About the speech timer
Time speeches the Toastmasters way. For a 5–7 minute speech the display turns green at 5 minutes, yellow at 6 and red at 7, then counts overtime so the timer can report how far over the speaker went.
Pick the speech type and the warning points adjust automatically: the yellow card shows at the halfway point between minimum and maximum, and red at the maximum.
Recommended times
| Table Topics 1–2 | 2 minutes |
|---|---|
| Evaluation 2–3 | 3 minutes |
| Icebreaker 4–6 | 6 minutes |
| Speech 5–7 | 7 minutes |
| Long 10–12 | 12 minutes |
Toastmasters timing signals
| Speech | Green · Yellow · Red |
|---|---|
| Table Topics (1–2 min) | 1:00 · 1:30 · 2:00 |
| Evaluation (2–3 min) | 2:00 · 2:30 · 3:00 |
| Icebreaker (4–6 min) | 4:00 · 5:00 · 6:00 |
| Standard speech (5–7 min) | 5:00 · 6:00 · 7:00 |
| Advanced (10–12 min) | 10:00 · 11:00 · 12:00 |
Green means the speaker has reached the minimum time, yellow means they are near the end, and red means they have reached the maximum. Most clubs allow a 30-second grace period either side before a speaker is disqualified from awards.
How to use the speech timer
- Choose a preset, or tap Edit time to type any hours, minutes and seconds.
- Press Start Timer (or the space bar). The finish time appears under the digits.
- Press Full screen to fill the screen — handy for classrooms, meetings and kitchens.
- At zero a short alarm plays and the timer counts overtime until you press Pause.
Keyboard shortcuts
- Space start / pause
- R reset
- F full screen
- M mute
Frequently asked questions
How does the speech timer show green, yellow and red?
The display turns green when the speaker reaches the minimum time, yellow at the halfway point to the maximum, and red once the maximum is reached — at which point it counts overtime so you can report the exact overrun.
Can I project it for the whole club?
Yes. Press Full screen on a laptop or tablet facing the speaker.
What presets does the speech timer have?
Table Topics 1–2 (2 minutes), Evaluation 2–3 (3 minutes), Icebreaker 4–6 (6 minutes), Speech 5–7 (7 minutes), Long 10–12 (12 minutes). Tap Edit time to set any other length.
Is it free, and do I need an app?
It is completely free with no sign-up or download. It works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers.