Toastmasters Timer Guide: Digital Timing for Speeches & Evaluations

How Toastmasters Timing Works

Every Toastmasters meeting uses a Timer role to ensure speeches and segments stay within their allotted time. The traditional traffic light system — green at minimum time, amber at target time, red at maximum — signals speakers without interrupting their flow. A digital timer automates this entire process and makes it visible to the entire room.

Standard Toastmasters Timing Rules

• Prepared speeches (Ice Breaker): 4–6 minutes (green 4:00, amber 5:00, red 6:00)
• Prepared speeches (most projects): 5–7 minutes (green 5:00, amber 6:00, red 7:00)
• Table Topics responses: 1–2 minutes (green 1:00, amber 1:30, red 2:00)
• Speech evaluations: 2–3 minutes (green 2:00, amber 2:30, red 3:00)
• Ah-Counter and Grammarian reports: typically 1 minute

Setting Up TimedFlow for a Toastmasters Meeting

Create a TimedFlow room and add one timer per speaking slot or use a single timer and reset between speakers. Set your warning thresholds to match Toastmasters colour changes: the first warning (amber) at the target time and the second warning (red) at maximum. Speakers see the same colour cues they expect without you needing physical traffic lights.

Running Table Topics with a Digital Timer

Table Topics is where a digital timer shines. With a physical traffic light you need to swap cards or panels. With TimedFlow, you simply reset the timer between speakers, and the new countdown starts immediately. Set warnings at 1:00 and 1:30, and every impromptu speaker gets a clear visual cue.

Sharing the Timer with Remote Toastmasters Members

Hybrid meetings — where some members attend in person and others join via Zoom — are increasingly common in Toastmasters clubs. Share the TimedFlow viewer link in the Zoom chat at the start of the meeting. Remote members see the exact same timer as the room, including the colour changes, without any coordination effort.

Tips for Toastmasters Timers

• Pre-set timers for each speech role before the meeting starts to avoid setup delays
• Use the countdown mode so speakers can see exactly how much time remains
• Display the timer on a screen visible to the speaker and the audience simultaneously
• Keep a note of the exact seconds if a speech is disqualified for going under minimum time
• For online-only clubs, the shared link method completely replaces all physical timing equipment