What's a good teleprompter reading speed?

Most on-camera delivery lands between 130 and 160 words per minute. The best speed is the one that sounds natural for you.

How many words is a one-minute video?

Around 130–160 words at a normal pace — roughly 150 words per minute is a useful rule of thumb.

Do I set a WPM in letter maps?

Only in auto-scroll mode. In voice-following mode the text matches your actual speaking pace, so there's no fixed WPM to choose.

Guides

Teleprompter reading speed (WPM)

Reading speed on camera is measured in words per minute (WPM). Knowing your range helps you estimate runtime and pick a comfortable pace.

Typical speaking rates

Slow, deliberate (explainers, emphasis): ~110–130 WPM.
Natural conversational pace: ~130–160 WPM.
Brisk (energetic promos, ads): ~160–180 WPM.
Audiobook narration sits around 150–160 WPM for comparison.

Estimating runtime

Divide word count by your WPM for minutes. A 600-word script at 150 WPM is about four minutes — add time for pauses. Cutting to a target length? Work backwards: a 60-second read at 150 WPM is roughly 150 words.

Why voice-following changes the question

With auto-scroll you must pick a WPM and stick to it, which is why people race or trail the text. With voice-following you don't set a speed at all — the script moves at whatever pace you naturally speak, so your WPM can vary line to line without anything drifting.

Read at your own pace →

Frequently asked questions

What's a good teleprompter reading speed?: Most on-camera delivery lands between 130 and 160 words per minute. The best speed is the one that sounds natural for you.
How many words is a one-minute video?: Around 130–160 words at a normal pace — roughly 150 words per minute is a useful rule of thumb.
Do I set a WPM in letter maps?: Only in auto-scroll mode. In voice-following mode the text matches your actual speaking pace, so there's no fixed WPM to choose.