Reading and voice
How many words is a one-minute speech? Speaking rate and script length in one table
Short answer: A one-minute speech is about 100 words at a calm pace, 140 words at a normal pace and 180 words at a brisk pace. Duration = word count ÷ words per minute, so a 300-word script runs 3:00, 2:09 or 1:40 depending on how fast you speak.
How many words fit in one minute?
Speaking rate is measured in words per minute (wpm). The prompter has three preset paces that this article uses: calm at 100, normal at 140 and brisk at 180 wpm. Most videos and talks land somewhere between them.
| Length | 100 wpm | 140 wpm | 180 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 sec | 50 | 70 | 90 |
| 1 min | 100 | 140 | 180 |
| 2 min | 200 | 280 | 360 |
| 3 min | 300 | 420 | 540 |
| 5 min | 500 | 700 | 900 |
| 10 min | 1,000 | 1,400 | 1,800 |
Words = minutes × words per minute. Calculated, not measured.
How long does a 300-word script take to read?
Flip the formula: duration = words ÷ pace. 300 words takes 3:00 at a calm pace, 2:09 at a normal pace and 1:40 at a brisk one. That's more than a minute of difference from the same text – which is why script length only means something at the pace you actually speak.
Why do some scripts run long on camera?
Pauses, emphasis and breathing add time that a word count doesn't show. Numbers, names and technical terms slow you down too. A script full of short, everyday words reads faster than one with the same word count in long, formal sentences.
How can you see the duration before you film?
The prompter's Statistics menu (next to the word count) shows how long the script runs at all three speeds, to the second, and during playback the bar shows the time left at your current speed. If the video has to be exactly 45 seconds, set a target time: the prompter can match its speed to the time, or show you how much text to cut.
What's the right pace for video?
The one that keeps your rhythm even and your pauses in place. If you'd rather not fix a speed at all, switch on voice tracking: the prompter scrolls at your speaking pace and waits when you pause.
Frequently asked
How many words is a 1-minute speech?
About 100 words at a calm pace, 140 at a normal pace and 180 at a brisk pace.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 500–900 words: 500 at a calm pace, 700 at a normal pace and 900 at a brisk pace.
How do I calculate how long my speech is?
Divide the word count by your speaking rate in words per minute. The prompter does this for three speeds and shows the time left while you read.