Writing & Publishing Tools
Speech Time Calculator
Estimate how long a speech takes to deliver. Enter a script or word count and set your speaking pace, including time for pauses.
Plain text only; HTML tags and stage directions are not removed. Limit: 100,000 characters. Nothing is uploaded or saved by this tool.
Enter a whole number from 0 to 1,000,000. Your pasted text is kept when switching input modes.
Adjust each pace independently. Use whole numbers from 1 to 1,000 words per minute.
Added only to speaking / episode duration. Maximum: 86,400 seconds (24 hours).
Enter text or a word count to see your estimates.
Plan the duration of a speech
Paste the words you intend to say, or enter their count. Speaking starts at an editable 130 words per minute. Add seconds for pauses, audience reactions, or slides; those seconds affect only the speaking estimate.
Worked example
Example: a 650-word speech at 130 words per minute takes 5 minutes. Add 30 seconds for pauses to plan for 5 minutes 30 seconds. Silent reading time is shown separately.
How is the estimate calculated?
Reading seconds = words ÷ reading words per minute × 60. Speaking seconds = words ÷ speaking words per minute × 60 + additional seconds. Changing one speed never changes the other estimate.
Can I use the label on my website?
Copy the rounded speaking-time label or its HTML for an event page or presentation outline. Rehearse the speech to check its actual duration.
How are words counted?
Where supported, your browser segments words using the page language. A Unicode-aware fallback counts letter and number groups, keeping apostrophes inside words. Punctuation and emoji alone are not words. Counts can differ between browsers, languages, and editorial conventions; enter your own word count when an exact agreed count is needed.
How accurate is the duration?
These are planning estimates, not measured timings. Language, text difficulty, delivery style, and audience affect pace. Set a speed appropriate to your content and check a sample by reading or recording it. Your text is not sent to a processing service or stored by this tool.
