Paste a script to see how long the video will run, or enter a target runtime to see how many words to write. Choose a speaking pace and add a pause buffer.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is never sent anywhere.Your input is never sent anywhere.
DetailsEstimated video length
Section split (10% intro · 75% main · 15% outro)
Pace used
130–150 wpm
Words per 30 sec
~70
TIP
Real recordings drift from the estimate because of pauses and emphasis. Read one section aloud with a timer, then enter your own words per minute as a custom pace.
Your script
Speaking pace
Pause buffer
Adds extra time for breaths, pauses, and emphasis.
How to Estimate Video Length From a Script
Video length comes down to one number: how many words you say per minute. Divide your word count by that pace and you get the runtime. Flip the formula and you get the number of words to write for a target length.
This calculator runs the math in both directions. Paste a finished script, or type a word count, and it shows a range of estimated runtimes. Enter a target length such as 8:30 and it shows how many words to write.
It also splits the result into an intro, main content, and outro, so you can see how much time and how many words each part gets before you start writing.
When to Check Your Script Length
Before you start writing
Enter the runtime you want, such as 10 minutes for a YouTube video or 60 seconds for a Short, and get a word-count range to write toward.
After a first draft
Paste the script to see whether it runs long or short. Trim or expand it now, before you record or pay for voiceover by the minute.
Planning the intro, body, and outro
The section split shows how much time and how many words each part gets, which helps keep a long intro from squeezing out the call to action.
Briefing a voiceover artist or editor
Share a word count and pace along with the target runtime, so everyone works from the same estimate.
Four Steps to a Runtime Estimate
- Choose Words → Length to estimate a runtime, or Length → Words to find how many words to write.
- Pick a speaking pace, or enter your own words per minute as a custom pace.
- Paste your script or enter a word count. In Length → Words mode, enter minutes and seconds instead.
- Read the estimate, then add a pause buffer if your delivery includes long pauses or a lot of emphasis.
Note: Your script is processed in your browser and is not sent to a server.
Accuracy Limits of Speaking-Pace Estimates
- The result is an estimate based on a speaking pace. Pauses, emphasis, and retakes change the real runtime.
- The presets are rules of thumb for English narration. Your own pace is the better input, so time a short read-aloud and use it as a custom pace.
- Words are counted as groups of characters separated by spaces. Numbers, URLs, and abbreviations each count as one word, even if you say them out loud as several.
- The 10% / 75% / 15% section split is a starting point. Change the balance to fit your format.
- On-screen pauses with no narration, such as b-roll or a demo, are not included. Add them to the total yourself.
How Many Words for a 1-, 5-, or 10-Minute Video?
Word counts for common runtimes at a conversational pace of 130–150 words per minute, with no pause buffer.
| Video length | Words to write | Words per 30 sec |
|---|---|---|
| 1 min | 130–150 | 65–75 |
| 3 min | 390–450 | 65–75 |
| 5 min | 650–750 | 65–75 |
| 10 min | 1,300–1,500 | 65–75 |
| 15 min | 1,950–2,250 | 65–75 |
| 20 min | 2,600–3,000 | 65–75 |
| 30 min | 3,900–4,500 | 65–75 |
How the presets compare
The same runtime needs a different number of words depending on the pace you choose.
- Slow & measured (110–130 wpm): technical, documentary, or any material the audience needs time to absorb.
- Conversational (130–150 wpm): a general-purpose pace for explainers, tutorials, and vlogs.
- Energetic (150–170 wpm): promos, short-form video, and fast edits.
- Fast (170–190 wpm): fast ads and rapid reads. It can be tiring to listen to for long.
These figures are planning guides. Your real pace and editing choices will move the final runtime.
Speaking Pace and Script Timing: What to Know
A few practical points that decide whether a script lands on its target runtime.
Pace is the variable that matters most
Runtime equals words ÷ words per minute. The same 1,000-word script runs about 7.7 minutes at 130 wpm and about 5.9 minutes at 170 wpm. Settle on a pace first, then write to the word count it gives you.
Find your own pace
Presets get you close, but people speak at different speeds. Read a paragraph aloud at the pace you plan to use, time it, and divide its word count by the minutes. Enter that figure as a custom pace and your estimates will track your actual recordings more closely.
Build in time for pauses
A script that fits exactly on paper tends to run over once you add breaths, beats before a punchline, and emphasis on key points. Use the 5–15% pause buffer, or aim for the low end of the word-count range.
Split the runtime across sections
Give the hook a fixed slice, such as the first 10%, and reserve the last 15% for the wrap-up and call to action. Decide each section's word budget before you write, so the main content does not use up the time the outro needs.
Why a Finished Script Runs Too Long or Too Short
Writing first and checking the length last
You write until the script feels done, record it, and find it is several minutes over or under the target.
💡 See the solution▼
Using a pace that is not yours
A preset says 140 wpm, but you speak faster or slower, so every estimate is off by the same margin.
💡 See the solution▼
Ignoring pauses
The math assumes continuous speech. Real delivery has breaths, beats, and emphasis, so recordings run longer than the raw estimate.
💡 See the solution▼
Counting stage directions as spoken words
Notes like [cut to screen recording] inflate the word count and make the script look longer than it will sound.
💡 See the solution▼
Spending the whole budget on the main content
The body runs long, and the conclusion or call to action gets squeezed into the last few seconds.
💡 See the solution▼
Questions About Words, Pace, and Runtime
Q.How many words is a 5-minute video?
A. At a conversational pace of 130–150 words per minute, a 5-minute video needs about 650–750 words. At a slow, measured pace (110–130 wpm) it is 550–650 words, and at an energetic pace (150–170 wpm) it is 750–850. Use the Length → Words mode to check any other runtime.
Q.How do you convert a word count to video length?
A. Divide the number of words by your speaking pace in words per minute. For example, 1,500 words at 150 wpm is 10 minutes. The tool does this for the low and high end of the pace you pick, so you see a range instead of a single number.
Q.What speaking pace should I choose?
A. Conversational narration (130–150 wpm) is a reasonable starting point for explainers and vlogs. Pick slow for technical or documentary-style material, and energetic or fast for promos and short-form clips. The presets are rules of thumb. The most accurate option is to time yourself reading a section aloud and enter that number as a custom pace.
Q.How does the pause buffer work?
A. The buffer adds 5%, 10%, or 15% to the estimated length to account for breaths, pauses, and emphasis. In Length → Words mode it works the other way: it lowers the word count so the finished recording still fits your target runtime. It is off by default.
Q.How many words fit in a 60-second Short, Reel, or TikTok?
A. At a conversational pace of 130–150 wpm, a 60-second video fits about 130–150 words, or roughly 65–75 words in 30 seconds. Short-form videos are often paced faster, so try the energetic preset (150–170 wpm) as well.
Q.How does the tool count words?
A. It counts groups of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. A number such as 1,000 counts as one word even though you may say it as two or three. If your script has stage directions in square brackets, tick "Skip [bracketed notes]" to leave them out of the count.
Q.Does it work for languages other than English?
A. Only for languages that put spaces between words, and the preset paces are based on English speech. For other languages, use the custom pace and enter your own words-per-minute figure. It does not work for languages written without spaces between words, such as Chinese or Japanese.
Q.Is my script uploaded anywhere?
A. No. The word count and all calculations run in your browser, and nothing you paste is sent to a server. Closing or reloading the page clears it.
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