Words to Minutes: how long does your script take to say?
Paste any script, speech, or voiceover draft and see the spoken time instantly, at the pace you actually talk. Flip it around to find how many words fit in 30, 60, or 90 seconds. Then check whether it fits Shorts, Reels, TikTok, or a narrated explainer.
Podcasts, most YouTube talking heads
Where it fits
- YouTube Shortsbest under 1 min · max 3 minmax 3 min
- Instagram Reelsbest under 1 min 30 sec · max 3 minmax 3 min
- TikTokbest under 1 min · max 10 minmax 10 min
- Motion Graphics narrationbest under 3 min · max 3 min 30 secmax 3 min 30 sec
130 words at 130 wpm
| 15 sec | 33 words |
| 30 sec | 65 words |
| 60 sec | 130 words |
| 90 sec | 195 words |
| 2 min | 260 words |
| 3 min | 390 words |
| 5 min | 650 words |
| 10 min | 1,300 words |
- Instant, nothing uploaded
- Five paces plus a custom slider
- Reverse mode: words for any length
- Platform length limits built in
A words to minutes calculator tells you how long a piece of text takes to read aloud. Most people speak between 110 and 180 words per minute: a slow tutorial voice sits near 110, everyday conversation near 130, an AI voiceover near 144, a keynote presenter near 160, and an energetic TikTok hook near 180. This script timer counts the words in whatever you paste, applies the pace you choose, and shows the spoken length as a clock. It also runs in reverse, so you can start from a target length and see how many words to write, and it grades the result against the length limits of YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, and the Motion Graphics studio's narration cap. Everything happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Everything you need
Built for creators who want fast, high-quality results.
Live timing as you type
The clock updates on every keystroke. Trim a paragraph and watch the spoken length drop with it.
Five real speaking paces
Slow and clear, conversational, AI voiceover, presenter, and fast, each with the words per minute it assumes. Or set your own with the slider.
Reverse mode
Drag the target length and see how many words you need. A table lists 15 seconds to 10 minutes at the current pace.
Platform fit
Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and narrated Motion Graphics each have a sweet spot and a hard limit. See which ones your script fits at a glance.
Counts more than words
Characters, sentences, and paragraphs too. Japanese and Chinese text is timed per character, so it never reads as one word.
From script to video
Happy with the length? One click carries the script into the Motion Graphics studio to be narrated, animated, and captioned.
How it works
Four steps. Under a minute.
Paste your script
A voiceover draft, a speech, a YouTube script, or a single paragraph. There is no length limit.
Pick the pace
Choose the pace closest to the voice that will read it. AI voiceover matches what the Motion Graphics studio's narration actually produces.
Read the clock
The spoken length shows as minutes and seconds, with a fit check against Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and narrated explainers.
Cut, extend, or build
Use reverse mode to hit a target word count, then copy the summary or turn the script into a video.
Perfect for
Short-form video scripts
Check that a Reel lands under 90 seconds or a Short under 60 before recording, instead of finding out in the editor.
Voiceover and narration
Voice artists and AI voice users size a script to the runtime a client asked for, at the pace the voice will actually read.
Explainer and training videos
The Motion Graphics studio narrates up to 3 minutes, about 430 words at AI voiceover pace. See exactly where a script stands before it goes into production.
Speeches and presentations
Time a toast, a talk, or a lesson at presenter pace, and cut to the minute you were given.
Podcast intros and ads
Write a 30-second host-read ad that is actually 30 seconds: about 65 words at conversational pace.
Teachers and students
Size a class presentation or a recorded lesson, and learn what 130 words a minute feels like.
Frequently asked questions
How many words are in a minute of speech?
How many words is a 60-second video script?
How many words is a 30-second script?
How many words for a 90-second or 2-minute video?
Is the words to minutes calculator accurate?
Does it upload my script?
What are the video length limits for Shorts, Reels, and TikTok?
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