ScriptfoxHow many words in a 3-minute speech?
A 3-minute speech is about 450 words at an average speaking pace of 150 words a minute: around 375 words if you speak slowly (125 a minute) and up to 525 if you speak fast (175).
Target 3:00 is about 450 words at this pace.
Conversational: most YouTube talking heads
Trims or stretches it to about 450 words, in your voice. Free, three a day.
ScriptFox scrolls as you speak, so you keep your eyes on the camera. Free, no card.
What fits in 3 minutes
Three minutes is about 450 words: a hook, three short sections, and a close. It is the length of a tight how-to, a pitch that respects the room, and the classic short class presentation.
Three sections of about 45 seconds each is the shape that works. Give each its own first sentence that states the point, so a listener who drifts can catch the thread at the next section.
Words at every pace
Slow is 125 words a minute, average 150, fast 175. This length is marked; the others link to their own pages.
| Length | Slow (125 wpm) | Average (150 wpm) | Fast (175 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds0:30 | 63 | 75 | 88 |
| 1 minute1:00 | 125 | 150 | 175 |
| 2 minutes2:00 | 250 | 300 | 350 |
| 3 minutes3:00 | 375 | 450 | 525 |
| 5 minutes5:00 | 625 | 750 | 875 |
| 8 minutes8:00 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1,400 |
| 10 minutes10:00 | 1,250 | 1,500 | 1,750 |
| 15 minutes15:00 | 1,875 | 2,250 | 2,625 |
| 20 minutes20:00 | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| 30 minutes30:00 | 3,750 | 4,500 | 5,250 |
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a three-minute speech?
About 450 words at an average pace, between 375 words spoken slowly and 525 spoken fast.
How many pages is a three-minute speech?
About one and a half to two pages, double-spaced, in a 12-point font. Page counts are a rough guide, though; word count at your own pace is what tells you the time.
How many points can I make in three minutes?
Three, at most, with one example each. If you have more, pick the three a listener would repeat to a friend afterward and leave the rest for a follow-up.
Written. Timed. Now read it to the camera.
ScriptFox follows your voice so you never lose your line. Free to try, no card required.