What is the average reading speed for adults?

The average reading speed for an adult is between 200 and 250 words per minute (WPM) for non-technical prose.

What is the average speaking speed for public speeches and presentations?

For presentations, keynotes, and voiceovers, standard speaking speed is 130 to 150 words per minute to ensure audience comprehension.

How many words is a 5-minute speech?

At a standard speaking pace of 140 WPM, a 5-minute speech is approximately 700 words (ranging from 650 to 750 words).

Reading Time

⏱️

0 sec

225 WPM silent reading

Speaking Time

🎙️

0 sec

140 WPM speech pace

Total Words

📖

Word count basis

Pages

📄

~250 words per page

Saved locally

Ln 1, Col 1

Reading & Speaking Time Calculator: Formulas and Speech Guide

Planning a keynote presentation, video script, podcast episode, or blog article? Our Reading Time Calculator helps you tailor your script length to hit exact time constraints without rushing or running over.

Speech Duration Word Count Reference Table

Speech Duration	Slow Pace (110 WPM)	Standard Pace (140 WPM)	Fast Pace (160 WPM)
1 Minute	110 Words	140 Words	160 Words
3 Minutes	330 Words	420 Words	480 Words
5 Minutes	550 Words	700 Words	800 Words
10 Minutes	1,100 Words	1,400 Words	1,600 Words
15 Minutes	1,650 Words	2,100 Words	2,400 Words

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ What formula calculates reading time?

Reading time is calculated as \(\text{Time (minutes)} = \frac{\text{Total Words}}{225}\). For seconds, multiply by 60.

❓ Why is speaking speed slower than reading speed?

Silent reading does not require vocal cord articulation or audience breathing pauses, allowing humans to read ~225 WPM while speaking at ~140 WPM.