Speech & Script Runtime Calculator

Paste a speech or presentation script to estimate speaking time from word count, delivery pace, and pauses. Create a matching countdown in TimedFlow.

Free calculator · No sign-up · Your work stays in this browser

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This plan fits inside the Free 5-minute running allowance.

Estimate speaking time from a script

Speaking time is the word count divided by delivery speed, plus pauses. Paste the script, choose a realistic words-per-minute pace, and use paragraph breaks where the speaker will genuinely stop or change ideas.

Why rehearsal still matters

A word-count estimate is a planning baseline. Slides, laughter, applause, audience interaction, demonstrations, and emphasis all change the live result. Rehearse once with the calculated timer, then replace the estimate with the measured duration.

Plan the ending, not only the middle

Reserve time for the final idea and call to action instead of treating them as whatever fits. For an event slot, keep introductions, questions, and speaker changeovers as separate run-of-show segments.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in a five-minute speech?

At a conversational 130 words per minute, five minutes is about 650 spoken words before deliberate pauses. A measured 110 WPM pace is about 550 words, while a brisk 160 WPM pace is about 800 words.

What speaking pace should I choose?

Use 110–130 WPM for technical, emotional, or interpreted material; about 130–150 WPM for a typical presentation; and 150–170 WPM only for energetic, familiar material. Rehearsing aloud gives the most reliable result.

Does the estimate include pauses?

Yes. The calculator adds your chosen pause after each paragraph. It cannot predict applause, demonstrations, audience responses, or ad-libbing, so add those as separate timed segments in your run of show.

Take the plan into the live room

TimedFlow turns this planning work into a remote-controlled timer for presenters and viewers.

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