How long to say 900 words? About 6 min 55 sec
900 words takes about 6 min 55 sec to say at a presentation pace of 130 words per minute. At a conversational 150 wpm, it takes 6 min 00 sec. Use the presentation time to plan your talk. These are planning estimates; time a rehearsal to check your own pace.
Updated
A 900-word talk runs about 6 min 55 sec at 130 wpm. At a conversational 150 wpm, it takes 6 min 00 sec. Use the table to choose a pace, then trim repeated points if your script runs beyond your slot.
6 min 55 sec is the spoken length of your 900-word presentation; 3 min 47 sec is the silent review time at 238 wpm for adult English non-fiction. Read through the draft to spot long examples you can shorten. Open the prefilled calculator to see how each cut changes your speaking time.
| Benchmark | Words per minute | Time | Source context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow / deliberate | 100 | 9 min 00 sec | Griffiths (1990): slow listening pace |
| Prepared presentation | 130 | 6 min 55 sec | Toastmasters: 120–160 wpm presentation guidance |
| Conversational English | 150 | 6 min 00 sec | NCVS: approximate US English average |
| Audiobook narration | 155 | 5 min 48 sec | ACX: 9,300 words per finished hour ÷ 60 |
| Radio news | 180 | 5 min 00 sec | Rodero (2012): 160–180 wpm radio guidance |
Times round to the nearest whole second, with half a second rounded up. Word counts round to the nearest whole word, with halves rounded up. Calculations use the full rate before rounding.
Questions about how long to say 900 words?
Can I read 900 words in 5 minutes?
Yes, at 238 wpm for adult English silent non-fiction: 900 words takes about 3 min 47 sec. Finishing in 5 minutes requires 180 wpm. Use this time for a silent draft review and the speech table to plan delivery aloud.
How long is 900 words at a deliberate pace?
900 words takes 9 min 00 sec at 100 wpm. At a presentation pace of 130 wpm, it takes 6 min 55 sec. Choose the slower setting when you want deliberate delivery, then shorten the draft if that time exceeds your speaking slot.
How many words should I cut from a 900-word speech?
900 words takes about 6 min 55 sec at 130 wpm. Multiply your available speaking minutes by that rate, then subtract the result from 900 to find how many words to cut. If the result is negative, your draft already fits the word budget.