How Many Slides for a 45-Minute Presentation?
A 45-minute presentation needs about 35 slides (keeping 10 minutes for questions leaves 35 minutes of speaking), at roughly one slide per minute. A fast, visual talk can use up to 70, and a talk that spends longer on each slide can use as few as 18.
Slide count by pace
| Pace | Time per slide | Total slides |
|---|---|---|
| Fast | 30 seconds | 70 slides |
| Standard | 1 minute | 35 slides |
| Relaxed | 2 minutes | 18 slides |
How to plan a talk this long
Forty-five minutes is usual for guest lectures, keynotes and in-depth training sessions.
Change the format at least once, with a demo, a poll or a discussion. Slides alone are hard to follow for this long.
Keep backup slides after your closing slide for likely questions. Do not count them in your plan.
Next steps
- Work out the count for your own pace
- Paste your script and estimate its length
- Rehearse with the slide timer
- Generate an editable deck with AI
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 45-minute presentation?
At an average speaking pace of about 130 words per minute, 35 minutes of speaking is about 4550 words. Everyone’s pace differs, so time yourself reading it aloud.
Do the title and closing slides count?
The counts above include them, so 35 slides leaves about 33 content slides. You spend little time on these two slides, so they barely change the total length.
Are fewer slides always better?
Not necessarily. How much you say sets the length, not the slide count. With one idea per slide, a deck with more slides can move faster and be easier to follow.
Other lengths
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- How many slides for a 60-minute presentation