Script writing
How Many Words Is a 1, 3, 5 or 10-Minute Script? (Words-to-Minutes Table)
A quick reference for converting script word counts into speaking time, with a words-to-minutes table for slow, average and fast speakers and tips for hitting your time exactly.
In this guide
Whether it is a 60-second Reel, a 5-minute toast or a 20-minute talk, the question is the same: how many words fit? Use this table, then adjust for your own pace.
Words-to-minutes table
| Length | Slow (120 wpm) | Average (150 wpm) | Fast (170 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 30 | 38 | 43 |
| 30 seconds | 60 | 75 | 85 |
| 45 seconds | 90 | 113 | 128 |
| 1 minute | 120 | 150 | 170 |
| 90 seconds | 180 | 225 | 255 |
| 2 minutes | 240 | 300 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 360 | 450 | 510 |
| 5 minutes | 600 | 750 | 850 |
| 7 minutes | 840 | 1,050 | 1,190 |
| 10 minutes | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 15 minutes | 1,800 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,400 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
| 30 minutes | 3,600 | 4,500 | 5,100 |
Which column are you?
- Slow: lessons, speeches with pauses, presenting to a live room, non-native audiences.
- Average: most YouTube and LinkedIn talking-head video.
- Fast: energetic short-form content, experienced podcasters.
Measure yourself: read 150 words aloud naturally, time it, and calculate 150 ÷ seconds × 60. Details in our teleprompter speed guide.
Adjust for what is not in the words
The table assumes continuous speech. Real videos and talks have:
- Pauses after hooks and punchlines
- Laughter or applause in live speeches
- Demos where you show rather than speak
- Slide transitions
For a live speech, plan 10–15% fewer words than the table suggests. For a demo-heavy video, plan fewer still.
Don't count what you won't say
Stage directions, section headings and notes-to-self inflate word counts. If your script contains [look left] or // remember to smile, remove them before counting, or use a prompter that ignores them. Cue excludes delivery marks from its word count and duration estimate, so the estimate reflects only what you will speak.
Hitting a time exactly
- Set a target. In Cue you can give a script a time target; the editor shows the pace it demands and warns when that is faster than anyone can speak.
- Rehearse against the clock. While presenting, Cue shows elapsed time against the target and whether you are ahead or behind.
- Cut, don't rush. If you are over, remove a sentence or an example. Speeding up makes you harder to follow.
- Build in a flex section. Mark one paragraph as optional so you can drop it live if you are running long.
Platform limits worth knowing
Platform caps change often, so check current limits, but as planning targets:
- Short-form (TikTok, Reels, Shorts): most high-performing talking-head clips are 20–60 seconds, roughly 50–150 words.
- LinkedIn video: 30–90 seconds works well for talking-head posts.
- Wedding toasts: 3–5 minutes. See our wedding speech guide.
- Conference lightning talks: 5 minutes, hard stop.
Know the number before you write and you will save yourself a painful edit later.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 1-minute speech?
About 130 to 160 words at a natural pace. Use 150 as a planning number.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
Roughly 650 to 800 words. Presentations with slides and pauses tend toward the lower end.
How many pages is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,300 to 1,500 words, which is roughly five pages double-spaced or three single-spaced.