How Many Words Is a 5 Minute Speech?
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A 5 minute speech is usually 650–750 words. Most people speak at roughly 130–150 words per minute in a presentation, so multiply your minutes by your speaking rate.
Speech length by minutes
1 minute: 130–150 words. 3 minutes: 390–450 words. 5 minutes: 650–750 words. 10 minutes: 1300–1500 words. 20 minutes: 2600–3000 words.
Leave room for pauses
Pauses, audience reactions and slides add time. If you have a strict limit, aim for the lower end of the range.
Find your own pace
Read a 150-word paragraph aloud and time yourself. Divide 150 by the minutes it took to get your personal words per minute, then use it to plan any speech.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 2 minute speech?
About 260–300 words.
Is 150 words per minute fast?
It is a comfortable presentation pace for many speakers. Nervous speakers often go faster.