SPEECH LENGTH GUIDE · 45 MIN
How many words is a 45-minute speech?
A 45-minute speech is about 5,850–6,750 words at a typical speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute.
At forty-five minutes you're giving a keynote or a lesson. Few people listen well to one voice for that long, so mix talking with stories, examples and moments where the audience does something.
Words in forty-five minutes, at every pace
| Pace | Words per minute | Words in 45 min |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 120 | 5,400 |
| Conversational | 140 | 6,300 |
| Rehearsed | 150 | 6,750 |
| Fast | 170 | 7,650 |
Typed up, that's about 23½–27 pages double-spaced or 11½–13½ pages single-spaced. Most people don't know their own pace. The speaking speed test finds your row in about a minute.
What a 45-minute speech is used for
- KeynoteOne big idea, built chapter by chapter, with stories doing most of the work.
- Workshop or breakout sessionShort bursts of teaching between exercises.
- Lesson or seminarExplain, show an example, let people try it, then pull it together.
- Webinar with questionsAround 30 to 35 minutes of content and the rest for questions.
For help with the occasion itself, see presentations and talks, interviews or toasts, eulogies and other life moments.
How to structure a 45-minute speech
Four or five chapters of about ten minutes. Here's one way to spend forty-five minutes, with rough word counts at a conversational 140 words a minute:
- Opening2 min 15 s · about 320 words
- Chapter one9 min · about 1,260 words
- Chapter two9 min · about 1,260 words
- Activity, demo or questions4 min 30 s
- Chapter three9 min · about 1,260 words
- Chapter four6 min 45 s · about 950 words
- Close4 min 30 s · about 630 words
Tip for this length
Don't write 6,000 words to read aloud. At this length, speak from a structured outline and rehearse each chapter on its own.
When you rehearse with a timer, check yourself at the 22½-minute mark. At 140 words a minute you should be around word 3,150.
Check your own script
Set to forty-five minutes. Switch to “Paste a script” to time what you've written.
45 min is about 5,850 to 6,750 words.
For 45 min, write about
5,850–6,750 words
At a typical 130–150 words per minute. That is about 23½–27 pages double-spaced.
- Slow 120 wpm5,400 wordsDeliberate delivery: ceremonies, big echoey rooms, dense material, or listeners in their second language.
- Conversational 140 wpm6,300 wordsTalking it through in your own words, with natural pauses while you think.
- Rehearsed 150 wpm6,750 wordsA script you know well. No searching for words, so it runs a little quicker.
- Fast 170 wpm7,650 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
45-minute speech questions
How should I rehearse a 45-minute talk?
Rehearse each chapter on its own until it is smooth, then do at least one full run-through with a timer so you know where you speed up.
How many slides for a 45-minute talk?
The one-slide-a-minute rule of thumb gives about 45, but many speakers use fewer and talk around strong images. Plan slides per chapter, not per minute.
How many pages is a 45-minute speech?
About 23½–27 pages double-spaced, or 11½–13½ 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 45-minute speech at a slow or fast pace?
At a slow 120 words per minute, about 5,400 words. At a fast 170, about 7,650. Most people land in between; the free speaking speed test shows you where you do.
Make your 45 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.