Table Topics1:00 to 2:00
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Speech timer
A free traffic light timer for speeches, Table Topics and talks. Set your green, amber and red times, then go full screen for the room. No sign-up.
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The light times
- You can stop here
- Start wrapping up
- Time’s up
Tap a time to change it, or pick a common timing.
Want feedback on how you sound? Answer a prompt in the app, free
How many words is a 2, 5 or 7 minute speech?
Most people give a talk at about 120 to 150 words a minute. At 130, a comfortable pace, a two-minute speech is about 260 words.
Your time shows here. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.
| Speech length | Words, at about 130 a minute |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 |
| 2 minutes | 260 |
| 3 minutes | 390 |
| 5 minutes | 650 |
| 7 minutes | 910 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 |
Pauses, laughs and nerves change it, so time yourself saying it out loud. When you answer a prompt in the app, it measures your real pace in words a minute.
Common speech timings
The green, amber and red times many speaking clubs use. Contests and clubs can differ, so check your own rules.
- Table TopicsGreen 1:00, amber 1:30, red 2:00An impromptu answer to a question you haven’t seen. Set the timer for Table Topics
- EvaluationGreen 2:00, amber 2:30, red 3:00Spoken feedback on someone else’s speech. Set the timer for Evaluation
- IcebreakerGreen 4:00, amber 5:00, red 6:00A first prepared speech at a club, usually about you. Set the timer for Icebreaker
- Prepared speechGreen 5:00, amber 6:00, red 7:00Most prepared club speeches, and a good length for a short talk. Set the timer for Prepared speech
- Your own talkGreen at the shortest, red at the longestFor a class talk or a presentation, say 3 to 5 minutes, set green at 3:00, red at 5:00 and amber halfway. Set your own times
Timings like those used at Toastmasters clubs. Learn to Speak Easy is independent and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Toastmasters International.
How the lights work
Speech timing lights work the same way at most clubs, so practising with them gets you used to the real thing.
Green
You’ve reached the shortest time. You can finish whenever you’re ready.
Amber
Start wrapping up and head for your closing line.
Red
Time’s up. Finish your sentence and stop.
The timer flashes once you’re 30 seconds past red, the grace period many speech contests allow.
Need something to talk about?
Draw a random question in one of our free tools and answer it against the clock, or answer one in the app and get feedback on how you sound.
FAQs
What do the green, amber and red lights mean?
Green means you’ve reached the shortest time and can finish whenever you’re ready. Amber (yellow in the US) means start wrapping up. Red means time’s up: finish your sentence. Speaking clubs show the same lights with cards or a light box, and our speech timer shows them on any screen.
What does the timer do at a speaking club?
At Toastmasters clubs, a worldwide network of public speaking clubs, one member is the timer. They show each speaker the green, amber and red timing lights, then give a short timer’s report near the end of the meeting, such as: “Our first speaker, Sam, spoke for six minutes twelve seconds, within time. Our second speaker, Alex, spoke for seven minutes forty, over time.”
Learn to Speak Easy is independent, and our timer works for any club, class or team.
Is there a grace period?
In many speech contests, yes: 30 seconds either side. A speaker who finishes more than 30 seconds before green, or more than 30 seconds after red, can be disqualified. At an ordinary meeting, red simply means it’s time to finish your sentence. Our timer flashes once you’re 30 seconds past red.
Can I use it as a presentation timer on a big screen?
Yes. Open it on a laptop connected to a screen or projector and press Full screen: the whole screen turns green, amber and red, so a speaker can see it from the front of the room. Hide the numbers if you only want the colours. It’s free for any club, class or team.
How long should a Table Topics answer be?
One to two minutes. Green shows at one minute, amber at a minute and a half, and red at two minutes. Aim to finish between green and red. Shorter settings here scale the lights to match.
Does the speech timer record me?
No. It only counts time in your browser, and nothing you say is heard or saved. If you’d like feedback on how you sound, the Learn to Speak Easy app records your answer to a prompt and gives you feedback on your pace, filler words and timing, free once a day.
Does the speech timer work on a phone?
Yes. It works in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install. Most phones keep the screen on while the clock runs, so you can prop yours up where you can see it.
Is Learn to Speak Easy part of Toastmasters?
No. Learn to Speak Easy is independent and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by Toastmasters International. Table Topics is their name for this part of a meeting.