Free tool
Words to Minutes Calculator for Scripts, Talks and Voice-Overs
Paste a script and see how long it runs when spoken at the pace you choose. You can also work backwards from a time slot to the number of words that will fit.
When each line starts
Speaking pace
Your own pace
Press the button, read the script aloud at your normal pace, then press it again. To read only part of it, select those lines first.
Words for a set length
About ... at this pace
Your script stays in this tab and is never uploaded. Your pace and options are saved on your own device, but the script itself is not.
Timing a talk, a video or a voice-over
A presenter with a ten minute slot needs a script of the right size, and a video editor needs to know whether a voice-over will fit the footage. Paste the script and the large figure shows the time at your chosen pace. If you only know a word count, type it in the box that appears when the script area is empty.
Choosing a pace
| Pace | Words a minute |
|---|---|
| Slow | 110 |
| Average | 140 |
| Fast | 170 |
| Reading aloud, study average | 183 |
| Reading silently | 238 |
The first three are the buttons you press, and the slider lets you set any pace between them. The last two rows are fixed comparison figures the page lists, so you can see how long the same words take to read to yourself.
Measuring your own pace
Everyone speaks at a different speed. Press Measure my pace, read the script aloud as you would deliver it, and press the button again. The tool sets the pace from what you actually did. To measure only part of a script, select those lines first, which is useful when the opening is slow and the rest is quick.
Pauses, notes and line timings
- Add a pause at each new line, with a pause of half a second up to three seconds, to allow for breaths and scene changes.
- Leave out notes in square brackets, so a stage direction or a B-roll cue is not counted as spoken words.
- A line-by-line list shows when each line starts, and Copy timings puts it on your clipboard for an editor or a teleprompter operator.
Fewer than two lines gives no timing list, since there is nothing to separate.
Writing to fit a time
Decide the time first, then work out the words. Enter the minutes and seconds and read the word total at your pace, then write toward that figure. Check again when the draft is done, since edits drift. A short script read slowly with pauses can take longer than a longer one read quickly, so use the pause option when the delivery has breaks, such as a presenter changing slides.
Using the line timings
The timing list adds a start time beside each line. An editor can use it to line up footage with the voice, and a presenter can use it as a rough guide to where they should be at the halfway point. It is an estimate based on word counts, so a recording will differ. Record a short test and use that to adjust the pace slider before you commit to the whole script.
Checks before you record
- Read the script aloud once with a timer running and compare it with the estimate on the page.
- Mark pauses for slides, demos and jokes, as those moments cost time without adding words.
- Trim a sentence or two when you are over, since cutting from the middle usually hurts less than rushing the end.
- Keep a spare minute in a live talk, because questions and technical hiccups take it.
Working backwards from a time slot
Enter minutes and seconds under Words for a set length and the page tells you about how many words fit at the current pace. For a video on a site, our hero section design guide covers how long visitors are likely to stay with an opening, and how short intros help.
Frequently asked questions
How many words are in a minute of speech?
It depends on the speaker. The page offers 110, 140 and 170 words a minute as slow, average and fast, and you can measure your own.
Does it count words in brackets?
Only if you leave Leave out notes in brackets off. When it is on, bracketed notes are ignored.
Can I add time for pauses?
Yes. Tick the pause option and choose how long, from half a second to three seconds, for each new line.
How do I find the number of words for a fixed time?
Use Words for a set length, enter minutes and seconds, and read the figure shown.
What are the reading aloud and silent reading rows?
They are two comparison paces the page lists, 183 and 238 words a minute, for aloud and silent reading.
Is my script saved?
No. The script stays in the tab. Only your pace and options are kept on your own device.
Does the tool count numbers and hyphenated words?
Yes. A number such as 1,000 counts as one word, and so does a hyphenated word like e-mail.
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