What this tool does

PaceWords converts word counts into realistic speaking and reading times, and works in reverse to estimate the word count you need for a target duration. Every calculation runs directly in your browser — nothing you type or paste is ever sent to a server or stored anywhere.

Where the numbers come from

The words-per-minute ranges for each use case are based on commonly cited public-speaking and reading-pace research, refined for realistic delivery rather than a single generic average. A wedding toast is paced differently than a podcast, and a sermon is paced differently than a TED talk — PaceWords accounts for that instead of giving you one number for everything. See the notes under each result for context on where that pace comes from.

Who it's for

Speakers, students, podcasters, sermon writers, wedding toast-givers, presenters, and anyone else who needs to fit words to a clock — or a clock to a word count.