GlidecueSpeaking speed guide
Most people read aloud at 130 to 170 words per minute. Here is what suits what.
| What you are making | Words per minute |
|---|---|
| Tutorial or explainer where viewers take notes | 120 to 140 |
| YouTube talking-head video | 140 to 160 |
| Reels, TikTok, Shorts | 160 to 180 |
| Presentation or keynote | 120 to 150 |
| Speech or toast | 110 to 130 |
| Audiobook narration | 150 to 160 |
Too fast, too slow, just right
Below about 110 words per minute listeners start to drift. Above about 175 they stop following the details. A steady pace with real pauses at the end of each idea beats any single number.
How to measure your own
Count the words in your script and divide by the minutes of your recording. Or let Glidecue do it: the delivery report shows your pace in words per minute, how it changed through the take, your pauses and the filler words it heard.