SimpleListenSpeech time calculator
How long will it take to say it? Convert words to minutes, check a piece of text, or work back from the time you have.
150 is a starting estimate. Adjust it to your speaker or voice.
Listen faster or slower after recording.
Free to use. No account needed.
10 minutes
1,500 words at 150 words per minute.
At 1× playback
10 minutes
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How to convert words to minutes
Divide the word count by your speaking pace. At 150 words per minute, 1,500 words take about 10 minutes to read aloud. For the reverse calculation, multiply minutes by words per minute: a five-minute speech at the same pace has room for about 750 words.
| Words | Speaking time | Listening at 1.5× |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 1 minute | 40 seconds |
| 750 | 5 minutes | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
| 1,500 | 10 minutes | 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| 3,000 | 20 minutes | 13 minutes 20 seconds |
A useful estimate, then a rehearsal
Pauses, unfamiliar names, emphasis and numbers change the time it takes to speak. A table may need several sentences to explain aloud. Try a short passage with your chosen voice, or rehearse part of your speech, then adjust the pace.
The text counter counts words and numbers, treating contractions and hyphenated words as one word. It works best for languages with spaces between words. Languages such as Chinese and Japanese need a different counting method. Silent reading time is also different from speaking time.
Playback speed changes how long you spend listening to an existing recording. It does not shorten the recording itself or reduce the narration allowance used to create it.
Make an episode from something you want to read
SimpleListen reads your full content aloud and delivers it through a personal, unlisted podcast feed or the web player. Start with 15 narration minutes, without a card. Use the calculator to plan a listen; narration usage is measured from the finished audio, not from this estimate.
Turn notes into a podcast, listen to an article, or compare listening plans.
Questions about speaking time
How many words fit in a ten-minute speech?
At an estimated 150 words per minute, about 1,500 words. Allow time for pauses, audience reactions and transitions; rehearse to find your actual pace.
Does this calculator generate audio?
No. It calculates an estimate in your browser. To hear your text, create a SimpleListen account and paste it into a new episode.
Is my pasted text saved or uploaded?
The calculator keeps it only in this tab's memory. It does not upload, store or add the text to a URL. Reloading the page clears it.
Updated . Estimates are for planning, not a promise of a particular narration speed.