What Is the Average Dictation Speed?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 10, 2020

Average speech is approximately 150 words per minute. Court reporters have the ability to take dictation with 98.5 percent accuracy at 200 words per minute or more.

Dictation speeds vary greatly depending on the type of information conveyed and the person giving it. Each year, the National Court Reporters Association holds a National Speed Competition. The speed test consists of three pieces of dictation. A speaker dictates the literary test at 220 words per minute and the legal opinion test at 230 words per minute. The testimony test consists of two people talking at 280 words per minute. The transcripts created by the competitors must display at least 95 percent accuracy.