SPEECH LENGTH GUIDE · 10 MIN
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
A 10-minute speech is about 1,300–1,500 words at a typical speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute.
Ten minutes is the length of many interview presentations and class talks. It holds three or four sections, and needs a clear map so nobody gets lost.
Words in ten minutes, at every pace
| Pace | Words per minute | Words in 10 min |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 120 | 1,200 |
| Conversational | 140 | 1,400 |
| Rehearsed | 150 | 1,500 |
| Fast | 170 | 1,700 |
Typed up, that's about 5–6 pages double-spaced or 2½–3 pages single-spaced. Most people don't know their own pace. The speaking speed test finds your row in about a minute.
What a 10-minute speech is used for
- Job interview presentation“Prepare a 10-minute presentation” is a common brief. Plan 8 to 9 minutes so questions don't push you over.
- Class or seminar presentationLong enough to teach one idea properly, with an example people will remember.
- TEDx-style talkTED and TEDx talks can run up to 18 minutes; plenty of good ones are much shorter.
- Client pitchThe pitch itself, inside a longer meeting.
For help with the occasion itself, see presentations and talks, interviews or toasts, eulogies and other life moments.
How to structure a 10-minute speech
Three or four sections. Here's one way to spend ten minutes, with rough word counts at a conversational 140 words a minute:
- Opening and roadmap1 min · about 140 words
- Section one2 min 30 s · about 350 words
- Section two2 min 30 s · about 350 words
- Section three2 min 30 s · about 350 words
- Summary and call to action1 min 30 s · about 210 words
Tip for this length
Plan ten minutes as three or four mini-talks of two or three minutes, each with its own point and example. It is far easier to rehearse in chunks.
When you rehearse with a timer, check yourself at the 5-minute mark. At 140 words a minute you should be around word 700.
Check your own script
Set to ten minutes. Switch to “Paste a script” to time what you've written.
10 min is about 1,300 to 1,500 words.
For 10 min, write about
1,300–1,500 words
At a typical 130–150 words per minute. That is about 5–6 pages double-spaced.
- Slow 120 wpm1,200 wordsDeliberate delivery: ceremonies, big echoey rooms, dense material, or listeners in their second language.
- Conversational 140 wpm1,400 wordsTalking it through in your own words, with natural pauses while you think.
- Rehearsed 150 wpm1,500 wordsA script you know well. No searching for words, so it runs a little quicker.
- Fast 170 wpm1,700 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
10-minute speech questions
How many slides for a 10-minute presentation?
About one slide a minute is a common rule of thumb, so around 10. For an interview, fewer is often better: you are being judged on how you explain, not on how much you show.
How many words is a 10-minute interview presentation?
About 1,300 to 1,500 words at a typical pace. Writing closer to 1,100 to 1,200 leaves room to slow down and handle an interruption.
How many pages is a 10-minute speech?
About 5–6 pages double-spaced, or 2½–3 pages 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 10-minute speech at a slow or fast pace?
At a slow 120 words per minute, about 1,200 words. At a fast 170, about 1,700. Most people land in between; the free speaking speed test shows you where you do.
Make your 10 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.