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Video Script Timer — How Long Will My Video Be?

Paste your video script and estimate video length at your speaking rate. Perfect for planning YouTube videos, ads, shorts, explainers, and presentations.

Speaking rate

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Paste your script above to see the estimate

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How many words per minute for video?

Video speaking rates vary significantly by format and creator style. Here are common benchmarks:

  • 100–120 WPM — Educational content, university lectures, documentation walkthroughs
  • 120–150 WPM — Conversational YouTube, podcasts, product demos, interview-style content
  • 150–180 WPM — Fast-paced YouTube channels, commentary, reaction content, news narration
  • 180–220 WPM — Very fast-paced shorts, TikToks, entertainment commentary

If you don't know your speaking rate, use our WPM Calculator to measure it from a recorded clip.

Script length by video format

FormatTarget lengthWords (at 130 WPM)
YouTube Short / TikTok30–60s65–130
Short YouTube video5–7 min650–910
Standard YouTube video8–12 min1,040–1,560
Long-form YouTube15–20 min1,950–2,600
Podcast episode30–45 min3,900–5,850

How many words is a 1 to 15 minute video?

Words = minutes × words per minute (WPM), the same sum the timer uses. These are the three speaking speeds from the presets above:

Video lengthSlow (100 WPM)Normal (130 WPM)Fast (160 WPM)
1 min100130160
2 min200260320
3 min300390480
4 min400520640
5 min500650800
6 min600780960
7 min7009101,120
8 min8001,0401,280
9 min9001,1701,440
10 min1,0001,3001,600
11 min1,1001,4301,760
12 min1,2001,5601,920
13 min1,3001,6902,080
14 min1,4001,8202,240
15 min1,5001,9502,400

How long should a YouTube script be?

Script length depends on your pace, not on YouTube. Multiply the length you want by your words per minute: 130 for a typical conversational video, about 100 for slow tutorials and lectures, about 160 for fast, energetic delivery. A 10-minute video is roughly 1,300 words at 130 WPM. If you pause, ad-lib or add B-roll without narration, the finished video runs longer than the script alone suggests, so aim a little under your target word count and then check the real read-through with the timer above.

How to use the video script timer

  1. 1

    Paste your script

    Copy your full video script into the text box. Word count updates in real time.

  2. 2

    Select your speaking rate

    Choose a preset or enter your personal WPM (measure it with our WPM Calculator tool).

  3. 3

    Read the estimated duration

    The tool shows estimated length and categorizes it as Short, Standard, or Long-form YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the video script timer?
Very accurate for scripts you read directly. If you ad-lib, pause frequently, or include long pauses, actual duration may be 10–20% longer. For tightly scripted ads and narration it is highly reliable.
What is the average speaking rate for YouTube videos?
Most YouTubers speak at 130–160 WPM. Educational channels tend toward 100–130 WPM. Fast entertainment content runs 160–200 WPM. The Normal preset (130 WPM) is a safe default for most creators.
How many words is a 10-minute YouTube video?
At 130 WPM: ~1,300 words. At 150 WPM: ~1,500 words. At 100 WPM: ~1,000 words. A 10-minute video script is roughly 1,200–1,500 words for most creators.
How long should a YouTube Short script be?
YouTube Shorts can run up to 3 minutes, though many are under 60 seconds. At 160 WPM, 60 seconds is about 160 words; aim for 120–150 words to leave room for natural pacing and non-verbal moments.
Can I use this for podcast scripts?
Yes. Conversational podcasting typically runs 130–150 WPM. Use the custom WPM field if you know your personal speaking rate from a recorded clip.
How do I find my personal WPM?
Use our free Words Per Minute Calculator. Record yourself speaking for 1–2 minutes from a script, then enter the text and recording duration to get your exact WPM.
Does ad-lib content affect the estimate?
Yes. This tool estimates duration for a scripted read. If you typically improvise 20% of your content on top of the script, add ~20% to the result. Experienced creators learn to calibrate based on their style.
What about intros, outros, and B-roll time?
The timer only counts speaking time for the pasted text. Add extra time manually for non-spoken elements: a 30-second intro, 20 seconds of B-roll, a 15-second outro = +65 seconds on top of the script estimate.
How many words is a 5-minute video?
About 650 words at 130 WPM (500 at 100 WPM, 800 at 160 WPM). Multiply the minutes by your words per minute.
How many words is a 15-minute video?
About 1,950 words at 130 WPM (1,500 at 100 WPM, 2,400 at 160 WPM).
What is a good words per minute for an explainer video?
Common benchmarks put explainers and product demos at about 120–150 WPM, with slower delivery (100–120 WPM) for technical or educational material. Use the Normal preset (130 WPM) if you are unsure, then measure your own pace with the Words Per Minute Calculator.

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