Script Timer — Words to Seconds
Paste a script and see how long it takes to say out loud at slow, normal, and fast speaking speeds — and whether it fits a 15, 30, 60, or 90-second video.
Free · no signup · runs in your browser · limits checked October 4, 2026
Runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved.
Does it fit?
A 30s video holds about 75 words at 150 words per minute.
How to use it
- 1.Paste the words you will say out loud. Leave out on-screen text and stage directions — or put them in [square brackets] and they will be ignored.
- 2.Read the three estimates: slow, normal, and fast speaking pace.
- 3.Pick your target length to see how many words to cut or how much room you have left.
- 4.Set a custom pace if you know your own speed (see the tip below on measuring it).
How speaking time is estimated
Most people speak somewhere between about 130 and 170 words per minute in a natural, conversational delivery; around 150 is a common average. Short-form creators often talk faster than that, while tutorial and voiceover delivery is usually slower. The timer shows all three so you can see the realistic range rather than one falsely precise number.
Numbers are counted the way you would say them only roughly — "2026" is one word on the page but four when spoken — so scripts full of figures will run a little longer than estimated.
Measure your own pace once
Read any 150-word paragraph out loud at your normal on-camera energy and time it. Divide 150 by the seconds it took and multiply by 60: that is your words per minute. Enter it as a custom pace and every estimate on this page becomes personal. It takes two minutes and removes most of the guesswork from scripting.
Shorter scripts usually win
A 30-second video holds about 65–85 spoken words at a natural pace. That is far less than most first drafts. The fix is not to talk faster — viewers notice — but to cut: drop the greeting, merge two examples into one, and start at the most interesting sentence instead of the context.
Leave room for pauses, on-screen beats, and the half-second at the start before anyone speaks. A script that fits exactly to the second when read flat will run long when performed.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 60-second script?
About 130–170 words at a natural pace. Around 150 is a good starting point; fast short-form delivery can fit more.
How many words is a 30-second video?
Roughly 65–85 words at a natural pace.
Does the timer count text in brackets?
No. Anything in [square brackets] is treated as a stage direction or on-screen note and is not counted as spoken words.
Is my script stored?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent or saved.