How long should an elevator pitch be?
An elevator pitch should be 30 to 60 seconds long, half a minute to a minute, which is about 75 to 150 words at a conversational 150 words per minute. Aim for about 30 seconds as a networking introduction and up to a minute when someone has asked to hear what you do.
That's 30 sec to 1 min, or roughly 75 to 150 words at 150 words per minute.
Why this length works
The idea behind an elevator pitch is that you can explain who you are and what you offer in the time it takes to share a short ride. In practice that means getting to the point in your first sentence and leaving the other person curious enough to ask a question.
A pitch is the start of a conversation, not a presentation. If you talk for two minutes, the listener has no room to respond. A short pitch also travels well: the same core lines work at a career fair, a networking event, or a chance meeting with an investor.
How to structure a 45 sec elevator pitch
Hook
~25 words
9 sec · One sentence about the problem you solve or the outcome you deliver.
What you do
~40 words
16 sec · Who you help and how, in plain language.
Proof
~30 words
11 sec · One concrete result, number, or example.
The ask
~25 words
9 sec · What you want next: a call, an introduction, or a swap of contact details.
Tips
- Write it, then cut it in half. First drafts usually run closer to 2 minutes than 30 seconds.
- Lead with the problem you solve or the result you deliver, not your job title.
- Include one concrete detail, such as a client type, a number, or an outcome, so it sticks.
- Practice until you can say it naturally in your own words. It should sound like conversation, not a recital.
- Keep two versions ready: a 30-second one for introductions and a 60-second one for when someone asks for more.
Common mistakes
- Opening with your full name, title, company, and history before saying what you actually do.
- Using industry jargon the listener may not know.
- Ending without an ask, so the conversation stalls.
- Racing through a 60-second pitch in 40 seconds to squeeze more in.
Example opening lines
- “I help small restaurants stop losing money on food they throw away.”
- “You know how most people dread doing their taxes? I build the software that gets it done in ten minutes.”
- “I'm a nurse who moved into hospital data work, so I spend my days turning patient records into fewer missed appointments.”
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
52 sec
113 words · about half a page double-spaced
| Pace | Time |
|---|---|
| Slow 110 wpm | 1 min 2 sec |
| Presentation 130 wpm | 52 sec |
| Conversational 150 wpm | 45 sec |
| Voice-over 160 wpm | 42 sec |
| Fast 180 wpm | 38 sec |
| Reading aloud, average 183 wpm | 37 sec |
| Silent reading 238 wpm | 28 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
How many words is a 30-second elevator pitch?
About 75 words at 150 words per minute. A 60-second pitch is about 150 words.
Is a 2-minute elevator pitch too long?
For a first introduction, yes. Two minutes is about 300 words, which is enough to lose a listener. Save the longer version for when someone asks follow-up questions.
What should an elevator pitch include?
What you do, who you do it for, one concrete result, and what you would like to happen next.