How the calculator works
It multiplies the minutes you enter by a pace in words a minute, then rounds to the nearest word. Pages assume about 500 words on a single-spaced page and 250 on a double-spaced one. Reading time uses 238 words a minute, the average silent reading pace for adults found in a 2019 review of 190 studies.
- Words = minutes x words a minute
- Single-spaced pages = words / 500
- Double-spaced pages = words / 250
- Reading time = words / 238, rounded to the nearest minute
Word counts for common lengths
These are the same sums the calculator does, worked out for the lengths people ask about most.
| Speaking time | 110 a minute | 130 a minute | 150 a minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 110 | 130 | 150 |
| 2 minutes | 220 | 260 | 300 |
| 3 minutes | 330 | 390 | 450 |
| 5 minutes | 550 | 650 | 750 |
| 10 minutes | 1,100 | 1,300 | 1,500 |
| 15 minutes | 1,650 | 1,950 | 2,250 |
| 20 minutes | 2,200 | 2,600 | 3,000 |
| 30 minutes | 3,300 | 3,900 | 4,500 |
| 60 minutes | 6,600 | 7,800 | 9,000 |
Which pace to pick
There is no single true speaking rate. A study of recorded English phone calls measured about 164 to 196 words a minute, while adults reading aloud average about 183. Talking to yourself with pauses to think is usually slower, so the calculator starts at 130. If you know your own pace, choose My own pace and type it in.
- Slow, with long pauses: 110 words a minute
- Unhurried, thinking aloud: 130 words a minute
- Everyday conversation: 150 words a minute
- Fast, or reading a script aloud: 180 words a minute
Measure your own pace in two minutes
Record yourself talking about your day for two minutes in any app that writes down speech, count the words in the transcript and divide by two. In Dawn Light, the entry shows the word count on the Your words row once it has a summary.
- Talk naturally for 2 minutes, the way you would in a journal entry
- Count the words in the transcript
- Divide by 2 to get your words a minute
- Enter that number under My own pace
Edge cases
Short answers and fast talkers skew the numbers. Use the result as a planning figure.
- Numbers, names and filler words like um are counted differently by different transcription tools
- A pace measured over 30 seconds is less reliable than one measured over several minutes
- Languages differ: a word count in German or Finnish runs lower than English for the same idea, because words are longer
Questions about speaking time
How many words is a 3 minute speech?
About 390 words at an unhurried 130 words a minute and about 450 at 150 words a minute. A speech read from a script tends to run faster than one given from notes.
How long is a 1,000 word talk?
About 7 to 8 minutes at 130 words a minute and under 7 minutes at 150. The words to speaking time calculator works this out for any length.
How long would a five minute voice journal entry be on paper?
About 650 words, or a little over one single-spaced page. Talking for a few minutes a day adds up to a long journal quickly, which is one reason people who dislike writing find voice journaling easier to keep.
Sources
Keep a journal by talking
Dawn Light writes down what you say as you say it, on your iPhone. Talk for a minute or half an hour and keep every word as a dated journal entry.
Get Dawn Light freeUnlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.