Free speech cue card maker
Cue Card Studio · Paste your speech, edit one idea per card, then print or practice on your phone.
Free · No signup to start
See a speech become three cue cards
Keep the story in your own words. Put just enough on the cards to remember what comes next.
1. Start with the draft
Before we eat, I want to thank Alex for bringing us together. A table like this takes more than a booking—it takes someone who keeps saying, “Let’s actually do it.”
Last winter, our dinner lost power just as the food arrived. Alex found candles, moved every chair closer, and somehow made the evening feel better than the plan.
So here’s to Alex: for making room, making it happen, and reminding us to spend time together. Thank you.
This is an original practice example. The dinner story is invented—replace it with a moment that happened to you.
2. Keep the key phrases
Card 1 · Thank the host
THANK ALEX Brought us together. “Let’s actually do it.”
Card 2 · Tell one story
ONE REAL MOMENT Dinner lost power → candles → chairs closer. Better than the plan. [look up]
Card 3 · Raise a glass
TO ALEX Making room. Making it happen. More time together. [raise glass]
3. Make them yours, then print or practice
Open these three cards, swap Alex and the story for your own details, then print 3×5 cards or an A4 sheet with cut lines. Phone practice is there too.
Open these 3 editable cardsWhat belongs on a speech cue card?
Start with one idea, a short label, and enough words to find your next thought at a glance. Keep your opening and ending written out if you want them exact, then shorten the middle cards as you practice. Try saying one card aloud before printing the whole deck.
Preparing a school talk? Follow the class presentation cue-card guide for a five-card example, evidence prompts, and a simple practice plan.
How to use speech cue cards
Use cards as prompts, not a miniature script. Keep one complete idea per card, mark only the pauses or names you need, and look up after each beat.
Rehearse with full text first, then reduce the deck to key sentences and anchor words. Use Record & review this deck when you want pace and transcript feedback without rebuilding the speech. Print a copy for the room too; paper does not dim, lock, or show notifications.
Looking for “que cards” or “queue cards”? For speaking notes, the usual spelling is cue cards. In Australia and New Zealand, you may also hear palm cards.
Related guides
Practical answers for card count, formatting, wedding and birthday decks, and a printable backup.
Cue card maker FAQ
Is the cue card maker free?
Yes. Pasting a speech, editing and reordering cards, printing, and rehearsing on your phone are free, and you can start without signing up. An account is optional and lets you save decks and open them on another device.
Should I print my cue cards or use my phone?
Use both. Rehearse the deck full-screen on your phone, then print a copy for the room: paper does not dim, lock, or show notifications. The maker prints 3x5, 4x6, or A6 cards, one per page or several to a Letter or A4 sheet with cut lines.
How many cue cards do I need for my speech?
Plan about one card for every 30 to 45 seconds, then adjust so each card holds one idea. That is usually 2 to 4 cards for a one-minute toast, 5 to 8 for three minutes, and 7 to 12 for five minutes.
Does it work for wedding and birthday toasts?
Yes. Paste a best man, maid of honor, parent, or birthday toast and the maker splits it into numbered one-idea cards. Keep the opening and the final toast line word for word and trim the middle cards to cue words.
ToastBuddy for iPhone
Rehearse it on your phone before the room hears it.
Practice your speech, check the timing, and carry clear cue cards into the room. Free on the App Store.
