How many slides for a 45-minute presentation?
A 45-minute presentation needs about 23 to 45 slides, at one to two minutes per slide.
At a glance
Slides for a 45-minute presentation by style
| Style | Time per slide | Slides |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1–2 min | 23–45 |
| Detailed | 2–3 min | 15–23 |
| Visual | 30–60 sec | 45–90 |
| 10/20/30 rule (pitches) | 2 min | 10 |
- 23–45 slides at a standard pace
- 5,850–6,750 words of speaking
- 10 slides for a pitch
Words are at a normal speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute. Check your script with the speech time calculator.
Where it fits
What a 45-minute presentation is used for
- Lectures and lessons that fill a class period
- Conference breakout sessions and keynotes
- Webinars with a live demo and time for questions
- Training modules, workshops and onboarding sessions
- Client workshops, strategy reviews and board updates
Timed outline
How to structure a 45-minute presentation in 28 slides
A plan for 28 slides over 45 minutes, about 1:36 per slide on average.
- 0:00–2:00
Title and hook slide 1
Your title and the one message to remember. Open with a question, a number or a short story.
- 2:00–3:00
Agenda slide 2
Name your three points in one line each. In a talk this long, people use it to keep their place.
- 3:00–14:00
First point slides 3–10
Make the claim, back it with charts or examples, and end on a slide that says why it matters.
- 14:00–25:00
Second point slides 11–18
Start it by about 14:00. Open with a one-line recap so anyone who drifted can rejoin.
- 25:00–35:00
Third point slides 19–25
Start it by about 25:00. If rehearsal runs long, cut an example here first.
- 35:00–39:00
Summary and close slides 26–27
Start it by about 35:00. A summary slide with the three points, then a closing slide with your ask or next step.
- 39:00–45:00
Questions slide 28
Start it by about 39:00. Leave a contact or next-step slide up. If questions have their own slot, give these minutes to your points.
Keep your 45-minute presentation on time from your phone
Copresent puts your Google Slides speaker notes, a timer and the slide controls on your phone, so you can see how long you have spent and move on when it's time. No second screen needed.
See how it worksOther lengths
Planning a different length?
FAQ
How many slides for a 45-minute presentation?
A 45-minute presentation needs about 23 to 45 slides, at one to two minutes per slide. A detailed deck with dense charts or code needs fewer, about 15–23, and a visual deck of mostly images can use 45–90.
How long should each slide be in a 45-minute presentation?
About one to two minutes on average. With 34 slides, each one gets about 1:19. Title and section slides take a few seconds, so the slides with content get a little longer.
Does the 10/20/30 rule apply to a 45-minute presentation?
Only for a pitch. Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 rule says a pitch should have 10 slides, last 20 minutes and use text of at least 30 points. The rule caps a pitch at 10 slides however long the slot, so a longer pitch spends more time on each slide or leaves the rest for questions.
How many words is a 45-minute presentation?
About 5,850 to 6,750 words at a normal speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute, which is roughly 130–293 words of speaking per slide.
Is 45 slides too many for a 45-minute presentation?
No, it is the top of the standard range: one slide a minute. That works when each slide carries one idea and little text. With dense charts, tables or code, aim for 15 to 23 so people have time to read them.
Is 100 slides too many for a 45-minute presentation?
Yes, for most talks. A hundred slides gives each one 27 seconds, faster than even a visual deck. Keep a visual deck of photos or one big number per slide to 45 to 90 slides, and a deck with bullet points or charts to 23 to 45.
How many slides for a 45-minute presentation with questions?
Check whether questions are inside the slot. If 10 minutes go to questions, you speak for 35, and 35 minutes needs about 18 to 35 slides. If the full 45 minutes is yours, plan 23 to 45.
How many slides for a 45-minute lecture or class?
Count only the minutes you talk. If 15 minutes of the lesson go to an activity or discussion, you speak for 30, which needs about 15 to 30 slides. Give the activity its own slide so the class knows what to do.
How many slides for a 45-minute group presentation?
Split the time by speaker first. With five speakers, each gets 9 minutes and about 6 slides; add a shared title slide, an agenda and a closing slide for about 33 in total.