 8-minute speech, how many words are there in a 9-minute speech, how many words are there in a 10-minute speech, how many words are there in a 15-minute speech, how many words are there in a 20-minute speech, how many words are there in a 25-minute speech, how many words are there in a 30-minute speech.

• How to calculate your own speech rate: 2 easy methods
• How many pages is a 4, 7 or 20-minute speech?     

About this quick reference guide

The following table (below) shows the average number of words spoken per minute for speeches from 1 to 30 minutes long. It's a quick reference guide: one only intended to provide general information.

Who, and what, is truly average?

An average word count for any timed speech (one minute, two minutes, three, four, five, six...or more, minutes) is impossible to give. As there really is no such thing as an average person, who uses an average rate of words per minute when they speak.

We are individuals: each of us different. Speech patterns and speech (speaking) rates vary considerably between person to person for a great many reasons. The best you’ll ever get is an educated guess.

Use as an estimate: test yourself to be sure

That aside, the following estimates will give you a handy indication of the number of minutes it takes to say x number of words depending on whether you talk at a slow speed, a medium speed or you're one of the world's fast talkers.

(And, no, it's never a good idea to gabble at a mile a minute to fit everything you've prepared into the length of time you've been given!)

To be absolutely sure what you've done will fit the time allocation you've been given it's a good idea to test yourself to establish your own speaking rate or speed of speech .

How many pages is a 'x' minute speech?

Multiple variations on the question how many pages are needed for a speech are frequently asked. For instance:

• How many pages is a 4-minute speech?
• How many pages is a 7-minute speech?
• How many pages is a 20-minute presentation?

Unfortunately, the answer is not simple. Calculating the number of A4 pages of text you need for a speech of any number of minutes long is tricky for two reasons.

How many words are on an A4 page?

The first reason is that the number of words on an A4 page depends on how the page has been formatted. The answers to the questions below make a very big difference to the total number of pages needed to print a speech.

• What is the font family being used? (Different fonts take up differing amounts of space because of the shape/design of their characters.)  
• What is the size of the font? (The font size you're reading right now is 20px.)
• What is the spacing between each of the letters in a word?
• What is the spacing between each line of text? Is it single spacing, 1.5 or double line spacing?
• What spacing has been set for paragraphs?
• What size have the margins of the page been set at?
• Are there headings? Sub-headings or lists?

On average if the font is plain, (sans-serif, without embellishment), like Arial or Verdana, its size is set for 12px, and the line spacing is set for 1.5, then a page may have between 400-500 words on it.

Speech rate changes how we calculate the number of words we need

The second reason why using the number of pages to gauge how long a speech will take to deliver is problematical is because we speak at different rates. 

A 500-word page may take someone speaking at very slow rate 4 minutes to get through.

Another person, who has a much faster speaking rate, may take about 2.5 minutes to deliver exactly the same text.

Using the number of pages as a guide for a speech that has to fit a time limit is completely unreliable.

If you need to use a 'guesstimate' use the speech rate table below. Forget about counting the pages! 

If you are a slow speaker, less than 120 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 120 - 160 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 160 - 200 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 240 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 240 - 320 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 320 - 400 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 360 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 360 – 480 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 480 - 600 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 480 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 480 – 640 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 640 - 800 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 600 words,

If you speak at an average speed between: 600 – 760 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 760 - 1000 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 720 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 720 – 960 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 960 - 1200 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 840 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 840 – 1120 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1120 - 1400 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 960 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 960 – 1280 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1280 - 1600 words.

If you are a slow speaker less than 1080 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1080 – 1440 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1440 - 1800 words.

If you are a slow speaker a little less than 1200 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1200 – 1600 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 1600 - 2000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 1,800 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 1,800 - 2,400 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 2,400 - 3,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 2,400 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 2,400 - 3,200 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 3,200 - 4,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 3,000 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 3,000 - 4,000 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 4,000 - 5,000 words.

If you are a slow speaker, a little less than 3,600 words.

If you speak at an average speed between: 3,600 - 4,800 words.

If you are a fast speaker between: 4,800 - 6,000 words.

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Find out more about speech rate

• How to calculate your own words per minute speech rate - two easy methods
• The factors influencing a faster rate or slower rate of speech
• How to develop an ideal rate of speech : one matching content, speech purpose and your audience: six exercises for flexible speaking rate

Words per minute calculator

Lastly here's the link to a useful online words per minutes calculator . Once you've completed your speech enter the total number of words, and select whether you want it to give you an average for a minute of your speech at a slow rate, average or fast rate. Again, it's a 'guesstimate'. ☺

The only really safe way to find out whether your speech fits your time allocation is to say it aloud at an ideal rate or pace: one taking into account the content, and the audience who is going to listen to it, while timing it.

(Use the record function on your phone. It will assist in lots of other ways too! You'll hear where you need more vocal variety, where your pronunciation is blurred ...and, so on. It's super helpful.)

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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.

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How Many Words Are in a 10 Minute Long Speech?

Answer: At the normal speaking rate of 130 words per minute (wpm), a 10 minutes long speech will have about 1,300 words .

Speech and publication coach Daphne Gray-Grant  found that, on average, people speak at a rate of 125 to 150 wpm so a 10 minutes long speech uses between 1,250 and 1,500 words.

You can use our word counter tool to see how long on average your text will take to speak.

How Can You Measure Your Spoken Words per Minute?

To quickly know what your speaking rate is, write a 650-word essay and then get out a stopwatch. Time how long it takes you to speak all of the words in the essay.

Once you’ve finished, divide the word count (650 words) by the number of minutes in decimals (30 seconds = 0.5 minutes) and you’ll get an estimate of your words per minute speaking rate.

For example, if it takes you 4.5 minutes to speak 650 words, you would divide 650 by 4.5 to get 144 words per minute.

Word Count per Speech Length

To quickly find out how many words a typical speaking length requires, see the table below. You can quickly map word counts to typical speaking rates:

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What is the average number of pages for a 10 minute speech?

The average number of pages for a 10-minute speech can vary depending on factors such as speaking rate, pausing, and the density of the content. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you estimate the number of pages for your speech.

Speaking Rate: The average speaking rate is around 120-180 words per minute [2] . To calculate the number of words for a 10-minute speech, you can multiply the average speaking rate by 10. For example, if the speaking rate is 150 words per minute, the total number of words for a 10-minute speech would be 150 x 10 = 1500 words.

Word Count to Page Conversion: The number of words per page can vary depending on factors such as font size, spacing, and formatting. As a rough estimate, a single-spaced page with regular font size and margins can contain around 250-300 words [1] . Therefore, if your speech is 1500 words long, it would be approximately 5-6 pages.

It's important to note that these estimates are just guidelines, and the actual number of pages may vary based on individual speaking style, content complexity, and other factors. It's always a good idea to practice your speech and time yourself to ensure that you are within the desired time frame.

Learn more:

• How many pages is a 10 minute speech? - Quora
• writing a 10 minute speech.. | Bored Of Studies
• How Many Words Are in a 10 Minute Long Speech? - Capitalize My Title

Continue the conversation

Explore more.

How Many Words Are There in a 10 Minute Speech?

Some people speak slowly when giving a speech while others speak quickly. Those who speak quickly will need to write more words for each minute of their speech than those who speak at a slower pace. That being said, there are some general guidelines which can help you make an educated guess at approximately how many words will be needed for a speech.

The general rule for speech giving is 100 to 200 words per minute. With this in mind, a 10-minute speech would require 1,000 to 2,000 words . The WordCounter speaking time detail defaults 150 words per minute (an average speed which would give a result of 1,500 words, as this is the recommended speed for audiobooks to be read at for best listening), but you can use the options section to adjust to a slower or faster pace. Simply click on “Options” then the “Details” tab and then the wrench next to the “Speaking Time” button.

If want to know how many words per minute (WPM) you personally say when giving a speech, you can use a timer to time yourself, then input that number into the options section. Time yourself for one minute of your speech, then copy to where you made it into WordCounter to see how many words you speak per minute. This will give you a more accurate estimate of how many words you must write for however long the speech you need to make will be.

It’s important to remember that speech patterns can increase when a person is nervous. This means that even when determining the number of words needed for a 10-minute speech when practicing at home by yourself, you may actually need more during the actual speech if you get nervous.

While the number of words in a speech will depend heavily on how fast or slow the person giving the speech speaks, for those who are looking for a basic estimate of how many words would be in a speech, you can use the following estimates. These estimates use the average speaking pace of 150 words per minute to estimate.

How many words in a 1-minute speech? There are 150 words in a 1-minute speech. How many words in a 2-minute speech? There are 300 words in a 2-minute speech. How many words in a 3-minute speech? There are 450 words in a 3-minute speech. How many words in a 4-minute speech? There are 600 words in a 4-minute speech. How many words in a 5-minute speech? There are 750 words in a 5-minute speech. How many words in a 6-minute speech? There are 900 words in a 6-minute speech. How many words in a 7-minute speech? There are 1050 words in a 7-minute speech. How many words in an 8-minute speech? There are 1,200 words in an 8-minute speech. How many words in a 9-minute speech? There are 1,350 words in a 9-minute speech. How many words in a 10-minute speech? There are 1,500 words in a 10-minute speech. How many words in a 15-minute speech? There are 2,250 words in a 15-minute speech. How many words in a 20-minute speech? There are 3,000 words in a 20-minute speech. How many words in a 25-minute speech? There are 3,750 words in a 25-minute speech. How many words in a 30-minute speech? There are 4,500 words in a 30-minute speech. How many words in a 45-minute speech? There are 6,750 words in a 45-minute speech. How many words in a 1-hour speech? There are 9,000 words in a 1-hour speech.

How minutes is 250 words? 250 words is 1.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 500 words? 500 words is 3.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 750 words? 750 words is 5 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,000 words? 1,000 words is 6.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 1,500 words? 1,500 words is 10 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,000 words? 2,000 words is 13.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 2,500 words? 2,500 words is 16.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 3,000 words? 3,000 words is 20 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 4,000 words? 4,000 words is 26.67 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 5,000 words? 5,000 words is 33.33 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 7,500 words? 7,500 words is 50 minutes of speaking time. How minutes is 10,000 words? 10,000 words is 66.67 minutes of speaking time.

(Photo courtesy of Scott Schiller )

How can you estimate the number of minutes a speech is going to be if you know you get nervous during the speech, but you don’t get nervous when you practice? That’s my problem. My speech needs to be 5 minutes, but 5 minutes when I practice won’t be long enough when I do the speech. I need to know how much faster it will be so I can write more. How do I calculate that?

There is no tried and true method to get the exact number of minutes it will take you to do a speech except to practice. Keep records of how long it takes you to do a speech when you practice, and then when you actually give a speech. After doing this a few times you should be able to estimate how much faster you speak when giving a speech than when you practice.

Well, I’m sure this is an estimate because the amount of words a person speaks will also be determined by how confident or nervous they are. Confident people can normally say more in less time than nervous people. It also depends on how many times they pause when they talk. There are a lot of different factors to consider.

i HEAVILY agree with this

Nervous people tend to speak faster because the fact that they are nervous. Confident people can adjust their speed of talking as they seem fit

Why does everybody speak so slowly? I speak at about 250 words per minute. All of you must speak like you are talking to a child that doesn’t understand what you are saying. I can’t believe that you waste so much time speaking slowly like that. Just learn to talk so that you’re not wasting other people’s time.

Seriously? Chances are you’re the person who is annoying everyone by talking so fast and always trying to get in an extra word like you did with your comment. Normal conversations don’t have to be spoken at bullet train speed. Before you call out other about how slowly they speak, you might want to look into the mirror and ask if you’re the one causing the issues with your opinionated nonsense.

I think I love you Giggy lol. Your comment made my night/year 🙂

Thank you. This will help me a lot in preparing for a speech I have to do at school. It’s good to know an estimate of how many words per minute my speech will take. At least that gives me a starting point when I put it together.

Happy to hear that this article was helpful to you for your speech. I hope that the speech goes well!

I hate giving speeches for class. I think they should be based on word count and not how long it takes to speak. Everyone should write 500 words and then it doesn’t matter how long the speech is because all students will say the same number of words. Should I really have to write more just because I speak fast?

Another way of looking at this is that you have the opportunity to say more in a given amount of time than your classmates because you are a fast speaker. This can give you an advantage over your fellow students by allowing you to say more in a shorter period of time. Instead of looking at the negative that you have to write more, look at it as the positive that you can see more.

I hate giving speeches as well. Some of us just aren’t good at it and it’s embarrassing having to look stupid in front of all our classmates. I’m dreading the speech I have to give next week 🙁

I just use a stopwatch while I read whatever I write and that’s how I can tell how long it’s going to take me to do my speech. I find that when I memorize the words, I speak a little faster than when I read so I have to take this into account as well. Anybody who wants to know how many words they need to write for a 10 min. speech should try the stopwatch method. It’s really the easiest way to figure it out.

This is fine if you have already written the speech, but it’s sometimes useful to have an estimate of how much you have to write when you begin to write the speech. That’s how I ended up at this article. I needed a general rule of thumb so I could have a word count goal when I started to write my speech.

Wow. This is very useful and would have really helped me out back when I was in school. We always had to write our speech and then just practice timing it so that we would know how long it was going to take. We all just tried to make it all last as long as possible since the topics were often quite difficult to spend so much time talking about.

I hate it when I have to give speeches for class. It’s the stupidest thing in the world and I think that it would be better if we just didn’t have to do it. Why do teachers want to make us stand up in front of the class and embarrass ourselves? When am I ever going to have to give a speech when I become an adult? I hate that I have to do this and try to figure out how much to write for this stupid class.

Welcome to life. There will be plenty of time you have to do things you don’t want to, and it only gets worse when you become an adult.

Very interesting but it will differ from person to person. Not everyone speaks in the same manner or with the same confidence and there are times when people will speak less due to stress. You have to know yourself and how stress affects your speaking to know how fast you will say things.

I think that was made abundantly clear in the article. Everyone speaks at a different pace, but the above explanation is a general estimate or approximation of how many words it will take to do a 10 min. speech ( for however long your speech happens to be).

I don’t understand why everybody gets so uptight when the estimates aren’t exactly what applies to them. They’re estimates folks.

Estimates matter because they’re useless if they don’t apply to you. What’s the use of trying to find out how many words are in a certain time speech if the estimates that are given aren’t accurate? It’s useless to give out estimates on how long different speeches are if those estimates aren’t accurate for most people.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

My teacher wasn’t happy with me at all when my 5 min. speech was only 10 words long. In my defense, he never said how slowly we could speak when giving the speech. Apparently, one word every 30 seconds is slow enough to send you to detention…

This is actually pretty funny if it’s true. While you may have gotten detention, it will be a story that you will tell your friends throughout your life. Now, this isn’t something I suggest that other people do as you’re going to get a bad grade if you try it, but it’s also funny.

I guess it depends the reason you did this. If you did it just to be a pain to your teacher or because you didn’t want to do the work, it’s a pretty awful thing for you to do. On the other hand, if you were trying to be creative or make a relevant point, then I don’t have an issue with it. The reason why you do things has a big impact on whether your actions are worthwhile of just trolling.

I should try this in my class. That way I could go to sleep now and not stay up all night trying to write a speech that’s going to suck anyway. I think I will!

What if you need to know how many words are in a 4 – 5 minute speech and not a 4 minute speech or a 5 minute speech? There are two different numbers so which one should I use. I need to write a 4 – 5 minute speech for my class and I don’t know which number to use.

Not sure if this is real or somebody just trolling, but I’ll go ahead and answer it anyway. Everything listed above our estimates. How long it actually takes you to do the speech will very because you speak differently than all your other classmates. What you need to do is take the low number estimate (600 words for a 4 min. speech) and write that many words. Then reach what you have written well time yourself and see how long it takes. If what you have written is under 4 minutes, then you need to write more. If it’s over 4 minutes, but under 5 minutes, then your perfect, and if it’s over 5 minutes, you need to shorten it.

I just dropped by to let everyone know I HATE SPEECHES! I just needed to get that off my chest…

Even if you don’t like speeches, it’s worth getting better at them. It can help you tremendously in the real world. I suggest you check out toastmasters. Well worth it!

That was 72 words. We can see how over a hundred can be a problem for you. 😝

I don’t understand why speeches have to be within a time limit? Shouldn’t a speech go as long as it needs to to get the information across? If you limit the time or have a minimum amount of time it must be, then you are forcing the speech to be written to a time rather than being written for what needs to be said.

Time limits can make speeches better. If you have all the time in the world, you can ramble on about things that aren’t really relevant to the topic. A time limit forces you to hone in your speech on the really important points.

Exactly what I have been thinking this whole time! I always write a longer speech than the time that we’re supposed to write to. If the speech should be two minutes? Then I write one for 8 minutes. Is it supposed to be five minutes long? Then I’ll write one that’s twenty. My teachers (and my comrades) hate me for that, but even if I try to make it shorter it still becomes longer than allowed. I just can’t make a good speech without making it so long. It’s always easier to make a good argument/presentation/thought experiment if the text is longer. Time limits should really be forbidden.

I have the opposite problem, getting time limit/word count high enough. That’s why I support time limits and such, because they force me to write a good, well thought out speech.

It’s for people who are going to get kicked off the metaphorical and literal stage when time runs out. And people who get marked n speeches.

So, if my assignment is to write a 5 minute speech, I need to write 750 words?

So helpful!

this page was a blessing and saved me 40 minutes rather then reading and recording self for a screenplay, your a goddesses whoever wrote this page !!!!! 💖✨

I enjoyed reading this article but I am poor at speaking in front of people so what should I do to master at speaking

How long should à speech be? A professor of mine once said, “like skirts, long enough to cover the subject and short enough to make it interesting”. Granted he was thinking of gender as well, so very inappropriate in that way. However a skirt on any body, such as a kilt for instance, makes the same point.

Thanks for your very helpful information, and all the comments that follow. This is exactly what I needed to know.

Thank you! Now I know that my speech will take about 3 1/2 minutes!

Thank you for this article it helped me alot!

hi i was wondering if you knew how to get a speech to be 3-5 minutes long

Mine’s not so much a speech, but a bit for a station that needs to be 3 mins each. I was taught by my Writing for Broadcasting that 30 seconds is 85 words, and 1 minute is 185. NOT 150. This is now throwing me off and forcing me to do math I was ALWAYS horrible at even as a kid. Nice.

i said 2,000 words in 3 minutes.

READ SLOWER. Put breaks in your speech. For example, “Magnets produce a magnetic force called a magnetic field. [Pause] This field is invisible to the human eye but iron fillings can be used to show these fields. [Deep Breath] All magnets have two ends – a north pole and a south pole. Magnetism either attracts magnetic objects or pushes them away.” (Little House of Science 1) When you do something like this it will eventually help you to be a better speaker.

Wow they weren’t useful for you. They may have been for others. Like me! “they’re useless if they don’t apply to you”. Great but what if they do apply. Goodbye have a good day.

Vote: 5 1 Reply to boostedbonobo Lucas did this good thing

this is the reason i don’t like speeches you have to work extremely hard to actually get a good one and it can get V E R Y annoying.

I’m gonna test my speech right away, and those who think giving a speech to your classmates at school (like what i’m doing at the moment) really sucks. Maybe think of it as an opportunity to convince someone such as your teacher to do something.

I am 100% ok with speeches, and honestly, I find that they can be sort of fun. The only problem I have is delivering them. They always seem monotone and boring, and I have no idea why.

At first, I thought this was just a rig, but when I read my speech (practicing) it was actually kind of accurate! I just wanted to know, how did you find out? Just read speeches with those amount of words?

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Speech Length Calculator

About speech length calculator (formula).

The Speech Length Calculator is a tool used to estimate the duration of a speech or presentation based on the number of words and the speaking rate. The formula for calculating speech length is as follows:

Speech Length = Number of Words / Words per Minute

• Speech Length: The estimated duration of the speech or presentation, usually measured in minutes.
• Number of Words: The total number of words in the speech.
• Words per Minute: The average rate at which the speaker delivers words, typically measured in words per minute (wpm).

This calculation helps presenters and speakers plan their speeches and allocate appropriate time for each segment. It also ensures that the speech fits within a given time limit, enhancing the overall effectiveness of communication.

The Speech Length Calculator is particularly useful for event organizers, public speakers, educators, and anyone delivering a presentation. By using this tool, speakers can manage their time effectively, engage the audience, and convey their message clearly and concisely. It’s important to consider factors like pauses, audience interaction, and potential questions when planning speech length.

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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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10-Minute presentations: How to Write, Design & Deliver (Complete Guide)

Hrideep barot.

• Presentation , Public Speaking

Presentations are an interesting way to introduce a new topic, perspective, or study to your audience. 10-minute presentations serve the same purpose but they come with a specified restriction on time.

When we see the word presentation, we instantly think of PPTs and while PPTs are used in many cases, some presentations are completely oral as well.

The number of speakers is another variable while presenting. It can be done individually like in the case of a job interview presentation or in a group setting like in the case of a college assignment. 

How long should a 10-minute presentation be?

Ideally, for 10-minute presentations, you should focus on adding 5-10 effective, crisp slides. And a speech of about 1000-2000 words should be enough to complete the presentation within 10 minutes.

However, there are no set rules while making a presentation which means that you are free to increase or decrease the number of slides in your presentation depending upon your pace of presenting.

Now when we talk about the pace of presenting, we mean the number of words you can speak in an understandable manner per minute. So, if you can speak 100-120 words per minute (adding the usual pauses), then a 1000–1200-word speech would be enough for your 10-minute presentation.

While we cannot point out an exact word count specifically catered for you in this blog, we can surely suggest you take up any piece of long article and go on reading it out loud while taking necessary pauses and timing it. It might give you an idea of your speed which in turn would help you gauge the perfect word count for your presentation.

Another factor that would define the way you present your topic is whether you are presenting it individually or in a group.

Individual Presentations

In Individual presentations, you are the one to shoulder your entire presentation’s responsibility. You can make use of effective PowerPoint presentation skills or use props to keep the audience engaged and interested in your presentation.

Further, it becomes extremely important for you to have sufficient knowledge about your topic, as in case of any doubts you are the only one to be questioned by the audience members.

Group Presentations

On the other hand, in group presentations, the responsibility to carry out an effective and good presentation falls on all group members. This calls for a lot of coordination which would require a ton of practice.

In groups, you can make use of skits to explain a certain phenomenon. Or maybe the use of coordinated props per speaker can also make your presentations more eye-catchy.

Further, involving your entire group to present rather than just 2 people doing it with beautifully placed content, will easily stand out to the audience.

The placement of your content could be in a para format wherein one person speaks a para followed by another one. Or one person can explain one subtopic followed by another; whatever suits best for your group.

A beautiful example of group presentations is the one by The minimalists .

It is a beautiful presentation because we see that while one person is speaking, the other enacts what is being said, thus making it an interesting presentation involving both speakers.

Tips for your 10-minute presentations

1. avoid information overload.

While it can be very tempting to add all the relevant information in your presentation, limiting it will turn out to be one of the best decisions taken by any presenter.

The reason is very simple, every individual has a very limited attention span and capacity to take in new information . 10-minute presentations exceed the average duration of attention span among humans which is 7 minutes.

If you bombard them with tons of information, chances are that they might feel exhausted and detached from your topic and presentation altogether.

2. Avoid reading from your slides

We know you might have heard this a gazillion times but here we are to say it again because it is very important. Avoid reading from your slides. As it might indicate your lack of understanding of the topic . It can also end up being a little boring for the audience to listen to something present in front of them that they can easily read themselves.

3. Give your audience an incentive to listen to you

It is always better to assume that your audience is not innately motivated to listen to your presentation and hence to give them a reason why listening to your presentation would be worth it.

Are you planning on discussing a new perspective on a widely-spoken topic? Are you trying to introduce new findings? Is your presentation trying to motivate the audience?

Whatever goal you wish to achieve through your presentation, make it known to the audience.

4. Try to offer something new

The very essence of presentations is to offer some new idea, perspective, or study to your audience. This holds especially true when your presentation is on a generic or widely-spoken topic like climate change.

5. Avoid exceeding the time limit

This goes without saying, avoid exceeding your time limit. If you know you have been given 10 minutes, either finish it by the time it hits the limit or better yet, finish it before time.

Everyone would appreciate you for finishing your presentation before time for sure.

6. Make it easy to understand

Another point that goes without saying is to make your content very easy for everyone in the audience to understand.

Try to tweak your presentation in a manner that is convenient for the youngest and the least experienced member to understand easily.  For if your presentation doesn’t reach your audience, it might not fulfill its very purpose.

Structuring 10-minute presentations

Just like we structure any speech, with a beginning, a middle, and an end, structuring your presentation follows a similar pattern.

In the initial few minutes or even seconds of your presentation, the audience might have decided whether they should listen to your presentation or will it be more fruitful to dive deep into their thoughts.

This is the reason why starting 10-minute presentations on a strong foot is emphasized so much. But again, there is no need to stress out about it.

Here are a few tips on how you can start your presentation:

1. Provocative statements

Provocative statements are the ones that try to shake some strongly held views of the audience. Reggie Rivers make use of a provocative statement in his TED talk that might help you understand its use better.

He begins by saying

If you want to achieve your goals, don’t focus on them.

The statement clearly goes against a belief we have grown up with; the idea that we should chase and focus on our goals in order to achieve them.

2. Hypothetical scenario

Starting with a hypothetical scenario includes the use of words like “Imagine” or “what if.” It gives your audience a chance to put themselves in a situation that you are about to address in your presentation.

An example of the same is given below.

Imagine you are going out for a drive with your friends. It is a little late and the roads are wet from the heavy shower that had surrendered only a few minutes ago. You are all singing and laughing. But then you look to your left only to realize two giant lights come close to you at lightning speed and you know at that moment you are going to die. That you are going to die in that crash. Then you hear a screech and *pause* the truck halts 5 cm from your car. That is exactly what someone with anxiety feels but unlike you, it doesn’t end within a few minutes; it persists for hours or even days.

3. Hard-hitting questions

While questions are one of the most widely used ways to open any speech or presentation, the task here is to open with a hard-hitting question.

A question that your audience probably doesn’t have an answer to, which you plan on providing them through your presentation.

Some examples of these would be:

• Is there anyone here who can give me the exact amount of microplastics they consumed during this week?
• Did you know that with the advancement in technology, there is a possibility that the organ transplanted to you in 20 years would not be from another human but from an animal?

Starting your presentation with props is the easiest and most creative way to start a presentation. The reason why it is creative is that you can use absolutely anything as a prop. Be it a plastic bottle, a jar full of waste, or even some hula hoops.

Once you have introduced yourself and your topic, you can go on to the next step: the main content of your presentation.

However, it isn’t just about presenting your points but how you present them that we will take a look into.  Presenting your topic in a more structured manner makes it easier for your audience to stay in tune with your presentation.

One of the formatting ways is the 3-pointer format . The idea behind using a 3-pointer structure is to divide your main content into 3 huge chunks or points. And while you are free to add more points, having 3 points makes it a tad bit easier to recall the information and to maintain a flow among the listeners.  

An example of using a three-pointer structure is this 5 slide presentation by Ashley Stahl where she talks about 3 key questions to unlock your authentic careers.

• What are you good at?
• What do people tell me I am good at?
• What is holding you back?

The closing remarks like the opening lines are quite important.

There are several ways in which you can close your presentation. But it takes more than a mere thank you to make it an effective closing remark for your presentation.

A few ways in which you can close 10-minute presentations are:

1. Fitting remark

A fitting remark or in simple terms a summary is where you revise what you just spoke in a couple of lines. It is better to keep it as short as possible as 10-minute presentations don’t give you enough tie to elaborate.

2. Calling for action

You can end your speech by instilling a sense of action and purpose among the audience members to make a difference. An amazing example of this is the speech by Leonardo DiCaprio. While it is a speech, you can observe his way of delivering the last couple of lines and inculcate the same in your presentation.

For more ways in which you can close your presentation check out our video on 5 Powerful Speech Closing Remarks for your next Presentation.

Designing 10-minute presentations

Designing your PowerPoint is as important as presenting your topic confidently and effectively.

A few dos and don’ts of designing your PPTs are:

Some amazing websites that will help you in making effective and aesthetically pleasing presentations are canva , Prezi , and more.

Best PowerPoint presentations on TED 

Some of the most innovative PowerPoint presentations we came across on Ted were the ones given by Tim Burton and Adam Grant.

1. Tim Burton

I can not emphasize how absolutely wonderful the Presentation by Tim is. A mix of information with tons of humor coupled with very entertaining visuals.

His confidence makes the presentation quite engaging and interesting to watch.

2. Adam Grant

Adam Grant like Tim Burton has made use of animated cartoons to make the statistical data quite entertaining. However, the way he presents his topic is a little different.

His presentation is filled with images and cartoons . When he states quantitative data, the font size and color are something that must be taken a look into. Further, the language that he includes in his PPT is very candid and informal.

Delivering 10-minute presentations

While you are trying to make your content crisp, 10 minutes may seem way too little; But when it comes to presenting it and speaking, 10 minutes is not that short of a time.

There are a few things that you can do so as to deliver your presentation in its most effective way.

1. Practice your presentation in chunks.

Chunks are the division of your main content into small parts. 5-to-9 chunks are easy to remember.

We are not encouraging you to memorize or rote learn your presentation. However, it is important to remember the flow in which you are supposed to be presenting. And for this dividing, your presentation into chunks to practice can help navigate you through your entire presentation.

This also raises the question that,

How Long Should You Practice for a Presentation?

It is advisable to practice your presentation at least 3 times and a maximum of 10-12 times . But as the old saying goes “Practice makes a man perfect,” you can practice as long as you feel you have perfected your presentation.

If you are looking for a specific time duration for which you should practice then, for a 10-minute presentation, 30 minutes to about An hour and a half should suffice.

For some amazing tips on how you can rehearse your presentations, check out 13 Tips For Rehearsing A Presentation .

2. Add a story or share a personal experience

Stories are a very binding way to let your point across. It adds a personal touch, especially if you are sharing your personal experience. It also gives the audience a chance to understand where you come from and maybe even relate to you.

The TED by Jarret J. Krosoczka is a wonderful presentation where he illustrates his story while talking about it to the audience.

The creative bend makes it a presentation worth remembering, don’t you think?

3. Engage the audience.

While it isn’t mandatory for you to add elements that would ensure that the audience stays engaged, adding it will only help in enhancing your and your audience’s experience (if time permits).

You can add a quiz , or a small game like spot a difference between the two pictures. you can also ask a question and take a poll by asking the audience members who agree to raise their hands.

4. Add humor to your presentations

Humor can be your friend or your enemy while presenting a topic. If you get it right, it can make your presentation an unforgettable one. At the same time, if you end up making jokes that the audience might not find funny or worst even derogatory, It may land you in some trouble.

One of the funniest and most energy-filled presentations I have come across was the one by Alexis Nikole Nelson and her take on Veganism. The way in which she makes use of the prop is another thing you must take a look into.

Add elements of credibility

Elements of credibility include stating facts and figures . You can also quote some renowned personalities . All these things would build the confidence of the audience in your presentation. It also works best to give a reality check. How do you ask?

Simple, when you state figures, you give them a clear picture of the situation.

An example of this is the use of statistics used by Randy Palisoc in his Ted talk “Math isn’t hard, it’s a language.”

26%..Thats is the percentage of US 12 graders who are proficient in math

Find the full video of the same below.

Famous 10-Minute Presentations

1. bill gates.

We might have all heard about Bill Gates and his talks or speeches on Climate Change. But this presentation was a little different.

Here, Bill Gates goes on to explain how teachers have not been receiving sufficient feedback which could’ve led to drastic changes in their teaching patterns.

He explains the wide disparity in feedback given to teachers through charts , thus providing a way to easily compare and evaluate one’s country’s performance to that of others.

His bidding statement ends on a positive note as it is filled with optimism. He says,

I am excited about the opportunity to give all our teachers the support they want and deserve. I hope you are too.

2. Vishaan Chakrabarti

Renowned Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti gives an insight into the need for sustainable housing to provide a roof over the head of additional 3 billion people who are expected to be born by 2100.

The presentation is particularly interesting for the way in which he has used the visuals and animations . The language is kept simple which makes it easy to understand even if you have no degree in architecture.

Topics for 10-minute presentations

Presentation topics for college students.

• Population explosion
• The increasing gap between Rich and Poor
• Virtual money as the next evolution in monetary exchange
• Diversification and blending of cultures
• Change in seeking entertainment post-pandemic
• Data is the new oil
• Are we prepared for the next pandemic?
• Electric Vehicles: Future of Transportation
• E-learning and the shift in the education system
• Veganism and sustainability
• Evolution of the fashion industry in the metaverse
• Legalization of cryptocurrencies
• Need for immediate action toward climate change
• Do your degrees define your success in life?
• Evolution in careers across the years

Presentation Topics for Interviews

• Overcoming fears can lead to success
• Diversification in the workplace and its impact on better decision making
• Right to work is a fundamental right
• Can a few jobs permanently start working from home?
• Women as leaders
• The rise in startup culture
• The increasing threat of data breach
• Influencer marketing and its advantages
• Employee motivation and its relation to monetary rewards
• Should employees be paid for working overtime
• Paternal leave and its benefits
• Building skills is more important than degrees
• The efficiency of a 4 day work week
• Benefits of going paperless to the organizations

Funny 10-minute presentation topics

• 11 ways to order a pizza
• Why you don’t need success
• Why be excellent when you can be mediocre?
• World’s worst Disaster: Crocs Heels
• Evolution of Dance: from Bellydance to TikTok dance
• Being an Adult: The Most challenging task
• Struggles of Being a Planned Child
• Alcohol fixes relationships
• How autocorrect ruins your life
• LOL: Only Socially Acceptable way to Avoid laughing
• If only I had the life I do on My Instagram
• 5 easy ways to make it out of the friendzone
• 3 Totally useless professions
• 6 ways to do absolutely nothing
• The Rise of Family Whatsapp Groups

You can also find more speech topics depending on the type of your speech. Check out Demonstrative Speech Topics , Informative Speech Topics , and Persuasive Speech Topics on our website to get some inspiration for your speech.

10-Minute presentation sample

Presentation on Sustainable Fashion

I want you to imagine the amount of water you drink in a day. Now imagine and tell me if you can do the math, how much water would you have consumed in 3 years?

Let me help you.

2720 liters of water.

Now how would you feel if I tell you that this also equal to the amount of water that went into making the t-shirt you quite stunningly adorn right now?

*Imitates mind being blown*

With a 4-fold increase in the production of clothes over the last 20 years, we cannot even imagine the extent to which it has penetrated the pollution index across the world. Every year, fast fashion brands release several micro collections against the ideal 2. So if you ever wondered how the store has a very different collection every time you step into H&M or Zara, you know now. In fact, In the US per person, approximately 35 kgs of textile waste are generated every year.

If this wasn’t enough, the extent of water pollution caused by Fast fashion is beyond imaginable. 22,000 toxic waste is released into rivers by tanneries in Bangladesh,

Every. Single. Day.

So, what is the most immediate action that you can take to switch to more sustainable styling?

I am going to introduce a mantra that has worked wonders for me when I felt overwhelmed about switching to sustainable fashion. The 4 Rs and No it isn’t Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The 4 Rs for sustainable fashion are

Reduce your consumption of clothes. Has it ever happened that you end up buying a shirt only to realize you don’t a perfect pair of pants to wear with it? Or bought something that you found super cute but never touched once you got home? It’s okay! Don’t feel guilty, I have done that too.

But that can be avoided. A simple method is to ask yourself “Do I need this Now?” and “Will I be able to use it in the long run?” The answer to the second question will immediately direct you away from fast fashion brands that offer cheap quality clothing at a very affordable rate.

If the clothes you own can be repaired in any way, it is better to do that than jump on to buy a new one. There were many times when I repaired or redesigned my outfits. For example. this one time when I slipped in my yard and tore my jeans a little from the knee area. Guess the ground was desperate for me to own another pair of ripped jeans and so I did exactly that. The other time a friend of mine, an amazing artist got some splashes of paint on her pants, Any guess what we did with those pants?

Exactly! Splashed more paint over it. Now I know it may sound bizarre but that was a time when that was in trend.

The third option is to Resell your stuff or give it to someone else.

This is where our popular thrift stores come into the picture. You’ve got a piece of clothing that you are never going to wear? Why let it take up the space in your closet when you can easily make money out of it and get rid of it at the same time. But if you are more altruistic, you can even consider donating your not-so-frequently used clothes to those who need them. And I know for a fact that every brown person sitting here is a pro at both lending and receiving hand-me-downs.

Lastly and the most important of all is, to rethink your consumption of fashion. It is 2022. Some brands have dedicated their entire efforts to providing you with sustainable alternatives. You can choose to buy consciously.

For instance, Adidas’s future craft loop edition shoes are one such example of big brands trying to do their part in this battle of saving our planet from our species. Further, there are brands like Baggit that use vegan leather for all their products.

Then there are completely sustainable brands like Eco India that use the clothes thrown into landfills to make fashion statements that are both iconic as well as sustainable.

While I can talk about this for as long as my voice doesn’t give in, I guess I should cut it short.

Reduce, Repair, Resell and Rethink what you can do to make the change towards a healthier fashion choice. After all the industry thrives upon you and your impulsiveness, try not to give in to it.

So the idea is simple. Maintain your style but not at the cost of the planet.

Final Thoughts

Presentations are an effective mode of presenting your topic with creativity.

10-minute presentations however come with a restriction on time which makes it important to focus on crunching the information you plan to add and thus keeping it short.

The use of visuals can be effective in carrying out successful presentations, be it PPTs or props.

Sharing personal experiences, humor, or any other element that makes your presentation stand out would enhance your presentation and make it easier for the audience to recall the information shared by you.

Lastly, there is no right or wrong way of presenting.

The only way we know is to enjoy your presentation just as much as you would want the audience to enjoy listening to it.

If you feel like you need more personalized guidance on carrying out your presentation in a more effective and confident manner, Check out Frantically Speaking .

We will be more than happy to help you!

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

How to Brag Like a Pro as a Speaker

Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience 

What does it mean to Resonate with the Audience- Agreement, Acceptance, Approval

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How Many Words Should Be in My Speech? (Based on Number of Minutes)

Crafting a speech? Typically, individuals speak at 125-200 words per minute. For instance, a 5-minute speech is about 625-1000 words. Keep this pace in mind to tailor your speech’s length to your time limit. Familiarity and nerves can also influence speed.

You can use our handy guide to find out how many words should be in your speech, based on the number of minutes you have to speak. We will also discuss the ideal word count for different lengths of speeches. Let’s get started!

At a Glance:

• Average speaking rate is 125-200 words per minute.
• Word count for a 5-minute speech is typically 625-1000 words.
• Speaking speed varies based on personal style, familiarity, and nerves.
• Several factors influence the ideal word count for a given speech duration.
• Regular rehearsal ensures effective speech delivery.

Speech Duration vs. Word Count

Estimating speaking time for a manuscript, factors affecting the word count in your timed speech, number of words based on the number of minutes.

The average person speaks at a rate of about 125 to 200 words per minute, but this can vary depending on your natural speaking style and the context of your speech. Other factors like how well you know your material and how nervous you are can also affect your speaking rate.

When it comes to speeches, many people worry about how many words they should use per minute. The truth is, there is no specific number. However, knowing the average word count for different speech lengths can help you plan and pace your words more effectively.

Here is a breakdown of the average word counts for speeches of different lengths.

To simplify things, let’s look at word counts for standard time intervals:

1-minute speech: 125 – 200 words 5-minute speech: 625 – 1000 words 10-minute speech: 1250 – 2000 words 15-minute speech: 1875 – 3000 words 20-minute speech: 2500 – 4000 words 30-minute speech: 3750 – 6000 words 45-minute speech: 5625 – 9000 words 60-minute (or 1-hour) speech: 7500 – 12000 words

For intermediate minutes, you can use the average rate of 125-200 wpm to estimate.

If you have a written speech or manuscript, you might be curious about its duration when spoken.

Here’s a quick guide based on word counts:

100 words: About 0.5 to 0.8 minutes 200 words: About 1 to 1.6 minutes 250 words: About 1.25 to 2 minutes 500 words: About 2.5 to 4 minutes (And so on, using the average speaking rate of 125-200 wpm.)

Several factors can impact how many words your speech should ideally have for a given time frame. Understanding these variables can help you deliver a presentation that’s both engaging and perfectly timed. Here’s a breakdown of these influential factors:

• Natural Speaking Rate: Every individual possesses a unique speaking pace. Some naturally express thoughts swiftly, clocking in around 200 words per minute or even faster. In contrast, others may speak more deliberately, averaging around 125 words per minute. This inherent rhythm greatly influences the word count of a speech for a given time frame.
• Audience Demographic: Your audience’s age, background, and familiarity with the topic can dictate the speed at which you should present. For example, a technical presentation for industry experts might proceed faster than one for novices, even if the word count remains consistent.

• Topic Complexity: More intricate or challenging subjects demand a slower pace to ensure comprehension. In such cases, even if the speech’s duration is lengthy, the word count might be on the lower side to accommodate pauses and explanations.
• Use of Visual Aids: Incorporating slides, charts, or videos can mean fewer words spoken. Visual elements often require pauses, allowing the audience to process the information visually rather than just auditorily.
• Nervousness: Unsurprisingly, nervousness can speed up one’s delivery. A speaker might rush through their material when anxious, resulting in a higher word count in a shorter time frame.

Crafting a speech that’s both engaging and appropriately timed is an art. While the word count provides a framework, considering the factors above ensures your speech is not just well-timed, but also effective. As you prepare, always prioritize clarity, engagement, and resonance with your audience over sticking rigidly to word counts.

It’s important to know how many words your speech should be so that you can plan and structure it accordingly. We hope this guide will help you determine the number of minutes your speech should be based on the number of words. Keep in mind that this is just a general guideline, and you may need more or less time depending on your content.

So use this as a starting point, and then adjust as needed. And most importantly, practice, practice, practice! The more you run through your speech beforehand, the smoother it will go when you’re up in front of an audience. Thanks for reading!

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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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How Many Pages Is A 10 Minute Speech

Have you ever been confronted with the task of creating your speech? Maybe you’ve been asked to give a talk of 10 minutes, and you’re thinking, “How many pages should my speech be?” This is a problem that afflicts numerous public speakers, regardless of whether they’re speaking to an audience in a classroom, a boardroom, or a large crowd. The art of crafting a perfect speech is a delicate balance between quality, content, and timing participation, and it all starts with the number of pages.

If you’re an experienced or new public speaker, an undergraduate working on an assignment for class, or a professional who is gearing up for a crucial meeting, This guide will provide you with the information and tools required to deliver an engaging and well-timed speech that captivates your audience and creates a lasting impression. So, let’s take a dive and decode the art of writing and presenting.

Why Does Speech Length Matter

1. audience engagement.

The focus that your viewers have is not infinite. If your presentation has too much length, you run the risk of losing their attention and focus. In contrast, If your speech is too condensed, your message might not be conveyed in a full way. The right balance will ensure that your audience stays fully engaged throughout the presentation.

2. Relevance to the Occasion

3. clarity and message retention.

A well-structured speech must convey an ability to convey a concise, clear message. When your presentation is overly long, it may weaken the idea and cause it to be difficult for your audience to recall the most important information. A speech that is the right length can allow your speech to be remembered and easily understood.

4. Time Management

Making sure your speech is within the allocated timeframe is not only polite but it is also sensible. The schedules of events often require that speakers adhere to their time slots. Overstaying your time could cause disruption to the entire event.

5. Audience Satisfaction

6. speaker’s confidence.

If you are confident that your speech is at the correct length, it improves your confidence as a speaker. It’s less likely that you’ll be rushed through your presentation or be worried about the time limit, which allows you to present your message with confidence and confidence.

How Many Pages Does An Hour-Long Speech

Here are some helpful tips to estimate the length of your speech:

Factors Affecting Speech Length

Speech length isn’t a universal idea. It varies on a variety of variables. In order to craft the ideal speech for your event, be aware of the following aspects that affect speech length:

1. Audience

The goal of your speech is important. Are you trying to persuade, inform, or even entertain? Different purposes require different speech lengths. For instance, persuasive speeches might require longer to present an argument that is convincing, whereas entertaining speeches could be shorter and quicker.

3. Occasion

4. topic complexity, 5. time constraints.

Certain events have set times for speakers. It’s crucial to follow the time limits to keep the schedule and make sure that all speakers get an equal amount of time.

6. Emotional Tone

7. visual aids, 8. engagement techniques.

The speeches that incorporate interactive elements and audience participation storytelling might require more time. When you’re employing engaging methods to engage your audience, make sure you plan these to be completed within the allotted time.

9. Rehearsal and Pacing

10. audience feedback.

When you take these elements into consideration, you are able to adjust your speech’s length to meet the requirements of your audience as well as the requirements of the event. In the next part, we’ll discuss how to determine the amount of words required for 10 minutes of speech. We’ll also provide an easy-to-follow guidance to ensure your speech is in the proper length.

Tips For Speech Writing

In the realm of speaking in public, the issue about how many webpages make up 10 minutes of speech may appear as a matter of purely technical considerations, however, it is much more than the mere numbers. Speech length is crucial for many reasons, including audience involvement, the relevance of the event, and the clarity and effectiveness of the message.

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Speech Time Calculator

Estimated Speech Time 0 Minutes

Word Count 0

Do you want to know how long your next speech or presentation will take to deliver?

Don’t worry about how long your speeches and presentations are. This user-friendly Speech Time Calculator is here to assist you. It also helps to know how many words are in a minute of speech.

Input the word count or paste your entire speech text into the tool below. It will quickly calculate the estimated time required to deliver your speech.

Select a speaking pace that matches your style, whether it’s slow, average, or fast.

Now, you’re equipped with a reliable estimate of the duration of your speech, making your preparation and delivery more effective and stress-free.

What Is Speech Time?

Speech time refers to the estimated duration it would take to deliver a piece of text as a speech or presentation out loud.

The speech time is calculated by dividing the number of words in the text by the assumed speaking speed in words per minute (wpm).

Speaking rates are usually slower than reading rates. Speech speeds vary, but a commonly referenced average speed for public speaking is between 125 and 150 wpm. This speed allows for clear articulation and audience comprehension.

For instance, if a presentation script contains 900 words and the speaking speed is assumed to be 150 words per minute, then the estimated speech time would be:

• 900 words / 150 words per minute = 6 minutes

Have you ever wondered how long it will take to read an article or book? Then try our Word To Time Calculator .

Average Speech Time (Words Per Minute)

The average speaking rate for native speakers is around 150–160 words per minute. But it can vary a lot depending on how well the speaker speaks, their education, and what they’re talking about.

Speaking Words Per Minute

How Many Words Do We Spoke Per Minute?

There’s a lot of talk about rapid-fire speaking, but what’s the reality?

The speed varies in different contexts, like giving a presentation or hosting a podcast. Some naturally talk fast, while others prefer a slower, more measured approach.

• Presentations are typically done at a fast pace of 100-150 WPM. This helps make them clear and concise.
• While podcast hosts might ramp it up to over 150 wpm for a more engaging delivery.
• Sports commentators often go even faster, exceeding 250 wpm, to keep up with the action.

So, don’t stress about hitting a specific speed next time you prepare a speech or presentation. You should focus on what’s easy and effective for you and your audience. That’s the real key to successful speaking!

A study examined how fast people talk affects how well they understand what they hear. They tested three speeds:

• Fast (200 words per minute or 3.8 syllables per second),
• Medium (150 words per minute or 2.85 syllables per second),
• Slow (100 words per minute or 1.93 syllables per second), using 350 to 400 words long passages.

The results? When people spoke moderately fast, the listeners’ understanding dropped. However, there wasn’t a big difference in understanding between the slow and average speech rates.

The researchers talked about how to balance time and effectiveness when teaching.

Common Words to Speech Time Conversion

Speech Time for Common Page Counts

*Note: These estimates are based on an average speaking speech

Speech To Word Time

Use a simple formula to determine how long a speech will take.

Determine Your Speaking Speed : This is crucial, as different people speak at different rates. Here are common speeds:

• Slow: About 100 words per minute (wpm).
• Average: Around 150 wpm.
• Fast: Approximately 200 wpm.

Calculate the Word Count for a Minute Speech

know how many words in a 5-minute speech:

• Use the formula: Word Count = Speaking Speed (wpm) × Time (minutes).

For a 10-minute speech, the calculation for each speed would be:

• Slow: 100 wpm × 10 minutes = 1000 words.
• Average: 150 wpm × 10 minutes = 1500 words.
• Fast: 200 wpm × 5 minutes = 1000 words.

How Many Words In a 1 to 10-Minute Speech

How Many Words Are in a 2-Minute Speech

For a 2-minute speech, assuming an average speaking rate of 125 to 150 words per minute, the estimated word count would be between 250 and 300 words.

How Many Words In A 3-Minute Speech

The number of words in a 3-minute speech can vary depending on several factors, mainly your speaking speed and delivery style :

Average Speaking Speeds:

• Slow speaker:  Around 110 words per minute (wpm) –  330 words in 3 minutes.
• Average speaker:  Around 140 wpm –  420 words in 3 minutes.
• Fast speaker:  Around 170 wpm –  510 words in 3 minutes.

How Many Words in a 5-Minute Speech

The number of words in a 5-minute speech can vary depending on the speaking speed. Here are some estimates based on different speaking rates:

• Slow pace (around 100 words per minute) : 5 minutes x 100 words = 500 words.
• Average pace (about 150 words per minute) : 5 minutes x 150 words = 750 words.
• Fast pace (approximately 200 words per minute) : 5 minutes x 200 words = 1000 words.

So, for a 5-minute speech, you could have anywhere from 500 to 1000 words, depending on how quickly you speak. The average range is typically around 750 words.

How Many Words for a 10-Minute Speech

For a 10-minute speech, the recommended word count range is between 1,500 and 2,250 words.

To break that down further:

• For a 10-minute speech at a slow, clear pace with dramatic pauses: roughly 1,500 words. This comes out to about 150 words per minute.
• For a 10-minute speech, the average speaking pace is around 1,875 words. This comes out to about 185 words per minute.
• For a faster-paced 10-minute speech, up to 2,250 words. That’s 225 words per minute.

Generally, 10-minute speeches tend to have between 1,800 and 2,100 words for an engaged speaking pace with some good pauses mixed in. This generally translates to 180–210 words per minute.

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Convert Words to Time

Calculate how long it will take to read a speech or presentation

Enter the word count of your speech below to see how long it will take you to read. Estimate the number of minutes based on a slow, average, or fast speaking pace.

Number of words

Reading speed, common conversions (average speed).

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How to Write a Ten Minute Speech to a Audience

Writing a speech can be challenging enough, but writing it for a 10-minute time frame can be an additional challenge, particularly if there is a lot to say. Capturing the essence of what you want to say in as few words as possible while keeping the speech focused on a theme will be key. Practicing it aloud will also play a role in delivering an effective 10-minute speech.

Write a gripping first-sentence with something that will get the audience's attention immediately. Ask a thought-provoking question, say something controversial, quote somebody famous or tell a joke. As long as you make it relevant to the speech, it will undoubtedly grab them. If you can get the audience's attention immediately, you'll keep their attention for the duration of the short speech.

Establish a theme for the speech. Because it is only 10-minutes long, everything else that develops must tie directly into it. For example, if the theme is someone's promotion or the welcoming in of a new CEO, make sure everything else discussed has to do with that promotion or that new CEO.

Develop an outline for the body to the speech, bearing in mind it is only 10 minutes in length. List only the most important points or issues, keeping them to no more than five. Organize them in the order in which you'll speak about them. Allow each point to build on the other. For example, if you're speaking about a goal to be accomplished, speak first about the thinking behind the goal and then about the action-steps needed to achieve it. Tie it in ultimately to the speech's theme.

Expand the outline and the bullet points, turning sentences into paragraphs and expanding outward from there. For example, if you've bulleted "Contributions to the team goals," be sure to expand upon only the parts that apply to the theme of your speech, which in this case would be the individual's existing or upcoming contribution to the team's goals--and know what those goals are.

Write a closing for your speech. Summarize the speech's theme and recap what was said overall. Add a little more insight if there is time, such as another welcoming sentiment from a team of others or a quote from someone famous.

Read the speech aloud once to yourself in front of a mirror. Practice looking up at yourself, as you would the audience. Most of all, be sure you speak it in the allotted time frame of 10 minutes.

Read your speech to at least one person, but preferably two or three, to get feedback on its appropriateness. Get feedback on any grammatical errors, anything awkward sounding and staying within the time frame.

• If the speech is longer than 10 minutes, examine why and how it ran over. If it was your speaking of it, speak it again a little faster, rehearsing again until it is timed right. If it had more to do with the writing, revise it and practice speaking it again until it fits within the time.
• Give yourself 30 seconds one way or the other--when reading to a live audience you might read faster or longer.
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Writing since 1984, Susan Deschel just published "Peer Coaching for Adolescent Writers" through Corwin Press, a handbook for teachers. Deschel has a bachelor's degree in creative writing, master's in education, and is currently working on her doctorate in curriculum and instruction. She writes in other genres, including fiction and poetry.

10-minute presentation: how many slides do you need

The organizers have told you: You only have 10 minutes to pitch. You need to make a brilliant presentation. How many slides should there be?  Which is better with many or few slides?  

The Wonderslide team researched presentations for speeches and concluded that the quality of the presentation was not dependent on the number of slides. 

How Many Words is a 10 Minute Speech

How many pages is a 10 minute speech

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Word Counter

Word Count: 0

Online Stopwatch

Do you wonder how long it takes to deliver your speech?

This website helps you convert the number of words into the time it takes to deliver your speech, online and for free. This tool is useful when preparing a speech or a presentation. The number of minutes you will take is dependent on the number of words and your speed of speech, or reading speed.

Note: This calculator provides an indication only.

Enter details below

The overview below provides an indication of the minutes for a speech (based on an average reading speed of 130 words per minute):

• Words in a 1 minute speech 130 words
• Words in a 2 minute speech 260 words
• Words in a 3 minute speech 390 words
• Words in a 4 minute speech 520 words
• Words in a 5 minute speech 650 words
• Words in a 10 minute speech 1300 words
• Words in a 15 minute speech 1950 words
• Words in a 20 minute speech 2600 words
• How long does a 500 word speech take? 3.8 minutes
• How long does a 1000 word speech take? 7.7 minutes
• How long does a 1250 word speech take? 9.6 minutes
• How long does a 1500 word speech take? 11.5 minutes
• How long does a 1750 word speech take? 13.5 minutes
• How long does a 2000 word speech take? 15.4 minutes
• How long does a 2500 word speech take? 19.2 minutes
• How long does a 5000 word speech take? 38.5 minutes

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Your complete guide to writing a better speech

Reading time:  Just over 6 minutes

Here is everything I know about how to write a better speech and some detailed thoughts on how to deliver a better one as well….

I love TED talks,  and perhaps you do as well, but be aware of the significant problem they’ve created in our society. Everyone now expects  all  public speakers to be as charming, interesting, funny and breathtakingly articulate.  Ken Robinson ,   Elizabeth Gilbert   and  Susan Cain  have set a mighty high bar for the rest of us to try to clear.

I run lots of workshops  and I try to make them engaging and informative but I don’t consider myself the  ne plus ultra  of public speakers. Still, I have written many speeches for industry leaders and CEOs. I’m also a debate coach at my local high school and spend two hours each week helping grade 8 to 12 students become more comfortable with speaking — arguing, really — in public. So here is my comprehensive guide on how to write and deliver a better speech or presentation:

10 ways to write a better speech

1-Learn your time limit and calculate your word count.  The average person speaks at somewhere between 125 and 150 words per minute. It’s almost always better to speak more slowly than too quickly. Thus, if you’re speaking for 20 minutes, you want a total word count of somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 words. Be careful! I once got the math wrong and saddled a good friend with a 48-minute speech when he was trying for 30. Yikes!

2-Once you have experience as a speaker,  work hard to avoid word-for-word speeches unless you have a teleprompter. Your delivery will be more interesting and more natural if you speak from notes or an outline rather than a script. Memorize an introduction if you like, to help get yourself going but use just notes for the rest. Yes, your speech may not be “perfect.” But having a few mistakes is okay if they help you improve your delivery. Your ability to be interesting and to engage with the audience will make up for any small lapses.

3-No matter how long the speech, always divide it into five parts:   an introduction, point 1, point 2, point 3 and a conclusion. Or, in other words, tell people what you’re  going  to tell them, tell them what you  want to say  and then wrap up by telling them  what you just said.  This format is adaptable to a speech of just about any length but I’d divide a 20-minute speech as follows:

Introduction: 2 minutes (250 words)

Point 1: 5 minutes (625 words)

Point 2: 5 minutes (625 words)

Point 3: 5 minutes (625 words)

Conclusion: 3 minutes (375 words)

Total word count: 2,500 words (20 minutes)

If you’re thin on ideas for the three points, consider using a  mindmap  to help you. Mindmapping is the best way for you to make your speech more interesting, more personal and more coherent.

4-Shower your audience with  stories  rather than drown them in facts.  If you have a story (anecdote or example) to illustrate each of your three points, so much the better. Stories are “sticky” — that is, people remember them. I once interviewed a CEO for whom I’d been hired to write a speech. The man was utterly  bereft  of stories. I was at my wit’s end until I decided that I’d have to lard his speech with some stories of my own that I could carefully repurpose to make them sound as though they’d come from him. Don’t tell me that business people don’t want to hear stories. Of course they do! Have you ever listened to  Warren Buffett   speak? Or  Bill Gates ?  Or  Josh Linkner ?  Stories are the spoonful of sugar that make the medicine (facts) go down. Think about the worst speech you’ve ever heard in your life. Now, reflect on the best. I can guarantee that the former was filled with facts and the latter with stories. Human beings are hardwired to appreciate stories and the sooner you stop fighting that fact, the sooner you’ll be able to write a memorable speech

5-Have a purpose but make it a modest one.  Don’t expect your audience to be able to walk away reciting your 10-point corporate plan. Instead, express the  single  key message of your speech — the one important thing you want your audience to be able to remember, for sure — as a single sentence. Write it on a piece of paper and stick it to your bulletin board so you can see it as you’re writing your speech. Keep this purpose at the top of your mind at all times.

6-Understand that repetition is mandatory  because speaking is analogue, not digital. People don’t listen to speeches in the same way they read books. You talk, your words travel into their ears and if they happen to be thinking about what to make for dinner that night, your message will not get through. Worse, your audience has no “rewind” button they can hit. (If their attention has strayed while reading, they can flip back in the book.) This is why you MUST repeat the points you are trying to make at least three times: once in the intro, once when you make them and once again in your conclusion. It may seem overly repetitious to you, but it won’t to your audience.

7) Don’t waste your opening.  I see speakers do this in three primary ways. First, they spend too much time shuffling paper. Don’t do this! Be organized and ready to go as soon as you take the stage. The second mistake is they spend the first 45 seconds thanking an endless number of people. No! Don’t do that! The first 45 seconds are your most precious chance to grab the attention of your audience. Thank the person who introduced you with one brief sentence and then dive into an attention-getting opening. (You can give thanks to others, if you need to, towards the end of your speech.) Finally, some people feel obliged to begin with lame opening jokes that are unrelated to the actual speech topic. These always feel fake and tacked on. You want humour to be organic — that is, related to the topic you’re covering. The best way to begin a speech is with an interesting fact or an attention-getting story. No exceptions!

8-Write for the ear rather than the eye.   Make sure the language you use is easy to say — even if you’re writing the speech for someone else. Say it out loud many times, so you can check to ensure there are no stumbling blocks. For example, the line “a lower-cost alternative to traditional plans” is harder to say than it looks (try it). Change that kind of language, fast. Use concrete, everyday words (for example, “use” instead of “utilize”) and make sure your sentences are short enough that you don’t have to gasp for breath in the middle of them. Be sure to use contractions, because that’s how real people speak. And throw in the occasional rhetorical question (“Why would I say that?”) to engage the audience.

9-Be yourself.   Barack Obama   and  Winston Churchill  are/were both excellent speakers. They’re also totally different. While you can gain pointers from observing great speakers, you need to be true to yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. And if you are writing a speech for someone else, it’s important you spend significant time interviewing them and learning  their   speech patterns — as well as their stories. Are there any expressions that they use regularly? Can you work them into the speech?

10-Be brief.  If you’re asked to speak for 60 minutes, make it 45 or 50. If the goal is 20, make it 18. If the target is five, aim for 3.5. In the history of the world, no one ever complained about a speech that was too short. Your audience will love you for this.

7 ways to  deliver  a better speech

1-Practice more than once.  I know this is hard, particularly if the speech is long, but I spoke once with a TED talk deliverer and she told me that she’d spent more than three weeks, full time, writing and practicing her speech. In fact, she had delivered it more than 48 times before the big day. Was she confident? You bet! (For anything less than a TED talk, you don’t need 48 practice times. Three times might be enough for a long one; five to seven times for a short one.) Whatever you do, remember the expression: Professionals practice in private; amateurs practice in public.

2-Record yourself.  Many of us pad our speeches with verbal filler such as “umm,” “ahh,” “you know,” “like,” etc. The prime minister of my own country,  Justin Trudeau  does this with “uh” and I cringe almost every time I hear him speak. To ensure you don’t make this mistake, record yourself using your cell phone. If you discover you’ve used verbal fillers then slow down your speech and try to be mindful of  not  using them. Slow, careful speaking is the answer. This is been a project of mine for the last two years. I used to be addicted to “umm” and now I use it dramatically less frequently.

3 – Arrive early on delivery day.  Don’t rush to the podium at the very last minute. Instead, get to your venue a good 15 to 30 minutes early so you can scope out the room, become familiar with it and maybe test the sound system. Then — this is the important advice — position yourself in the audience and start talking to people  as they arrive . This will surprise and disarm them and give you a chance to get to humanize them a little bit.

4-Calm your nerves.  For many people, public speaking is more fear-inducing than the idea of death. Here’s how to get over that idea: Practice your speech beforehand. If you have practiced adequately then your body will already know what to do, even if your nervous system is vibrating. Pay attention to your breathing when speaking. If we take shallow, inadequate breaths then our bodies start to panic — I can’t breathe! I might die! Talk yourself through slow, deep belly breaths to help calm your nerves. Have your notes on firm paper so it won’t shake. (Cardstock is better than regular paper for this reason.) Finally, many people have discovered that pressing their index finger to their thumb is also a calming manoeuvre (it’s known as  gyan mudra ). No one in the audience will ever notice you doing it.  

5-Use your eyes effectively.  We all have the same two powerful public speaking tools in our arsenals: our eyes. Many speakers waste this ammunition by looking directly  above  the heads of their audience or by fanning their eyes vaguely across the group as a whole. Instead, I suggest you look directly in the eyes of ONE of the people in the audience. Do this for at least a full sentence at a time, longer if you can bear it. Then switch to another person and do exactly the same thing. Be sure to move to different parts of the room as you do this. And what happens if the person becomes embarrassed and looks away? Move on to someone else. This human-to-human contact should be every speaker’s secret weapon. Also, remember to smile. People enjoy seeing cheerful speakers.  

6-Vary your speaking speed.  Audiences sometimes get bored listening to speeches — even good ones — and that’s why you should try to make your delivery as interesting and varied as your words. One of the ways you can do that is to change your speed. If you have a story or statement that excites you then speak quickly so that the speed of your talking matches your excitement. If you’re saying something important or dramatic, then S-L-O-W down for emphasis.

7-Be careful with your volume.  Some speakers seem to like to shout or shriek. Recently, I was obliged to watch a debate where the speaker spoke far too loudly for the rather small room. I spent the entire time thinking, “please, dial back your volume” and I missed almost all of her content because my ears were too busy quivering. This is another good reason for arriving early in the room so you can test your volume. Just remember that once the room becomes stuffed with people, their bodies will act like a sound buffer and you may need to speak up.

Becoming an effective speaker  can increase your sales, improve your effectiveness and boost your career. It’s worth investing your time to develop this crucial skill.

* My video podcast last week  answered a question about how to budget your writing time effectively. See it  here  and consider subscribing. If you have a question about writing you’d like me to address, be sure to send it to me by  email , twitter or Skype and I’ll try to answer it in the podcast.

How do you keep your speeches or presentations interesting and relevant? We can all learn from each other so, please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the “comments” section below. Anyone who comments on today’s post  (or any others) by March 31/17, will be put in a draw for a copy of  Ifferisms , by Mardy Grothe. Please, scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the “related posts” links, below. Note that you don’t have to join the commenting software to post. See  here  to learn how to post as a guest.

Convert Words To Time

Number of words

Reading speed

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What is a Words to Time Calculator?

A word to time calculator is a tool that helps voice actors or any other user estimate their speaking rate to the script related to the job they are completing or responding to. Mastering the number of words you will speak per minute will enable you to estimate the time it will take to read a script, guiding you in determining the correct price for the job.

However, the number of words you speak per minute may vary depending on the stylistic decisions. For example, if you are using an announcer read or the character you represent speaks in a relaxed voice. But this word-to-time calculator will get you into the proximity.

Our online homework helpers are ready to craft the right speech for you. Just fill in a few details and you are good to go.

What is Read Time?

Read time is the time you take to read a text or script silently while maintaining reading comprehension. According to research involving more than 18000 participants and 100's studies, the approximate words per minute for an average silent reading adult is 238 words.

How Do I Use This Word to Time Tool?

Enter the number of words in your script or paste in text from your document in the special box for auto counting.

Secondly, choose your reading speed. To get the exact or correct time, you have to choose your reading speed between slow, average, and fast, as it greatly impacts your timing.

The word to time tool will give you the exact time to read a specific document. Whether making a business presentation or a wedding speech, word conversion to time should be correct.

If you find your content is longer than expected, feel free to use our free summarizer tool to condense your content so it fits the time required.

Common Conversion (Average Speed)

Below is a preview of the result you should expect from our word-to-time converter assuming your reading speed is average.

• How long does it take to read 500 words? 3.8 minutes
• How long does it take to read 800 words? 6.2 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

If you need to know the number of pages in your speech, you can use the words to pages tool to determine the number of words.

• How many words are in a 1 minute speech? 125 words
• How many words are in a 2 minute speech? 250 words
• How many words are in a 3 minute speech? 375 words
• How many words are in a 4 minute speech? 500 words
• How many words are in a 5 minute speech? 625 words
• How many words are in a 10 minute speech? 1250 words
• How many words are in a 15 minute speech? 1875 words
• How many words are in a 20 minute speech? 2500 words
• How many words are in a 30 minute speech? 3750 words

Why should I Use the Convert Speech Words to Minutes?

Using the word to time calculator is vital while preparing for a presentation or speech , specifically when you have limited time to relay your message and conclude your ideas. Converting word to minute lets you know the length of your content and whether the time frame is enough. However, the time may vary depending on your delivery speed.

Knowing your content's minutes lets you decide if you should adjust your content length. When preparing your speech, you should balance the reading speed, the number of words, and the content.

How to Craft an Outstanding Speech?

The content of your speech is crucial whether you are making a wedding or graduation speech or a presentation for a business meeting. Public speaking requires you to be confident, prepare in advance and equip yourself with the necessary tool that helps you deliver your speech. The main aim of your speech is to catch your audience's attention, engage with them and convey a message that will deliver your ideas effectively and clearly. Follow the following tips when crafting your speech:

• Use the first person when writing and use a conversational tone.
• Briefly introduce yourself at the beginning of your speech.
• Prepare a striking open statement/outline.
• Analyze your speech in structural steps.
• Begin every paragraph with a topic sentence.
• Do not shy off from expressing your opinions.
• Practice your speech before delivering it. It will help you know the content and build your confidence and comfort.

Please share your experiences, including personal stories, and do not hesitate to share personal opinions, as it helps engage with your audience. If you are having challenges crafting your speech, you can engage speech writing services as you concentrate on other important matters.

Alternatively, you can use our speech generator tool to create content for your speech. It's fast easy and free!

Other Popular Tools

• Free Essay Generator (Powered by AI)
• Free Plagiarism Checker
• Free Thesis Generator Tool
• Free Paraphrasing Tool
• Free Essay Title Generator
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• Words To Page
• Words To Time
• Random Debate Topic Generator

How Many Slides Do You Need for a 10-Minute Presentation?

Table of Contents

Are you struggling with the dilemma of how many slides to include in your 10-minute presentation? Whether you’re gearing up for a crucial business meeting or preparing for an important academic lecture, the challenge of balancing the right number of slides without overwhelming your audience is real. 

Many presenters and students face the anxiety of overloading their PowerPoint slides, the clarity of content quantity, and the fear of exceeding the time limit. In this blog, we’ll tackle these concerns head-on and guide you through the exact number of slides to use, perfectly tailored for your 10-minute slot.

How Many Slides Do You Need? Guidelines for Slide Count

A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute , so aim for about 10 slides in a 10-minute presentation. The total number of slides can make or break your presentation’s effectiveness and engagement level. 

Estimated number of slides based on presentation time:

• 10-minute presentation: 5 to 12 slides
• 15-minute presentation: 8 to 17 slides
• 30-minute presentation: 15 to 32 slides

💡 Presentation tip: Keep your slides readable from a distance (minimum 30pt font size)

In the following sections, we’ll look at general guidelines and the factors that might adjust your slide count.

One Idea Per Slide

To make your 10-minute slideshow effective, align your script with your slides. A practical method is to dedicate one idea to each slide . This helps you to break the topic into concise sections, resulting in an easy-to-digest presentation structure.

In a typical 10-slide setup, you’ll have around 8 slides for your key points, considering that the first and last are usually extra slides reserved for an introduction and conclusion. This approach helps you organize your content clearly and ensures that each slide effectively conveys a single, focused message.

💡 Interesting fact: Attendees typically retain just 3% of the content from a presentation.

Remember, the guideline on the number of slides is not a strict rule. The goal is to ensure you have enough time to convey your message clearly and concisely.

How Many Minutes Per Slide?

Generally, aim to spend between 0.5 to 2 minutes on each slide. The 10/20/30 rule by Guy Kawasaki suggests a maximum of 2 minutes per slide, but consider these points and adjust based on these factors:

• Spend more time on slides with detailed data or complex concepts.
• Ensure thorough explanation for audience understanding.
• These usually require less time as they indicate topic changes.
• Allow extra time for questions and discussions with the audience.
• These slides might remain on screen while you interact.

💡 Presentation tip: Vary the time spent on each slide, focusing on its importance and complexity.

The purpose of timing yourself is to keep your presentation dynamic. Spending appropriate time on a slide keeps your audience engaged, even if some slides take longer than two minutes.

Talking Speed: How Fast Should I Speak?

Concerned about how fast you should speak during your presentation? The thing is, we all talk (and present) at different speeds in different settings. Your talking speed is connected to the total length of the presentation, the number of slides, and the complexity of the content. Whether it’s an in-person or virtual presentation might also affect your talking speed.

For presentations, use a moderate talking speed of around 100 to 150 wpm (words per minute) so your audience can easily follow and absorb your message.

These factors also affect your talking speed:

🗣️ Your natural pace: Stay close to your regular speaking rate for comfort and authenticity.

🗣️ Language fluency: If you or your audience are not native speakers, a slower pace can aid understanding.

🗣️ Audience’s background: Adapt to the audience’s level of knowledge in the presentation’s subject matter and their language comprehension.

🗣️ Presentation style: A conversational style might be slower, while a scripted talk could be faster.

Be mindful that speeds over 150 wpm can be challenging for some, particularly for non-native speakers.

💡 Presentation tip: Use visuals and graphics to break the monotony and help convey part of the information.

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How to Time a Powerpoint Presentation?

There are two ways to time your PowerPoint slides: auto-advancing slides or rehearsing within PowerPoint for pre-recorded timings. Note: These features are exclusively available to PowerPoint users (not Google Slides).

Method #1: Use Transitions to Advance Slides Automatically

• On the ‘Transitions’ tab, look for ‘Timing’ > ‘Advance Slide’.
• Check the box for ‘Advance Slide After…’.
• Type in the duration you prefer. For example, you can set your slides to switch to the next one after 30 seconds.
• The timer starts when the last animation or effects on the current slide finishes.
• To have more control during your presentation, you can select both ‘On Mouse Click’ and specify a timing on ‘After..’. This allows you to use a mouse click to advance the slide before the timer is up or let the slides advance after the timing ends.

Image from Microsoft

💡 Learn more: How To Convert PowerPoint to Google Slides

Method 2: Rehearse and Time Your Slides

Rehearse Timings is a powerful feature alongside Speaker Coach. You’ll rehearse your slides and record how much time you take for each slide. PowerPoint can use the recorded timings to advance your slides automatically during your presentation.

• Select ‘Slide Show’ > ‘Rehearse Timings’. 
• You’ll enter presentation mode, a recording toolbar will appear, and the timer will start.
• As you rehearse, click ‘Next’ to go to the next slide.
• Click ‘Pause’ to temporarily stop recording the time. Select ‘ Resume recording’ to restart the timer.
• If you want to reset the timer on a particular slide, click ‘Repeat’ > ‘Resume recording’.
• Press’ Esc’ on your keyboard to stop recording and exit presentation mode.
• On the last slide, select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ if you want to keep the recorded timings for the slides.
• To see the timings for each slide (from the rehearsal), go to ‘View’> ‘Slide Sorter’.
• With the recorded timings, you can let it auto-advance slides at your next presentation. If you prefer to avoid having your ppt slides advance automatically based on these timings, go to ‘Slide Show’> unselect ‘Use Timings’.

Read more about rehearsing PowerPoint slides from Microsoft here .

• No design skills required
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Presentation Tips to Stay on Time

• Rehearsing is key for timely presentations. Even if it seems obvious, it’s the most crucial step. If you’re new to your material, practice to gauge the time you need accurately.
• Prioritize your content. Start with what’s most important. If time runs short, at least you’ve covered the essentials without missing critical points.
• Say more with less. Decide which 3 takeaways (most essential points) you will structure your presentation around, and state them clearly at the start and end of your presentation. It’s easier for the audience to remember a few key points than 20 (which are not all that important).
• Set time checkpoints within your presentation. Plan to reach certain slides at specific times to track your pace and make adjustments on the fly.
• Focus on your main points and simplify. People’s attention spans are limited, and packing too much into a 10-minute presentation can overwhelm your audience. It’s better to cover a few key topics well than to skim over many.
• Stick to one main idea per slide . This keeps your presentation clear and focused. It also ensures that your slides flow logically. 

Without practicing with your slideshow, you might discover that your points don’t connect smoothly too late, which is especially noticeable in professional settings. Use these tips while rehearsing and clarifying your core message; you are more likely to deliver a polished and timely presentation. 

Struggling to Start Your Presentation? Learn 4 Ways to Start Confidently here !

To deliver a successful 10-minute presentation, balance your slides with clear content. We’ve shared guidelines on deciding the number of slides you need and tips to align your slides with your script.

Aim for about 10 slides for a 10-minute presentation, each with a single idea, and adjust your speaking speed and slide timing to match your content’s complexity. This guideline isn’t a fixed rule, so don’t worry about adding a few extra slides! Remember, effective rehearsal and preparation are crucial for a clear, concise, and impactful presentation.

How long does it take to make a 10-minute presentation?

Preparing a 10-minute presentation can take anywhere between 2 to 20 hours. This variation depends on your familiarity with the topic and subject matter, the depth of content, and your audience (professional, business, or academic). On average, you spend around 30 minutes to 2 hours preparing each slide, which includes creating content and rehearsing.

Use presentation templates or AI presentation makers such as SlidesAI to save time on preparation.

Follow these steps to manage your presentation preparation time efficiently:

• Research your topic.
• Create and design your slides.
• Write a script.
• Practice your presentation.
• Revise and finalize your slides.

How many words is a 10-minute speech?

At an average speed of speech, a 10-minute speech is roughly the equivalent of a 1500-word paper, according to this source . It doesn’t mean your script has to be strictly 1500 words long since there are variations in speaking speeds. 

What should I do if I go over time?

If you find your presentation overrunning, tell your audience the new end time immediately and confirm they can stay. If you have lost your audience’s attention, proceed to summarize your key points to end your presentation effectively. A well-executed summary will drive home your main points and is more likely to be remembered by your audience for a long time.

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