How many words is a 20-minute speech?
Updated October 27, 2026 · Anthony Delmotte
Short answer. About 2,800 words at a normal speaking pace of 140 words per minute. Count 2,400 words if you speak slowly (120 wpm) and 3,200 if you speak fast (160 wpm).
Word count for a 20-minute speech, by pace
| Pace | Words |
|---|---|
| Slow · 120 wpm | 2,400 |
| Normal · 140 wpm | 2,800 |
| Fast · 160 wpm | 3,200 |
20 minutes is the usual length of a TED-style talk (TED caps talks at 18 minutes) or a full sermon. Most people speak between 130 and 160 words per minute on camera and a little slower on stage, where pauses and applause take time. If you don’t know your pace, measure it in one minute.
How to build a 20-minute speech
At 140 words per minute you have about 2,800 words. A structure that fits:
- Opening: about 280 words. One hook and why you’re speaking.
- 5 main points: about 448 words each, one idea, one example.
- Closing: about 280 words. The one thing people should remember.
Written out, that is about 11.2 double-spaced pages, or 94 cue cards of 30 words if you write every word out (far fewer with keywords only). The cue card maker splits your script into cards for you.
Check your own script
Paste it into the speech time calculator: it gives the speaking time at your pace, with pauses between paragraphs. Then read it out loud once with a timer. Real speeches run a little longer than the count, because you breathe and stress words.