OpenFlow
Words to minutes calculator
Type a word count or paste a script to see how long it takes to say out loud. Or flip it around and find how many words fill your time slot.
How many words for common speech lengths?
Quick reference at a slow, conversational, and fast pace. Rehearsal with a timer always beats math, but this gets your draft in the right zone.
| Length | Slow (110 wpm) | Conversational (140 wpm) | Fast (170 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 second pitch | 55 words | 70 words | 85 words |
| 1 minute | 110 words | 140 words | 170 words |
| 2 minute toast | 220 words | 280 words | 340 words |
| 5 minute talk | 550 words | 700 words | 850 words |
| 10 minute talk | 1,100 words | 1,400 words | 1,700 words |
| 20 minute keynote | 2,200 words | 2,800 words | 3,400 words |
| 60 minute lecture | 6,600 words | 8,400 words | 10,200 words |
Fair questions
How many words per minute is normal speech?
Conversational English runs about 140 to 160 words per minute. Presentations and prepared talks land closer to 110 to 130 wpm, because pauses, emphasis, and nerves all slow you down. Audiobook narrators aim for roughly 150 to 155 wpm.
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
About 700 words at a comfortable conversational pace of 140 wpm. A slow, deliberate delivery is closer to 550 words, and a fast talker can fit around 850. When in doubt, write 700 and rehearse with a timer.
Is speaking faster than typing?
Yes, by a wide margin. Most people speak around 140 wpm but type around 40 wpm, so speech is roughly 3x faster at getting words out of your head. That gap is exactly why dictation feels like a superpower once it clicks.
Can I write documents at speaking speed?
Yes, with dictation software. OpenFlow is a free, open source dictation app for macOS that transcribes 100% on device at your natural speaking pace: hold a key, talk, release, and the words appear at your cursor. No subscription, no cloud, no word limits.
Stop typing at 40 wpm. Start speaking at 140.
OpenFlow gives you hold-a-key dictation anywhere on your Mac, transcribed 100% on device. Write at the speed this calculator just showed you, free forever, and your voice never leaves your machine.
Apple Silicon, macOS 14 or later. About two minutes from download to first dictation.