Reading time vs speaking time: the math behind the minutes
Where the "5 min read" number comes from, why speeches need a different clock, and how to time a talk without rehearsing to a stopwatch.
4 min read · Reviewed July 2026
Every ‘7 min read’ badge you’ve ever seen is just a word count divided by an assumed reading speed. The assumption matters. A big 2019 meta-analysis of reading research put average adult silent reading at 238 words per minute for non-fiction — that’s the number our counter uses. Slow, careful readers run closer to 150; skimmers blow past 400.
Speaking is half the speed of reading
Comfortable presentation pace is 140-160 words per minute — we use 150. Conversational speech runs faster (roughly 190), and audiobooks are narrated near 155. That 2-to-1 gap between reading and speaking is why a script that ‘reads short’ still overruns its slot: a 1,500-word talk is a breezy 6-minute read but a tight 10-minute speech.
Practical numbers for common jobs
A 5-minute wedding toast or conference lightning talk: about 750 words. A 20-minute keynote: roughly 3,000. A 10-minute YouTube script: 1,400-1,600 words once you account for pauses and b-roll. Voiceover for a 30-second ad: 75-80 words, and every one earns its place.
My advice for anyone timing a talk: write it, paste it in the counter, check speaking time, then cut 10% anyway. Live delivery always runs longer than the math — nerves add pauses, audiences add laughter (if you’re lucky), and slides add transitions. The talks that feel effortless are the ones that finished under time.