Script length
How long is a 500-word script?
A 500-word script runs about 3 min 20 sec when read aloud at a conversational 150 words a minute: about 2 min 38 sec at a fast pace and 4 min 10 sec at a slow, deliberate one.
By Founder @ Hookquill · Updated
At your speaking pace
The same 500 words, at four speaking paces.
| Pace | Words a minute | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Slow and deliberate | 120 | 4 min 10 sec |
| Conversational | 150 | 3 min 20 sec |
| Brisk | 170 | 2 min 56 sec |
| Fast | 190 | 2 min 38 sec |
Where the words go
How 500 words split across a video, at 150 words a minute.
| Part | Words | Runs | Its job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | 60 | 0:00–0:24 | Confirm the click, open a question, promise the answer. |
| Setup | 35 | 0:24–0:38 | Why this matters now, and what the viewer will leave with. |
| Main section | 365 | 0:38–3:04 | 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
- Tight is the point
- At this length every section has to earn its place. Pick one promise for the video and cut anything that serves a second one; it is easier to make a second video than to rescue a wandering one.
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 500 words?
About 3 min 20 sec at 150 words a minute. Fast talkers get through it in about 2 min 38 sec; a slow, deliberate read takes about 4 min 10 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.