To convert words to minutes, divide the word count by your speaking speed in words per minute: words ÷ WPM = minutes. At the standard 150 WPM, a 750-word script takes 750 ÷ 150 = 5 minutes.
If you do not yet know your pace, start with 150. The guide to speaking speed explains how to pick a better number for your situation.
The formula step by step
- Count the words in your script.
- Choose a speaking speed in WPM. Use 150 if unsure.
- Divide words by WPM. The result is minutes.
The tricky part is the decimal. If you get 6.67 minutes, that is not 6 minutes 67 seconds. Take the whole number as minutes and multiply the decimal part by 60 to get seconds.
Worked examples
1,000 words at 150 WPM. 1,000 ÷ 150 = 6.67 minutes. The decimal 0.67 × 60 is about 40 seconds, so the answer is 6 minutes 40 seconds.
275 words at 150 WPM. 275 ÷ 150 = 1.83 minutes. 0.83 × 60 is 50 seconds, so it runs 1 minute 50 seconds.
1,200 words at 130 WPM. 1,200 ÷ 130 = 9.23 minutes, which is about 9 minutes 14 seconds. A slower pace adds time quickly.
The shortcut for seconds
If you want the answer in seconds directly, use words ÷ WPM × 60. For 275 words at 150 WPM that is 275 ÷ 150 × 60 = 110 seconds, the same 1 minute 50 seconds as above.
Converting minutes back to words
When the time slot is fixed, reverse the formula: minutes × WPM = words. A 10-minute slot at 150 WPM allows 10 × 150 = 1,500 words. This is the number to write toward, rather than writing first and cutting later.
Quick reference at 150 WPM
| Words | Time |
|---|---|
| 150 | 1 min |
| 300 | 2 min |
| 500 | 3 min 20 sec |
| 750 | 5 min |
| 1,000 | 6 min 40 sec |
| 1,500 | 10 min |
| 2,000 | 13 min 20 sec |
| 3,000 | 20 min |
Each row is words ÷ 150. For other speeds and more lengths, see the full words to minutes conversion chart.
Add a buffer for the real world
The formula counts words only. It cannot see pauses, slide changes, laughter or a sip of water. Add 5 to 15 percent to the calculated time if you have a hard cut-off. A 5-minute calculation is safer planned as 5 minutes 30 seconds.
Skip the arithmetic entirely by pasting your text into the words to minutes calculator, which counts the words and applies your chosen pace live.