How Long Does It Take to Speak 1,200 Words?

9.23 minutes

at 130 words per minute average pace

130 wpm average speaking pace

Speaking PaceWords Per MinuteTime for 1,200 Words
Slow (deliberate, formal)100 wpm12 min
Conversational120 wpm10 min
Average presentation130 wpm9.23 min
Brisk (TED Talk pace)150 wpm8 min
Fast (auctioneer-style)170 wpm7.06 min

How Long Does It Take to Speak 1,200 Words?

Speaking PaceWords Per MinuteTime for 1,200 Words
Slow (deliberate, formal)100 wpm12 min
Conversational120 wpm10 min
Average presentation130 wpm9.23 min
Brisk (TED Talk pace)150 wpm8 min
Fast (auctioneer-style)170 wpm7.06 min

1,200-Word Speech — Quick Facts

Speaking Time

~9.23 minutes (at 130 wpm)

Pages (double-spaced)

~9.6 pages

Paragraphs

~12 paragraphs

Reading Time

~4.8 min (at 250 wpm)

Tips for Timing Your Speech

  • Time yourself: Practice with a timer — most speakers go faster under pressure.
  • Use our word counter: Paste your speech into our word counter to track exact length.
  • Pace yourself: Aim for 130 words per minute for a natural, professional delivery.
  • Rehearse aloud: Reading silently is always faster than speaking. Rehearse at least 3 times out loud.

Related Calculators

1,000-Word Speech Time 1,500-Word Speech Time Reading Time: 1,200 Words