SPEECH LENGTH GUIDE · 1 MIN
How many words is a 1-minute speech?
A 1-minute speech is about 130–150 words at a typical speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute.
A minute is shorter than most people expect: about ten sentences. It has room for one idea, one example and a clear finish, and nothing else.
Words in one minute, at every pace
| Pace | Words per minute | Words in 1 min |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 120 | 120 |
| Conversational | 140 | 140 |
| Rehearsed | 150 | 150 |
| Fast | 170 | 170 |
Typed up, that's about ½ page double-spaced or ½ page single-spaced. Most people don't know their own pace. The speaking speed test finds your row in about a minute.
What a 1-minute speech is used for
- Elevator pitchUsually 30 to 60 seconds: who you are, what you do, and what you would like from the listener.
- Table Topics at ToastmastersImpromptu answers run 1 to 2 minutes, so one minute is the least you want to fill.
- Introducing yourselfAt a meeting, a course or a networking event: your name, what you do, and one thing worth remembering.
- A vote of thanksThanking a speaker or host: who you are thanking, one specific thing they did, and the cue to applaud.
For help with the occasion itself, see presentations and talks, interviews or toasts, eulogies and other life moments.
How to structure a 1-minute speech
One point. Here's one way to spend one minute, with rough word counts at a conversational 140 words a minute:
- Say your point in one sentence10 s · about 20 words
- One example or detail that proves it35 s · about 85 words
- Repeat the point, or ask for something15 s · about 35 words
Tip for this length
Cut the warm-up. “So, I just wanted to quickly say…” spends seconds you don't have. Start with the point.
When you rehearse with a timer, check yourself at the 30-second mark. At 140 words a minute you should be around word 70.
Check your own script
Set to one minute. Switch to “Paste a script” to time what you've written.
1 min is about 130 to 150 words.
For 1 min, write about
130–150 words
At a typical 130–150 words per minute. That is about ½ page double-spaced.
- Slow 120 wpm120 wordsDeliberate delivery: ceremonies, big echoey rooms, dense material, or listeners in their second language.
- Conversational 140 wpm140 wordsTalking it through in your own words, with natural pauses while you think.
- Rehearsed 150 wpm150 wordsA script you know well. No searching for words, so it runs a little quicker.
- Fast 170 wpm170 wordsNerves, excitement or a squeezed slot. Easy to slip into, hard for listeners to follow for long.
Not sure which pace is yours? Read a passage aloud and time yourself. It takes about a minute.
QUESTIONS
1-minute speech questions
How long is a 30-second speech?
About 65 to 75 words at a typical pace: four or five sentences. Write the one-minute version first, then cut it in half.
Is a 1-minute speech the same as an elevator pitch?
Close. Elevator pitches are usually 30 to 60 seconds, so a one-minute speech sits at the long end. The shape is the same: who you are, what you do, what you want.
How many pages is a 1-minute speech?
About ½ page double-spaced, or ½ page single-spaced, in 12-point type (roughly 250 and 500 words a page). Fonts and margins change this, so trust the word count over the page count.
How many words is a 1-minute speech at a slow or fast pace?
At a slow 120 words per minute, about 120 words. At a fast 170, about 170. Most people land in between; the free speaking speed test shows you where you do.
Make your 1 minutes count.
Record a minute of it and see your pace, pauses and fillers, with one fix from your coach before the real thing.
Rehearse it freeYour first Voice Snapshot is free. No account needed to try it.