How to use the speech timer
Choose a slot from the presets, or Custom to enter your own signal times in minutes and seconds. Press Start (or Space) the moment the speaker says their first word — Toastmasters timing starts with the first verbal or non-verbal communication, not with the walk to the lectern. The display stays neutral until the minimum time, turns green when the speaker has qualified, amber as the signal to begin concluding, and red at the maximum. Thirty seconds after red it starts to flash, if you leave that option on.
The clock can count up (elapsed time) or down to the red signal; the line underneath always shows the other figure, so you can see both elapsed and remaining at a glance. The bar under the clock shows the green, amber and red zones with a needle moving through them. Tick Colours only (or press H) to hide the digits — many clubs prefer speakers to react to the light, not count seconds.
For a speaker at the front of the room, press Full screen and turn the laptop or tablet around; the whole screen becomes the signal. Keep Space, R (reset) and N (log and next) under your fingers. The screen is kept awake while the timer runs, and timing is calculated from the system clock, so it stays exact even if you switch to another tab to read the agenda.
Toastmasters timing: the standard slots
The presets follow the timings in the Toastmasters International rulebook and Pathways projects. Green shows the minimum has been reached, amber is the midpoint and red is the maximum:
| Slot | Green | Amber | Red | Qualifies between |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table Topics | 1:00 | 1:30 | 2:00 | 0:30 and 2:30 |
| Evaluation | 2:00 | 2:30 | 3:00 | 1:30 and 3:30 |
| Ice Breaker | 4:00 | 5:00 | 6:00 | 3:30 and 6:30 |
| Most prepared speeches | 5:00 | 6:00 | 7:00 | 4:30 and 7:30 |
In speech contests a speaker is disqualified for going more than 30 seconds under the minimum or over the maximum. When you press Log & next, each time is recorded with the signal reached and a verdict: within time, inside the 30-second grace, or outside it. Clubs vary on whether the grace applies to regular meetings, so treat the verdict as a guide unless you are running a contest.
Outside Toastmasters, the same three-light system works for conference talks, wedding speeches, pitch competitions and classroom presentations. Set green at your minimum, amber at a two-minute warning and red at the hard stop. Copy link produces a URL that opens the timer with those exact times — send it to the other timekeepers.
Pacing: how many words fit your time?
Most people speak to an audience at 120–160 words per minute; nerves push that up, and deliberate pauses bring it down. Enter the word count of your script (or paste the script into the box to count it) and the pacing panel shows the rate you would need to finish exactly at green, at amber and at red. Aim for the amber figure: it leaves room for applause, a laugh or a lost thread.
Enter your own pace to see when your script would finish and which light you'd be on. If it lands in the red, the panel tells you roughly how many words to cut to finish on amber; if it ends before green, how many to add. Measure your real pace by reading a 300-word passage aloud against the stopwatch — reading speed and speaking speed are not the same, and most people underestimate how much slower they speak to a room. You can count a draft precisely with the word counter.
- Under 110 wpm: measured, good for complex material or a second-language audience.
- 120–160 wpm: natural conversational speaking.
- Over 170 wpm: rushed for most audiences — a sign to cut material rather than talk faster.
While the timer runs, the panel also shows how many words in the speaker should be to finish on amber, which is useful when rehearsing with the script in front of you.
Tips for the timekeeper
Before the meeting, explain the signals and ask speakers whether they want the clock visible or colours only. Put the screen where the speaker can see it without turning away from the audience — at the back of the room is ideal. Start timing on the first word, pause only if the meeting is interrupted, and press Log & next as soon as the speaker finishes so the time isn't padded by applause. Type each speaker's name before they start; unnamed entries are numbered.
At the end, Copy report gives you a ready-to-read list for your timer's report, and CSV downloads the full log for the club's records. The log is kept in this browser, so it survives a reload mid-meeting. If you are also counting filler words, keep a tally counter open in another tab. Beeps are off in many meeting rooms by convention — leave Beep at each colour on when rehearsing alone, and turn it off for real speeches. Vibration works on Android phones only.
Frequently asked questions
What do green, amber and red mean in a speech?
Green means the speaker has reached the minimum time and qualifies. Amber (often called yellow) is the midpoint and the cue to start concluding. Red means the maximum time has been reached and the speaker should finish their sentence and sit down. In contests, finishing more than 30 seconds under green or over red disqualifies the speaker.
What are the timings for Table Topics and evaluations?
Table Topics run 1 to 2 minutes: green at 1:00, amber at 1:30, red at 2:00. Evaluations run 2 to 3 minutes: green 2:00, amber 2:30, red 3:00. The Ice Breaker is 4 to 6 minutes and most prepared speeches are 5 to 7. All four are one-click presets here, and Custom handles any other length, from a 30-second pitch to a keynote.
Can the speaker see the timer from the front of the room?
Yes — press Full screen or F and the entire screen becomes the signal colour, with the time in very large digits. Turn the device towards the speaker. If you'd rather they respond only to the colour, tick Colours only or press H to hide the digits. On iPhone, where web pages can't go truly full screen, it fills the browser window instead.
Does the timer stay accurate if I switch tabs or the screen dims?
It calculates elapsed time from the system clock rather than counting ticks, so switching tabs or minimising the window doesn't make it drift. While it runs it asks the device to keep the screen on. Browsers slow down background tabs, so a beep can arrive up to a second late when the tab is hidden, but the colour and time are correct the moment you look.
How is the words-per-minute figure calculated?
It divides your word count by each signal time in minutes. For a 750-word speech in a 5–7 minute slot you'd need 150 wpm to finish at green, 125 at amber and 107 at red. Enter your usual speaking pace and the panel predicts your finish time and which colour you'd land on, and suggests how many words to cut or add.
Can I save the list of speakers and their times?
Yes. Each time you press Log & next, the speaker's name, slot, time, highest signal and contest verdict are added to the timekeeper's log, which is saved in this browser. Copy report gives you plain text for your report to the meeting; CSV downloads a spreadsheet file. Clear removes the log when you are done.