Free tool
Words per minute calculator for speaking
Find your speaking rate in words per minute: enter a word count and a time, or read the passage aloud and time yourself. Words per minute = words ÷ minutes.
The short answer
- Most people speak at 130 to 160 words a minute when reading a script naturally.
- Words per minute = number of words ÷ minutes. 300 words in 2 minutes = 150 wpm.
- Silent reading is faster, roughly 200 to 260 wpm, so time your script out loud.
- Know your pace? Paste a script into the script timer to see how long it runs.
From words and time
Read aloud test
Press Start, read the passage out loud at your normal pace, then press Stop. It has 115 words.
The best videos sound like a conversation, not a reading. Look at the lens as if it were a friend, and let the words come at the pace you would use across a table. Pause when you finish a thought. Breathe before a new idea. If you stumble, keep going, because nobody notices a small slip as much as you do. Short sentences help, and so do plain words. Read your script out loud once before you record, and mark the places where you want to slow down or smile. Then press record, trust your preparation, and speak to one person at a time. That is the whole trick, and it works for almost everyone.
Runs in your browser. Nothing is recorded, stored or sent.
Typical speaking rates
| Pace | Words a minute | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | Under 110 | Deliberate, good for complex or emotional moments |
| Calm | 110 to 130 | Easy to follow, common in teaching and talks |
| Natural | 130 to 160 | Conversational, typical for videos and podcasts |
| Brisk | 160 to 180 | Energetic, fine for short social videos |
| Very fast | Over 180 | Hard to follow for long |
These ranges are approximate. Your best pace is the one where you sound like yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good speaking rate?
Around 130 to 160 words a minute sounds natural for most videos and presentations. Below about 110 can feel slow; above about 170 can be hard to follow, especially for complex ideas.
How do I calculate words per minute?
Divide the number of words by the time in minutes. For example, 450 words in 3 minutes is 150 words a minute. For a time like 2 minutes 30 seconds, use 2.5 minutes.
What is the average reading speed?
Reading silently, adults typically read English at roughly 200 to 260 words a minute. Reading out loud is slower, usually around 130 to 160 words a minute, because every word has to be spoken.
How fast should a teleprompter scroll?
At your own speaking pace, which for most people is 130 to 160 words a minute. Scrollglass lets you set the speed in words per minute, or turn on voice follow so the text keeps up with you and waits when you pause.
Is anything recorded when I take the read-aloud test?
No. The test only measures time between Start and Stop. Nothing is recorded, and nothing leaves your browser.