SPEECH LENGTH GUIDE · 20 MIN
How many words is a 20-minute speech?
A 20-minute speech is about 2,600–3,000 words at a typical speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute.
A common conference slot, and just over the longest TED talk. At this length, variety (a story, a demo, a question to the room) does more for you than extra points.
Words in twenty minutes, at every pace
| Pace | Words per minute | Words in 20 min |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 120 | 2,400 |
| Conversational | 140 | 2,800 |
| Rehearsed | 150 | 3,000 |
| Fast | 170 | 3,400 |
Typed up, that's about 10½–12 pages double-spaced or 5–6 pages single-spaced. Most people don't know their own pace. The speaking speed test finds your row in about a minute.
What a 20-minute speech is used for
- TED talkTED caps talks at 18 minutes. A 20-minute slot is TED length with a little room to breathe.
- Conference talkA full talk with a beginning, a middle that teaches something, and an end people can act on.
- WebinarThe teaching part of a webinar, before the questions.
- Board or leadership presentationThe decision you need, the evidence, the risks, and the ask.
For help with the occasion itself, see presentations and talks, interviews or toasts, eulogies and other life moments.
How to structure a 20-minute speech
Four or five sections, with a change of pace. Here's one way to spend twenty minutes, with rough word counts at a conversational 140 words a minute:
- Opening story or question1 min 35 s · about 220 words
- Section one4 min · about 560 words
- Section two4 min · about 560 words
- Change of pace: a demo, an example, or a question to the room2 min · about 280 words
- Section three4 min · about 560 words
- Section four2 min 30 s · about 340 words
- Close2 min · about 280 words
Tip for this length
Every five minutes or so, change something: tell a story, show a demo, ask the room a question. Variety holds attention better than polish.
When you rehearse with a timer, check yourself at the 10-minute mark. At 140 words a minute you should be around word 1,400.
Check your own script
Set to twenty minutes. Switch to “Paste a script” to time what you've written.
20 min is about 2,600 to 3,000 words.
For 20 min, write about
2,600–3,000 words
At a typical 130–150 words per minute. That is about 10½–12 pages double-spaced.
- Slow 120 wpm2,400 wordsDeliberate delivery: ceremonies, big echoey rooms, dense material, or listeners in their second language.
- Conversational 140 wpm2,800 wordsTalking it through in your own words, with natural pauses while you think.
- Rehearsed 150 wpm3,000 wordsA script you know well. No searching for words, so it runs a little quicker.
- Fast 170 wpm3,400 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
20-minute speech questions
How many words is an 18-minute TED talk?
About 2,340 to 2,700 words at 130–150 words a minute. The 18-minute limit is strict, so time your script out loud rather than trusting a word count.
Should I script a 20-minute talk word for word?
A full script is useful for rehearsal. On the day, most speakers do better with short notes and a word-for-word opening and closing.
How many pages is a 20-minute speech?
About 10½–12 pages double-spaced, or 5–6 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 20-minute speech at a slow or fast pace?
At a slow 120 words per minute, about 2,400 words. At a fast 170, about 3,400. Most people land in between; the free speaking speed test shows you where you do.
Make your 20 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.