Words to minutes calculator
How long will your text take to read or say out loud? Or how many words fit in a 5-minute speech? Adjust the pace to match yours.
| Silent reading (238 wpm) | 4 min 12 sec |
|---|---|
| Slow speech (110 wpm) | 9 min 5 sec |
| Presentation (140 wpm) | 7 min 9 sec |
| Fast speech (170 wpm) | 5 min 53 sec |
| wpm | 7 min 9 sec |
| Slow speech | 550 words |
|---|---|
| Presentation | 700 words |
| Fast speech | 850 words |
Have the text already? Paste it into the word counter for an exact count and timing.
Words to minutes reference table
| Words | Reading (238 wpm) | Speaking (140 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 25 sec | 43 sec |
| 250 | 1 min 3 sec | 1 min 47 sec |
| 500 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 34 sec |
| 750 | 3 min 9 sec | 5 min 21 sec |
| 1,000 | 4 min 12 sec | 7 min 9 sec |
| 1,500 | 6 min 18 sec | 10 min 43 sec |
| 2,000 | 8 min 24 sec | 14 min 17 sec |
| 2,500 | 10 min 30 sec | 17 min 51 sec |
| 3,000 | 12 min 36 sec | 21 min 26 sec |
| 5,000 | 21 min 1 sec | 35 min 43 sec |
Where the speeds come from
Silent reading uses 238 wpm from Brysbaert (2019), which pooled 190 studies of adult readers. Speaking rates vary more: audiobooks are usually narrated at around 150–160 wpm, while presentations and lectures commonly run 120–150 wpm with pauses. Time yourself reading a page aloud and enter your own pace for the best estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How many words per minute does the average person read?
About 238 words per minute for silent reading of English non-fiction and around 260 for fiction, according to Marc Brysbaert’s 2019 meta-analysis in the Journal of Memory and Language.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
At a typical presentation pace of 130–150 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is roughly 650–750 words. Slow, deliberate speakers may land nearer 500.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes 12 seconds of silent reading at 238 words per minute, or about 7 minutes 9 seconds to say aloud at 140 words per minute.
How many words is a 10-minute presentation?
Around 1,300–1,500 words at a conversational presentation pace, less if you leave pauses for slides or questions.
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