How long should an award presentation speech be?
An award presentation speech should be 1 to 3 minutes long, about 130 to 390 words at 130 words per minute. That is enough to explain what the award recognizes, say why this person earned it, and bring them up without upstaging the winner.
That's 1 min to 3 min, or roughly 130 to 390 words at 130 words per minute.
Why this length works
The presenter's job is to make the award and the winner matter to the room. A minute or two on what the award stands for and what the recipient actually did gives the audience a reason to applaud before the winner even stands up.
Going much longer shifts the spotlight onto the presenter, and at events with several awards it stretches the program. If the winner is a surprise, a tight speech also keeps the suspense from dragging.
How to structure a 2 min award presentation speech
About the award
~50 words
24 sec · What it recognizes and, if relevant, who it is named after.
The recipient's achievements
~130 words
1 min · Specific things they did that earned it, with one concrete example.
Personal note
~40 words
18 sec · A line about working with them or what their work means to others.
Calling them up
~40 words
18 sec · Say their name clearly and lead the applause.
Tips
- Check how to pronounce the winner's name, and how they prefer to be introduced, before the event.
- Use one specific example instead of a list of qualities. 'She rebuilt the volunteer program from four people to forty' is stronger than 'she's so dedicated.'
- If the winner is a surprise, describe their achievements first and save the name for the very end.
- Agree with the organizer where the trophy or certificate will be and who hands it over, so the moment does not stall.
- Step aside once you hand over the award, and leave the microphone to the winner.
Common mistakes
- Talking about yourself or your own link to the award for longer than you talk about the winner.
- Reading the winner's full resume or biography.
- Saying the name too early when the winner was meant to be a surprise.
- Mispronouncing the recipient's name.
Example opening lines
- “This award goes to someone who makes the rest of us look good, mostly by doing the work nobody sees.”
- “Every year we look for the volunteer who went furthest beyond what we asked. This year, it wasn't a close decision.”
- “The Founders' Award honors someone who leaves this organization better than they found it. Tonight's recipient has done that more than once.”
Time your speech
Paste your draft to check its length at your pace, then rehearse it in the teleprompter.
Or type a number of words
Speaking time at 130 wpm
2 min
260 words · about 1 page double-spaced
| Pace | Time |
|---|---|
| Slow 110 wpm | 2 min 22 sec |
| Presentation 130 wpm | 2 min |
| Conversational 150 wpm | 1 min 44 sec |
| Voice-over 160 wpm | 1 min 38 sec |
| Fast 180 wpm | 1 min 27 sec |
| Reading aloud, average 183 wpm | 1 min 25 sec |
| Silent reading 238 wpm | 1 min 6 sec |
Measure your own pace
Paste a script above (Words → time), press Start, read it aloud at your normal delivery, then press Stop. Nothing is recorded; this only times you.
Rehearse it
Open your script in the free teleprompter. It scrolls at the words-per-minute pace you choose and can record an audio take.
Frequently asked questions
What should an award presentation speech include?
What the award recognizes, a specific example of what the recipient did to earn it, and their name, said clearly as you invite them up.
How many words is a 2-minute award presentation speech?
About 260 words at 130 words per minute. A 1-minute presentation is about 130 words.
Should the presenter speak longer than the winner?
Usually not. Aim for about the same length as the acceptance speech, or a little longer if the award itself needs explaining.