Speaking Time Calculator
Paste your script and watch its spoken length update as you cut — tuned to presentation pace (150 wpm) for talks, videos, podcasts, and ad reads.
Common spoken-word budgets
Useful anchors at 150 wpm: a 30-second ad ≈ 75 words, a 5-minute lightning talk ≈ 750, a 20-minute conference slot ≈ 3000, and a 45-minute lecture ≈ 6750. Then subtract for everything that isn't words — demos, slides, questions, laughter — which is why seasoned speakers script short and rehearse with a stopwatch.
Frequently asked questions
What pace does it assume?
150 words per minute — the middle of the 125–150 wpm range usually recommended for prepared speeches. Conversational podcast speech often runs faster (160–180); deliberate keynote delivery with pauses runs slower. The estimate is your starting point; a rehearsal timer is the truth.
How many words is a 10-minute talk?
About 1500 at presentation pace — and less than you think once you add pauses for slides, laughter, and emphasis. Most experienced speakers script 10–15% under the slot and let delivery breathe.
Does this work for video and ad scripts?
Yes — voiceover and ad reads are word-budget problems: a 30-second spot holds roughly 75 words at this pace, a 60-second explainer about 150. Edit the script live here until the seconds match your cut.
Speaking vs reading time — why are they different?
Silent reading runs much faster than speech — around 238 wpm versus 150. A "2-minute read" is a 3-minute speech. Our sister site WordCntr.com focuses on the reading side; this page is tuned for the spoken word.
Estimates assume steady presentation pace; real delivery varies. Scripts are processed locally in your browser and never transmitted. See the methodology page.