How to convert words to minutes
Divide the word count by words per minute: words ÷ WPM = minutes. A 750-word script at 150 WPM takes 750 ÷ 150 = 5 minutes. For the seconds, multiply the decimal part by 60, so 1,000 words at 150 WPM is 6.67 minutes, or 6 minutes 40 seconds.
The calculator does the arithmetic for you and shows the result as a clock, as decimal minutes and as total seconds. The 150 WPM default is the average English speaking pace. Change it with a preset or type any speed from 60 to 500 WPM, and add a pause buffer of 5 to 15 percent for breaths, slides and laughter.
Minutes to words converter
Multiply the minutes by words per minute: minutes × WPM = words. A 10-minute talk at 150 WPM needs about 1,500 words. This is the number to aim for when a slot is fixed, such as a 5-minute toast, a 3-minute pitch or a 60-second ad. The table shows the target at three common paces.
| Length | 130 WPM | 150 WPM | 165 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 | 150 | 165 |
| 2 minutes | 260 | 300 | 330 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 | 495 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 750 | 825 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,500 | 1,650 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,475 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,300 |
| 30 minutes | 3,900 | 4,500 | 4,950 |
| 45 minutes | 5,850 | 6,750 | 7,425 |
| 60 minutes | 7,800 | 9,000 | 9,900 |
Words to minutes chart
Speaking time for common word counts. Select a word count for its own page with every pace and the page equivalent. For a quick all-in-one tool, use the main words to minutes calculator.
| Word count | 130 WPM (speech) | 150 WPM (video) | 165 WPM (ad read) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 words | 46 sec | 40 sec | 36 sec |
| 150 words | 1 min 9 sec | 1 min | 55 sec |
| 200 words | 1 min 32 sec | 1 min 20 sec | 1 min 13 sec |
| 250 words | 1 min 55 sec | 1 min 40 sec | 1 min 31 sec |
| 300 words | 2 min 18 sec | 2 min | 1 min 49 sec |
| 400 words | 3 min 5 sec | 2 min 40 sec | 2 min 25 sec |
| 500 words | 3 min 51 sec | 3 min 20 sec | 3 min 2 sec |
| 600 words | 4 min 37 sec | 4 min | 3 min 38 sec |
| 750 words | 5 min 46 sec | 5 min | 4 min 33 sec |
| 800 words | 6 min 9 sec | 5 min 20 sec | 4 min 51 sec |
| 1,000 words | 7 min 42 sec | 6 min 40 sec | 6 min 4 sec |
| 1,200 words | 9 min 14 sec | 8 min | 7 min 16 sec |
| 1,500 words | 11 min 32 sec | 10 min | 9 min 5 sec |
| 2,000 words | 15 min 23 sec | 13 min 20 sec | 12 min 7 sec |
| 2,500 words | 19 min 14 sec | 16 min 40 sec | 15 min 9 sec |
| 3,000 words | 23 min 5 sec | 20 min | 18 min 11 sec |
| 5,000 words | 38 min 28 sec | 33 min 20 sec | 30 min 18 sec |
Which words per minute should I use?
Use 150 WPM when you are unsure. Drop to 110 for eulogies and toasts, 130 for formal speeches, and raise it to 165 for ad reads. For silent reading, which is much faster, use the reading time calculator. For a full set of presets by format, see the speech time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Speeches, scripts & reading times
How many words take 2 minutes to read?
About 300 words take 2 minutes to read aloud at 150 WPM, or 220 to 330 words depending on your pace. If you are reading silently, you can get through about 475 words in 2 minutes at the adult average of 238 WPM. Use the speech length calculator above when you need a precise number for your own text.
How many words to speak for 3 minutes?
To speak for 3 minutes you need about 450 words at a conversational 150 WPM. At a slower 110 WPM that drops to about 330 words, and at a fast 165 WPM it rises to about 495. Paste your draft into the words to minutes speech calculator to see exactly how long it runs.
How many words is a 5-minute script?
A 5-minute script is about 750 words at 150 WPM, or roughly 650 to 825 words depending on pace. Scripts with pauses, slides or on-screen demos need fewer words, so aim for 650 to 700 if you will leave gaps. Paste your draft into the script timer to confirm the runtime.
How many words to speak for 5 minutes?
To speak for 5 minutes, you need about 750 words at 150 WPM. A 5-minute speech is closer to 550 words at a slow, ceremonial 110 WPM and about 825 at 165 WPM. If you want to talk for 5 minutes with pauses for slides, applause or laughter, plan for 650 to 800 words.
How many words to talk for 5 minutes?
To talk for 5 minutes, plan on about 750 words if you are reading a script at 150 WPM. If you are speaking from notes and ad-libbing, you naturally talk a little slower, so 600 to 700 words of prepared material is enough. Use the calculator to check the length of your outline or draft.
How many words do you need to speak for 5 minutes?
You need about 750 words to speak for 5 minutes at the standard 150 words per minute. That falls to around 550 words at a slow ceremonial pace of 110 WPM and rises to about 825 words at a fast 165 WPM. Multiply minutes by your own WPM for an exact figure.
How many words to speak for 10 minutes?
To speak for 10 minutes you need about 1,500 words at 150 WPM, with a range of 1,100 words at a slow pace to 1,650 at a fast one. Plan for 1,200 to 1,400 words if you will use slides, stories or audience interaction. Use the words to time calculator to check how long is my speech before you present.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words out loud?
It takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds to read 1,000 words out loud at 150 WPM. At a slow 110 WPM it takes 9 minutes 5 seconds, and at 165 WPM about 6 minutes 5 seconds. So if you are asking how many minutes it takes to read 1000 words, the answer is roughly 6 to 9 minutes aloud, or about 4 minutes silently.
How many minutes does it take to read 1000 words?
Reading 1,000 words takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds silently at the adult average of 238 WPM, and about 6 minutes 40 seconds out loud at 150 WPM. A slow, careful reader at 180 WPM needs about 5 minutes 33 seconds. Choose a pace in the calculator to get the time for your own speed.
How many minutes to read 1000 words?
About 4 minutes if you read silently (238 WPM) and about 6 to 7 minutes if you read aloud (150 WPM). The formula is words ÷ words per minute, so 1,000 ÷ 150 = 6.67 minutes, which is 6 minutes 40 seconds. Paste your text into the words to minutes calculator for the exact time.
How many minutes per page of script?
A properly formatted screenplay page equals about one minute of screen time, which is the industry rule of thumb. For a speech or voiceover typed in a double-spaced 12-point document, a page holds about 250 to 300 words, or roughly 2 minutes at 150 WPM. A single-spaced page of around 500 words takes about 3 minutes 20 seconds.