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Speaking rate calculator

This free speaking rate calculator works out how fast you talk in words per minute. Paste a transcript and give the length of the recording, and it does the arithmetic and tells you in plain terms how that pace tends to land with listeners. Paste a caption file instead and it takes the length from the timings for you. Everything runs in your browser.

Paste a transcript and give the recording length to see the pace.

The bands are rough guides to how a pace tends to land with listeners, not a standard. Context and clarity matter more than the number.

Your file is processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded.

How to use it

  1. Paste your transcript into the box, or drop a .txt, .srt or .vtt file onto it.
  2. Type the length of the recording as seconds, mm:ss or h:mm:ss. Caption files fill this in themselves.
  3. Read the words-per-minute figure and the note on what that pace means.

Need the transcript first? FastScribe turns your recording into text with timestamps, free for your first file and with no account.

Transcribe with FastScribe →

Frequently asked questions

What is a good speaking rate?

It depends on the material. Around 100 to 130 words a minute suits teaching and technical talks, while ordinary conversation runs nearer 150. Clarity matters more than hitting a number, and pauses count for more than pace.

Does speaking fast make transcription less accurate?

It can, particularly past about 190 words a minute, and more so when fast speech comes with running words together. Recording quality still affects accuracy far more than pace does.

Where do the bands come from?

They are rough guides to how a pace tends to land with listeners, not a published standard. Treat them as a sense-check on a recording rather than a target to hit.

Can I use this to time a script?

Yes, in reverse. Paste the script, enter the length you have been given, and the figure tells you the pace you would need. If it lands in the brisk or fast band, the script is too long for the slot.