Images 1–4
0:00–1:20
Invite
Open on a concrete image, establish the subject, and give the audience a reason to follow.
Format-aware rehearsal · 20 × 20 = 6:40
PechaKucha 20×20 Timer
Practice the continuous 400-second story with an image counter that advances every 20 seconds. This independent tool times your rehearsal; it does not control the actual presentation.
image 1 of 20
20 seconds until automatic advance
0:20
Ready at image 1
0:00 elapsed6:40 overall remaining
Keyboard: Space start/pause · N/→ next · P/← previous · R restart image · D restart deck · F fullscreen
Practice from a specific image
Selecting a number resets the rehearsal at that exact boundary.
Start image: 1
Verified 20×20 format
Twenty Images, Twenty Seconds Each, Four Hundred Seconds
PechaKucha’s current About page defines 20×20 as a sequence of 20 images that each auto-advance after 20 seconds. The presentation is continuous and lasts exactly 400 seconds, or 6:40. SpeechTimer mirrors those boundaries for independent rehearsal. The organizer, school, or platform still controls file requirements, playback, and the live start procedure.
An Optional Five-Act Image Map
PechaKucha fixes the visual rhythm but does not require this story structure. Use the map to diagnose balance: each four-image act lasts 1:20, making it easy to see when the setup consumes the time needed for the ending.
Images 5–8
1:20–2:40
Explore
Develop context through specific scenes or examples rather than a dense background lecture.
Images 9–12
2:40–4:00
Change
Introduce the discovery, conflict, contrast, or turning point that moves the story forward.
Images 13–16
4:00–5:20
Connect
Show why the turn matters and connect individual images into one larger meaning.
Images 17–20
5:20–6:40
Resolve
Return to the central idea, make the takeaway memorable, and let image 20 carry the final line.
Image-led writing
Let the Visual Carry Part of the Sentence
A planning pace of 120–150 words per minute gives roughly 40–50 words per 20-second image and 800–1,000 across 6:40. The strongest edit is often not squeezing in more words but choosing an image that makes explanation unnecessary. Give each visual one story beat, one relationship to the next visual, and enough space for the audience to look.
If an image needs a paragraph of labels to make sense, simplify the image or divide the idea. The audience cannot study a slide and listen to a separate script at the same time.
Continuous recovery
Reconnect to What the Audience Can See
The deck does not wait while a speaker searches for a missing phrase. When timing slips, move to the visible image and state its essential beat. A short bridge is usually enough. Avoid apologizing, narrating the error, or racing through two complete sections in one interval; those choices make the synchronization problem harder to escape.
Repair a transition by starting one image before it, then one act before it, and finally at image 1. That progression tests both the local wording and the accumulated rhythm.
PechaKucha 20×20 Is Not the Same Clock as Ignite
| Format | Visuals | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PechaKucha 20×20 | 20 images | 0:20 | 6:40 |
| Ignite | 20 slides | 0:15 | 5:00 |
Five additional seconds on every visual creates 1:40 more total time. A script rehearsed only in the faster format will not automatically fit the slower visual rhythm, and the reverse can overrun every Ignite slide.
A Three-Pass 20×20 Rehearsal
Watch the whole story
Run all 20 images without interruption. Mark image numbers where the visual changes before or long after the spoken beat.
Repair one act at a time
Use images 1, 5, 9, 13, or 17 as section starts. Cut repetition and strengthen transitions without rewriting the entire story.
Use the delivery system
Rehearse with the actual uploaded presentation or event deck, verify automatic playback, and finish without manual slide rescue.
20×20 Playback Checklist
- Confirm that the organizer or assignment expects the classic 20-image, 20-second format.
- Configure the actual upload or slideshow to advance automatically without speaker clicks.
- Check image cropping, order, aspect ratio, and resolution on the final playback system.
- Remove animations or builds that require manual timing inside an image interval.
- Test narration, embedded media, and any transitions as part of the uninterrupted 400 seconds.
- Agree on who starts playback and what the speaker will see on stage or in presenter view.
PechaKucha Timer Questions
What is the PechaKucha 20×20 format?
PechaKucha defines 20×20 as 20 images that each auto-advance after 20 seconds. The result is exactly 400 seconds, or 6 minutes 40 seconds, of continuous visual storytelling. An organizer or assignment may provide additional submission and playback instructions.
Does this timer move my actual PechaKucha or slideshow images?
No. It automatically moves its rehearsal counter through image 1 to image 20. Configure the actual PechaKucha upload, PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, or event playback system separately. Start the counter with the deck to check whether the spoken story remains synchronized.
Can I practice only images 11 through 15?
Yes. Select image 11 and the counter begins at the exact 3:20 boundary, then continues automatically. A shared section link reopens that starting image. No image, narration, account, or presentation title is sent through the URL.
How is PechaKucha different from Ignite?
Both use 20 auto-advancing visuals, but the intervals differ. PechaKucha 20×20 gives each image 20 seconds for a total of 6:40. Ignite gives each slide 15 seconds for a total of 5:00. Five extra seconds per visual changes the writing and delivery rhythm, so use the matching timer.
How many words fit in a 20-second image?
At a planning pace of 120–150 spoken words per minute, 20 seconds is roughly 40–50 words and the full 6:40 is roughly 800–1,000 words. Visual interpretation, pauses, and audience response affect the real pace; rehearse aloud instead of treating the range as a script target.
What if an image advances before I finish its story beat?
Follow the image that is currently visible. Drop the least important detail, use a short transition, and reconnect to the present beat. During editing, repeat the difficult boundary from one image earlier so the approach and recovery become part of the rhythm.
Is SpeechTimer affiliated with PechaKucha?
No. SpeechTimer is an independent rehearsal utility. PechaKucha identifies the presentation format and organization described by the linked official sources. This tool does not use PechaKucha brand assets, require an account, or collect presentation content.
Related Presentation Tools
Sources and independence
Format claims were verified August 23, 2026 against PechaKucha’s official About page and student resources. SpeechTimer is independent and not endorsed by or affiliated with PechaKucha. Optional story maps, word estimates, comparison, and rehearsal advice are SpeechTimer guidance rather than PechaKucha rules.