Script length
How long is a 400-word script?
A 400-word script runs about 2 min 40 sec when read aloud at a conversational 150 words a minute: about 2 min 6 sec at a fast pace and 3 min 20 sec at a slow, deliberate one.
By Founder @ Hookquill · Updated
At your speaking pace
The same 400 words, at four speaking paces.
| Pace | Words a minute | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Slow and deliberate | 120 | 3 min 20 sec |
| Conversational | 150 | 2 min 40 sec |
| Brisk | 170 | 2 min 21 sec |
| Fast | 190 | 2 min 6 sec |
Where the words go
How 400 words split across a video, at 150 words a minute.
| Part | Words | Runs | Its job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | 48 | 0:00–0:19 | Confirm the click, open a question, promise the answer. |
| Setup | 28 | 0:19–0:30 | Why this matters now, and what the viewer will leave with. |
| Main section | 284 | 0:30–2:24 | The substance, in the order the viewer needs it. |
| Close | 40 | last 16 sec | Pay off the hook, then one call to action, not three. |
What changes at this length
- It can be a Short
- Since October 2024 YouTube Shorts can run up to three minutes, so a script this long works as a vertical Short as well as a regular video. Shorts are swiped away in a second or two, so the hook has to land in the first sentence.
Time your own script
Paste a script into the free calculator to see its exact runtime at your pace, or how many words a target length needs.
Questions
How many minutes is 400 words?
About 2 min 40 sec at 150 words a minute. Fast talkers get through it in about 2 min 6 sec; a slow, deliberate read takes about 3 min 20 sec.
How fast do YouTubers talk?
Most conversational YouTube delivery sits between 150 and 170 words a minute. Narration and teaching run slower; energetic commentary runs faster. Read a paragraph aloud against a timer to find your own pace.
Does the word count include on-screen text and cues?
No. Count only the words you say out loud. Visual cues, B-roll notes and on-screen text add no runtime of their own.